I came across an article on Scotsman.com about why we so often associate Charles Dickens with ChristmasĀ (see The father of Christmas: What the festive season owes to Charles Dickens) and it really opened my eyes. The influence of Charles Dickens Despite that fact that I have read so little of Dickens, I could still …
“What the Bells Saw and Said” – Louisa May Alcott’s State of the Union Address
If Louisa May Alcott were to deliver a State of the Union address (minus the politics), what would it be like? You can find out by reading "What the Bells Saw and Said," in Christmas Tales and Stories, edited byĀ Laura Ciolkowski. Portrayed through the reports of six spirits living in the bells of the local …
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“Little Robin” is the heroine of Christmas Eve
It amazes how Louisa May Alcott's children's stories, written approximately 130 years ago, continue to strike a chord, reminding me of similar stories in my own life. The second story from Christmas Tales and Stories (edited byĀ Laura Ciolkowski), "Little Robin," instantly brought to mind the entertaining and slightly ridiculous Christmas Eve adventures that my dear …
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Louisa May Alcott’s Christmas Stories – “Bertie’s Box” in real life
I just picked up an e-book of Christmas stories by Louisa May Alcott from Barnes & Noble called Christmas Tales and Stories (have to love e-books for the convenience, especially since I wanted to start reading right away). "Bertie's Box" - setting up the story It includes an introduction by the editor, Laura Ciolkowski. She …
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Finding his mission: Bronson Alcott, part 2 (reflections on Eden’s Outcasts)
How did a remote and poor farm boy evolve into a visionary educator? This is one of the great questions regarding Bronson Alcott for which I wanted answers.Ā John Matteson in Edenās Outcasts: The Story of Louisa May Alcott and Her Father provides some interesting insight. In the beginning In the first chapter Matteson tracesĀ …
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Magazine Alert!
The Atlantic's special commemorative Civil War issue There's aĀ Barnes & Noble on the way home that I'll be visiting . . . š UPDATE Here is a wonderful article from NPR about The Atlantic and this particular issue. I am embarrassed to say that I didn't realize that among the Atlantic's founders were Ralph …
Book alert: Pilgrimage by Annie Leibovitz and Doris Kearns Goodwin
I just got a glimpse of Annie Leiborvitz' new book, Pilgrimage and it is amazing! For those who don't know, Pilgrimage is a journey through the places that mean the most to Leibovitz. One of those places is Concord where she toured Orchard House, Emerson's home (Bush) and Walden Pond. The pictures from Orchard House …
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Amy’s Art
I have the pleasure today of presenting a guest post by artist Amy Hintze. I happened to find two watercolor paintings of a scene out of the lives of the Alcott family on Google and was led to her website. Amy is a painter for Music and the Spoken Word, a weekly broadcast with the …
Happy Birthday Bronson and Louisa!
From Edenās Outcasts: The Story of Louisa May Alcott and Her Father , pages 48-49 by John Matteson On N0vember 29, 1832, a half hour past midnight, Abba gave birth fo a second daughter, whom Bronson described as "a very fine healthful child . . . a very find, bat, little creature . . . …
A peak into my mother’s childhood through Aunt Jo’s Scrap-Bag
After my reading of "An Old-Fashioned Thanksgiving," I decided to dig deeper into Aunt Joās Scrap-Bag and the stories my mother cherished as a young girl. What I thought would be just light-hearted reading has become a poignant and very enjoyable journey into the past where I am coming to know my mother as a …
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Louisa May Alcott is My Passion 