Once Upon A Time At Pemberley: Imagining a meeting between Jo March and Elizabeth Bennet (Mrs. Darcy)

Guest post by Gabrielle Donnelly Gabrielle Donnelly, photo by Jeannine Atkins If Little Women is the great American nineteenth-century novel for girls, then Jane Austen's Pride and Prejudice is unquestionably its oh-so-proper English counterpart. But the March sisters couldn't be more different from Austen's Bennet sisters if they tried; and Gabrielle Donnelly, author of the …

“Jo – The Little Women Musical” – find out more about this truly modern adaptation

Publicist Dustin Fitzharris provided this interview providing in depth information about the upcoming Little Women musical. Answers are provided from the collective: Dan Redfeld (composer), Christina Harding (co-writer/lyricist) and John Gabriel Koladziej (co-writer/lyricist)  What is the inspiration behind this Little Women musical, and why now? How did the creators come up with the theme and how …

Summer Conversational Series 2018: Cathlin Davis “Learning to Be Herself: Alcott’s Lessons in Peer Pressure”

Note: This is a long post of over 3000 words. It’s also a core topic of Little Women’s relevancy for teenagers especially when it comes to conformity versus non-conformity, and peer pressure. It’s well worth the read for those of us who wish to pass down Little Women to our daughters and sons, nieces and …

Summer Conversational Series 2018: Anne Boyd Rioux: “Meg, Jo, Beth, Amy: The Story of Little Women and Why It Still Matters”

The last lecture of the day was given by Anne Boyd Rioux on her new book, Meg, Jo, Beth, Amy: The Story of Little Women and Why It Still Matters. First encounter with Little Women Anne did not read Little Women as a child; it had not given to her by her mother or grandmother. …

Rambling about “Little Women”

My commute to work is one hour or more each way so I have to do something to entertain myself. I tend to have what I call “brain dumps” while driving and when I do, I whip out my phone and turn on the Dragon app. Then I dictate what I’m thinking. A good portion …

Christmas greetings to you in the spirit of Louisa May Alcott

Remembering the Spirit of Christmas from Little Men: "Were they poor children?" asked Nat, wistfully. "Yes, I think so; you see some haven't got hardly any clothes on, and the mothers don't look like rich ladies. He liked poor people, and was very good to them. He made them well, and helped them, and told …

Jo’s evolution as a creative, and as a woman

What did Jo March  mean when she said she wanted to create something "spendid?" Perhaps gaining recognition for her writing. Maybe even being hailed as a great writer. Writing a book of artistic merit and universality that would stand the test of time. Yet we find in Little Women that Jo's goals would evolve from that solitary …

Summer Conversational Series 2014 – “Navigating the Vortex: Creative Genius in the Time of the Alcotts” – Is it Talent or Genius?

I am grateful to be able to attend again the annual Summer Conversational Series at Louisa May Alcott’s Orchard House this year. The theme concerns talent versus genius, and the abundance of genius that existed in Concord, Massachusetts in the 19th century. I was not able to take in all five days of the series …

Introducing beautiful new British editions of Louisa May Alcott classics

Hesperus Press, an independent London-based publisher is reissuing the most beloved of Louisa May Alcott's works on June 27th  with beautiful new covers: These would make a wonderful addition to any Little Women collection. Visit http://www.hesperuspress.com for more information; you can follow @hesperuspress on Twitter. Are you passionate about Louisa May Alcott too? Subscribe to …

What would May’s life as a wife, mother and artist have been like had she lived? Jo’s Boys gives us a hint.

Jo’s Boys is tinged with sadness. And wistfulness. Louisa worked on Jo’s Boys for seven years beginning in 1879, the year her youngest sister May died six weeks after bearing her daughter Lulu. Abba, known as “Marmee” had died in 1877. Laurie and Amy’s idyllic life Chapter Two, “Parnassus” has us visiting the palatial home …