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.
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 1630ā²s. 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 ābingeā 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!
Iāve been happily married for over 30 years and my husband is a deacon in the Melkite Church (Eastern Catholic ā I am Roman Catholic). We are proud parents of a grown son and daughter.
Iāve worked happily for the last 17 years at Rutledge Properties in Wellesley, MA, supporting the agents in the office.
And in my āother life,ā Iāve 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 āinordinate love of catsā that Louisa had. :-)
I just finished chapter 12, Camp Laurence and am in the middle of chapter 13.Ā Louisa's introduction of John Brooke as Meg's love interest is subtle and sweet. She offers up a little tease and begins the dance of courtship. I can tell this will take a while to bloom into the lifelong love that …
I wish I could have read Little Women when it first came out in 1868-69 and known what little girls experienced when reading this apparently revolutionary book. I've heard it said that Louisa May Alcott is the first J.K. Rowling because of the wild success of Little Women and its sequels. I have two grown …
It's become obvious to me that I need to better explore the back story of Little Women in order to fully appreciate it (and to be able to comment on it intelligently!). Plus, your comments keep me on my toes as you know so much more than I do! I found this article yesterday on …
The other day I was trying to find the chapter in Little Women where Jo shares with Marmee her fears about her quick temper and couldn't find it. No wonder! Yesterday I listened to chapters 7 and 8 from the audio book and found out that "Jo Meets Apollyon" was what I was looking for. …
I had been reading Little Women in bits and pieces over the summer but now I am fully immersing myself in it. Although I read some of it for school many years ago, I never finished it nor appreciated it. I actually decided to start it again when I began reading Kelly O'Connor McNees' book, …
Ever wanted to read Little Women but you're short on time? Here's a free audio book you can download, found at http://librivox.org/little-women-by-louisa-may-alcott/ You can also subscribe to it on iTunes to play on your iPod. Just search for "Little Women" and you'll find it under Podcasts. I'm definitely a better listener than reader, wish all …
I have finally finished Caroline Ticknor's memoir of May (I told you I was a slow reader!) and although it is pretty romanticized, I enjoyed it thoroughly. Being able to blog about it as I read made it far more enjoyable. I will reiterate that May must have been a delight to know and that …
You may recall the Loud Family, the first family to be documented for TV which was shown on PBS in 1971. Known as The American Family, it documented the lives of Bill and Pat Loud and their children, literally through thick and thin. Even though this series was touted as the first reality series, I'd …
I came across this very sweet letter from Anna Alcott Pratt to some young admirers of Louisa after she had written Little Women. It's very revealing as to how she felt about her sisters, and herself. To me she seems hard on herself but most people don't think they are as good as their family …
A reader of this blog, Beth, sent in this comment regarding descendants of Louisa May Alcott: "Anna had two sons. Johnnie never married. Louisa named him as her heir (he was second son) and the rights to her books passed to him. As he had no descendants this is why the rights to so much …