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 happy to share a discovery made by John Matteson, Pulitzer prize-winning author of Eden's Outcasts: The Story of Louisa May Alcott and Her Father. My thanks to him for sharing the following photo. John writes, "This is the photograph of Michael C. Lowry, the half-brother of John Suhre. Michael was also killed at …
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Many fans of Little Women are not aware of the fact that Louisa May Alcott, a bestselling children's author, also served her country during the Civil War as a nurse. Because of her experience in taking care of her dying sister Lizzie, Alcott was accepted as a nurse, serving in Washington, DC in the Union …
Continue reading "Review of “Louisa on the Front Lines” by Samantha Seiple"
From the Concord Free Public Library: Engaging and informative lecture by Professor John Matteson for the Concord Festival of Authors, celebrating the 150th anniversary of the publication of Louisa May Alcott's Little Women! Be sure to check out the full lecture here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7xwSshdEfWo
The day began with a conversation with the venerable, entertaining and much-loved Pultizer-prize-winning Alcott author and scholar John Matteson. He remarked on his good fortune to have this association with Orchard House and everyone present admitting that “I come here and I don’t feel worthy.” The kindness, goodness, and dedication that he feels every time …
This past Sunday, November 8, a group of Alcott enthusiasts had the distinct pleasure of attending a book signing and reading with John Matteson, the editor of The Annotated Little Women at The Concord Bookstore. Surprise! As he was about to speak, we were greeted with a surprise guest, "Louisa" (aka Jan Turnquist) herself! She …
I could not leave this book without revealing a few of John Matteson’s wonderful insights into Little Women and Louisa May Alcott. I will begin with the introduction, “Little Pilgrims.” Reflecting real life “Little Women retains its importance in part because it recognizes that many of our most potent enemies lie within us and that life is far …
A brief and fascinating look into the head of John Matteson, winner of the Pulitzer Prize for Eden’s Outcasts: The Story of Louisa May Alcott and Her Father (2007) as he answers a question about his way of writing and researching (I think he's quite cute too - you'll see why at the end. :-)) Are …
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I decided upon reading March that I would read with an open mind. Fan fiction is a risky business (although calling March “fan fiction” doesn’t feel quite right, it’s a decidedly more serious work). The reader comes in with all kinds of pre-conceived notions and expectations, and the author can quickly fall out of favor …
Through his illustrious life, Bronson Alcott used many means to preach and teach his unique message of transcendentalism. In the early part of his career he used his gifts as a teacher to educate the young through the art of conversation (see previous post). As he believed the Divine resided in each child, he sought …
From Eden’s 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 . . . …
Louisa May Alcott is My Passion 