Author: susanwbailey

My name is Susan Bailey and I find the life of Louisa May Alcott endlessly fascinating. I come from New England (specifically Massachusetts) and my family has been here in one form or another since the 1630′s. I live fairly close to Concord, MA where Orchard House, the homestead of the Alcotts, is located, and visit often. Every few years or so I go on a reading ‘binge’ about Louisa and this time around was so good, I just had to start a blog about my passion. The binge, by the way, still goes on! I’ve been happily married for over 30 years and my husband is a deacon in the Melkite Church (Eastern Catholic – I am Roman Catholic). We are proud parents of a grown son and daughter. I’ve worked happily for the last 17 years at Rutledge Properties in Wellesley, MA, supporting the agents in the office. And in my ‘other life,’ I’ve performed, written and recorded music exploring my Catholic faith. I have a website (www.susanbailey.net) where you can hear samples and find out more about this. I sing at various masses at my home parish of St. Luke the Evangelist in Westboro, MA. Other interests include history (especially photographic), nature (especially bird watching), and I have the same ‘inordinate love of cats’ that Louisa had. :-)

February 22, 2021

The contest is on! Try your hand at finishing Louisa May Alcott’s story and be featured in The Strand Magazine.

You may recall late last June that The Strand published an unfinished story written by then 17-year-old Louisa May Alcott uncovered at the Houghton Library. The story left us dangling! The contest is now on to finish the story! Looking for writers The managing editor of The Strand, Andrew Gulli, is inviting writers to finish …

Continue reading "The contest is on! Try your hand at finishing Louisa May Alcott’s story and be featured in The Strand Magazine."

February 10, 2021February 9, 2021

A Worse Place than Hell: John Matteson’s Personally Guided Odyssey through the Civil War

John Matteson did not win the Pulitzer Prize for his first book, Eden's Outcasts: The Story of Louisa May Alcott and her Father, simply because he wrote a good biography. At the time, Eden's Outcasts was an ambitious effort of a dual biography, exploring the lives of daughter and father while also analyzing their …

Continue reading "A Worse Place than Hell: John Matteson’s Personally Guided Odyssey through the Civil War"

February 9, 2021

Book review: “A Worse Place than Hell” by John Matteson

The Lives of 5 Historical Figures Intersect in A Worse Place Than Hell A Worse Place Than Hell is a masterpiece, a must-read. Find out more on my BookTrib.com review: Are you passionate about Louisa May Alcott too? Subscribe to the email list and never miss a post! Keep up with news and free …

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February 1, 2021

Bronson Alcott’s Fruitlands, as seen in Discover Concord Magazine

I invite you to read my latest article in the Winter edition of Discover Concord Magazine: https://discoverconcordma.com/winter-2020-issue Are you passionate about Louisa May Alcott too? Subscribe to the email list and never miss a post! Keep up with news and free giveaways on Susan's books, Louisa May Alcott: Illuminated …

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December 16, 2020

“Let Genius Burn,” a Louisa May Alcott podcast on her life and legacy coming in 2021, co-hosted by Jamie Burgess and Jill Fuller.

I am pleased to present this guest post by Jill Fuller and Jamie Burgess. Early April, sunrise. The tree branches are still black against creamy pink sunlight, and I am at my kitchen table surrounded by a stack of books, my laptop, and a mug of coffee. It is our fifth week of lockdown, and …

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December 3, 2020December 3, 2020

Success!

Today I am celebrating!

November 24, 2020November 23, 2020

Far From The Tree actors talk about what Little Women means to them

Row 1: Jenaya Barker- Ensemble member. Joelle Wyminga - Amy March and Script adaptor, Tyler Dumoulin - sound designer, editor, and composer, Shelby Wyminga - Jo March and director. Kirsty Provan - Meg March Row 2: Zach Running Coyote - Laurie, Kerri Norris - Marmee, Charlotte Denton - Beth March Row 3: John Voth - …

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November 23, 2020November 23, 2020

Anna Alcott Pratt’s obituary

My thanks to Ray Angelo for finding this, It is from the Neenah Times in Wisconsin, dated Friday August 4, 1893. (courtesy of newspapers.com) Are you passionate about Louisa May Alcott too? Subscribe to the email list and never miss a post! Keep up with news and free giveaways on Susan's books, Louisa May …

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November 14, 2020November 23, 2020

Just in time for the holidays: Audio Play adaptation of “Little Women”

“I want to do something splendid. . . something heroic or wonderful that won't be forgotten after I'm dead. I don't know what, but I'm on the watch for it and mean to astonish you all someday.” -Jo March Looking for some great and meaningful family-friendly entertainment as we muddle through the pandemic? From Far …

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October 7, 2020

Lizzie Alcott’s Hillside Diary

The Littlest Woman: The Life and Legacy of Lizzie Alcott, the Real Beth March

I am pleased to share with you the only known existing journal of Elizabeth Alcott.

