Louisa May Alcott is My Passion
Begun in 2010, this blog offers analysis and reflection by Susan Bailey on the life, works and legacy of Louisa May Alcott and her family. Susan is an active member and supporter of the Louisa May Alcott Society, the Fruitlands Museum and Louisa May Alcott's Orchard House.
I am so glad I went on that buying spree a few months ago for books by and about Louisa because now as I plough through Susan Cheever's book, I actually have at my fingertips the vast majority of sources and stories she mentions. Chapter 4 talks in part about Louisa's foray into being a …
Continue reading "“How I Went Out to Service” – Louisa May Alcott’s humiliation"
I received this message from Kelly O'Connor McNees: I hate to bother you again so soon after my last email, but I had to spread some exciting news: The Lost Summer of Louisa May Alcott has been nominated for a Goodreads Choice Award for Best Historical Fiction of 2010! Voting is easy. Just visit this …
Continue reading "Vote for Lost Summer on the Goodreads site"
I just finished the section in Louisa May Alcott A Personal Biography by Susan Cheever about the 3-1/2 years the Alcott Family spent at Hillside (must make a point of touring Hillside, now known as the Wayside, next summer). Cheever spent a couple of pages on Thoreau and how Louisa felt about him and it …
Continue reading "From Hillside to Thoreau to Irish Immigrants"
At 257 pages, I would have thought that my read of Susan Cheever's Louisa May Alcott A Personal Biography would have been quick and easy. Not so, especially since I've adopted the habit of taking notes as I read! This reminds me of school. š But I can't tell you how many times I have …
Continue reading "Catching up on Susan Cheever’s new biography on Louisa"
Thank you for the great entries for the DVD Giveaway of Louisa May Alcott The Woman Behind Little Woman, directed by Nancy Porter, written by Harriet Reisen, and produced by both. While all the entries were worthy, there were two in particular that really stood out. I asked Harriet if perhaps 2 DVDs could be …
Continue reading "We have a tie! Two winners of the DVD Giveaway"
One of my favorite new books about Louisa May Alcott is The Lost Summer of Louisa May Alcott. This is not a standard biography but a flight of fancy - a historical novel based on a period in Louisa's life where there is a notable gap in her journal writings and letters. Author Kelly O'Connor …
Continue reading "An interview with author Kelly O’Connor McNees"
I had this interesting little revelation that Amy March lives in my house in the body of my son! How is that possible? Here's how. Jo/Louisa loved her sister Amy/May very much but resented her "good luck." I always suspected that May created her own luck because of the way she treated people. My son …
Yet another new book on the Alcotts has been released, this one written by British scholar and professor Richard Francis. Entitled Fruitlands The Alcott Family and Their Search for Utopia, this book is destined to be the definitive work on the failed Fruitlands experiment conducted by Bronson Alcott (with wife and daughters including young Louisa), …
Continue reading "Richard Francis unveils his new book on Fruitlands at the Concord Bookshop"
As promised, and in honor of Louisa and Bronson's impending birthdays (November 29),Ā I am giving away a free DVD of the acclaimed documentary, Louisa May Alcott The Woman Behind Little Women thanks to the generosity of NancyĀ Porter and Harriet Reisen. I've seen this documentary a few times and it is just wonderful seeing …
Continue reading "DVD Giveaway Contest – Win by writing about your favorite Little Women character"
My husband and I are taking a trek to Concord to see Richard Francis, author of a brand new book on Fruitlands called Fruitlands: The Alcott Family and Their Search for Utopia Sounds like a good one! I'll bring my trusty camera and let you know what he was like (oh, and of course I'll …
Continue reading "Book Signing today at Concord Book Store for new book on Fruitlands"
Louisa May Alcott is My Passion 