Getting to know the women who discovered Louisa’s alias as A. M. Barnard

I discovered a wonderful article about Madeleine Stern and LeonaĀ  Rostenberg in a journal for the Independent Online Bookseller's Association. This group, the IOBA, features articles about antiquarian (aka old) book collectors and sellers. Rostenberg and Stern are best known for their discovery of Louisa May Alcott's secret life as A. M. Barnard. Under that …

Book recommendation: Louisa May Alcott and Little Women by Gloria Delamar

The last time I went to Concord I feasted at the Concord Free Public Library and took out 4 books that are usually hard to come by. One of them was Jeannine Atkins' Becoming Little Women: Louisa May at Fruitlands and another was Louisa May Alcott and Little Women by Gloria Delamar. I had originally …

Talking with Jeannine Atkins, author of “Becoming Little Women”

As promised, here is the follow-up interview with Jeannine Atkins, the author of Becoming Little Women. Susan, Thank you so much for the opportunity to reflect back on writing Becoming Little Women and the fascinating people who inspired my novel! And, always, for spreading your passion for Louisa May Alcott. Someone who is certainly worthy …

Book Review: “Becoming Little Women”

An experiment in a utopian community that only lasted seven months should have easily been forgotten in history, even if it included historically important people. Yet the fascination with Fruitlands continues as evidenced by Richard Francis' book, Fruitlands: The Alcott Family and Their Search for Utopia which came out this year. There is no doubt …

Quirky Wayside offers a wealth of history: the architecture

When you think about all the different people who lived at The Wayside over the years, it's no wonder the house has gone through so many changes. Here are some of the more significant ones: Home of a minuteman The earliest known date for The Wayside isĀ  c.1700 and was a typical two story, wood …

Quirky Wayside offers a wealth of history: introduction and quiz

Last Friday I finished out my vacation by visiting a home in Concord I have been drawn to for years: The Wayside. And it was SO worth the wait! In fact, it was such a stimulating visit that I need to split my thoughts into a couple of blog posts. This house is a total …

Rest in peace, my dear sweet cat

Louisa May Alcott was once accused of having an "inordinate love of cats." Count me guilty too. There is nothing as sweet and wonderful as a cat (except children). Today I lost my elderly cat, Bacci. I adopted him a year and a half ago from the assisted living home where my mom had lived. …

A clear introduction to Transcendentalism . . .

. . . and in only about 500 words! This is from the Spiritual Travels blog: The Hippies of Nineteenth-Century America Posted onĀ August 19, 2011Ā byĀ lori Spending time with Bronson Alcott yesterday made me realize that before moving forward we need to get a bit clearer on what that ten-dollar word ā€œTranscendentalismā€ means. Spoiler alert: abstract …

Tapping into my inner Thoreau; play-acting as Sylvia Yule

It's vacation time again with more opportunities to visit Concord. The more times I visit, the more I want to see. A trip down the Sudbury River to Great Meadows I enjoy kayaking very much and so took a trip down the Sudbury River, launching from the bridge off of Lowell Road, just off of …

We have a winner!

Thanks to everyone for participating in the latest giveaway on the Louisa May Alcott is My Passion blog - a print of May Alcott's painting of an owl, something she painted in Louisa's room directly over the fireplace. And the winner is? Jillian! Congratulations to our winner! A haven for Alcott enthusiasts Thanks so much …