Disclaimer #1: I cannot guarantee total accuracy as I am not a professional transcriber. If there is something you want to quote for a paper, please email me through the Contact page, note the page or pages you want, and I will send you photographs of these pages.

Disclaimer #2: I have annotated it with notes and insights (in red) — please keep in mind that these notes are often just my opinion about what I read (and a few might not make sense to you) — these opinions should not be taken otherwise.

Please use the citation information below if you want to quote this diary.

Enjoy this rare look at Lizzie Alcott at ages 10 and 11.

View original post 10 more words

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.

Find out more about the blog.

Contact Susan
Subscribe to the blog.

Listen to the Podcast
Watch on YouTube
(and subscribe to the channel)

For a comprehensive list of blog posts by name, download this document:
Complete list of posts on LMA blog
(note: this is updated periodically)

Recognized for Excellence in 2018
by The Internet Scout Report

Discover Concord

Visit https://discoverconcordma.com/ebooks-all to read issues.

Named the New Business of the Year (2020) by the Middlesex West Chamber of Commerce

See Susan’s article, “Alcott as Their Muse: Little Women’s Legacy Honored by Contemporary Authors” on pages 52-53 in the Summer 2023 edition (click here to read)

See Susan’s article, “Beyond Words: The Depth of Louisa May Alcott’s Legacy” on pages 20-21 in the Summer 2022 edition (click here to read)

See Susan’s article, ” Experiencing The Wayside as Hillside, Home of the Alcotts” on pages 48-49 in the Fall 2021 edition (click here to read)

See Susan’s article, “Alcott’s Hidden Critics: An International Sleuthing Project” (co-authored by Lorraine Tosiello) on pages 56-57 in the Spring 2021 edition (click here to read)

See Susan’s article, “Bronson Alcott’s Search for Eden: Fruitlands” on pages 64-65 in the Winter 2020 edition (click here to read)

See Susan’s article on Thoreau on page 44 of Discover Concord magazine’s Summer 2020 edition (click here to read)

See Susan’s article on page 12 of Discover Concord magazine’s Winter 2019 edition (click here to read)

Mentioned in Vanity Fair

Little Women Audio Play

Reading Little Women blog

Louisa May Alcott: Illuminated by The Message: “Susan Bailey's new book is part of a series called Literary Portals to Prayer, which is meant to encourage a kind of literary lectio divina, a form of contemplative reading that is a pathway to prayer. An intriguing idea for a book, no? And there’s no better person to write it than Susan Bailey.” Lori Erickson, The Holy Rover on Patheos

“I never fully realized how much spiritual content is integrated into her body of work. Ms. Bailey extracts beautiful and uplifting passages and pairs them with Biblical ones that make similar points. It includes some of Alcott’s less well known works which makes me want to read those that I have missed.” Diane Brandi

Susan Bailey has compiled a remarkable edition of side by side texts, demonstrating a deep understanding of the life, world, and spirituality of Alcott. The matches [with the Bible} are spot on and insightful. Eileen Charbonneau. award-winning author

River of Grace: Susan Bailey’s powerful and beautifully-written book is much more than an insightful spiritual memoir. River of Grace is also a brilliant reflection on the connections between creativity and grace. A book one to cherish. Amy Belding Brown, author of Mr. Emerson’s Wife and Flight of the Sparrow

Susan Bailey is an accomplished researcher of all things pertaining to Louisa May Alcott. I found joy in the way that [she] shares about her favorite authoress. Miss Alcott's books wedged themselves into Susan's soul and allowed her to identify parallels and discover herself again. This is not a story of how to get over grief fast -- but how to deal with it and give your afflictions to the Almighty. Tarissa, In the Bookcase blog

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