Answers to the Little Women quiz; information needed on a late 19th-century British version of Little Women

Results of True/False Quiz I see some of you tried the True/False quiz of what was real and what was made up in Little Women. No one got 100% but you were very close! Here are the answers: Hannah the servant FALSE - The Alcotts could not afford any servants in those days The Christmas …

Continuing to trace the steps of Little Women: Madeleine B. Stern’s brilliant analysis, part three: Can you tell what’s real and what is made up?

Little Women  has been called autobiographical because Louisa May Alcott used so many episodes from her own childhood and that of her family to create the story. But where does fact end and fiction begin? Or does it even work like that? Stern says, “Fact was embedded in fiction, and a domestic novel begun in …

Unpublished Alcott Letters: New letter from Louisa to Little Women publisher Thomas Niles discovered

Here’s a good reason to join the Louisa May Alcott Society (and only for $10 per year). Newly discovered letter I recently received the quarterly newsletter to read an article by scholar Daniel Shealy (best known for his brilliant annotated edition of Little Women) reporting on the discovery of a new letter by Louisa May …

On vacation with Louisa May Alcott: Day One of the Summer Conversational Series – Health, Nature and Reform

Monday’s session of the Summer Conversational Series at Louisa May Alcott’s Orchard House was lively, funny and thought-provoking. A fellowship of sisters (and some brothers) gathered to enjoy talks from Gabrielle Donnelly, Kathleen Harsy and Kyoko Amano. Gabrielle Donnelly on Louisa’s health Donnelly, the author of the popular The Little Women Letters, presented “Louisa May …

Book review: Little Women An Annotated Edition, edited by Daniel Shealy

I am delighted when Gabrielle Donnelly, author of The Little Women Letters (see previous post) offered to review this wonderful new edition of Little Women. Ed. * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * There are two ways to read Daniel Shealy's …

New book: Little Women An Annotated Edition, edited by Daniel Shealy: it’s gorgeous!

I just received my copy of Little Women An Annotated Edition, edited by Daniel Shealy and I was stunned by the beauty of the book! Don't be fooled by the cover - it doesn't begin to tell the story. This is a gorgeous oversized edition (9.6 x 9.3 x 2 inches) with an elegant choice …

“The March Sisters at Christmas:” So, what did you think?

December 2017: This movie is now showing on TV. It would likely be featured on the Hallmark Channel but I've seen it on local stations as well. It is also available for purchase on Amazon. I went into this movie preparing to hate it. I don't watch Lifetime and am not a huge fan of …

Little Women on the stage – a Concord Players’ tradition

This past Saturday I had the pleasure of seeing the Concord Players' historic production of Little Women with one of you! Nancy Gluck of the Silver Threads blog along with her lovely husband were spending the weekend in Concord (she is preparing a 5-part series on Louisa May Alcott for her adult education class). We …

Take 5 minutes to enjoy Little Women Wynona-style

I found this video via Suck My Alcott - Six snarky chicks who dig Louisa May - the 1994 version of Little Women condensed into under 5 minutes (with music by Savage Garden - used to love those guys!). It's cool, raw and rainy today but for about 5 minutes, it got warm and cozy. Enjoy! …

Reading Little Women as a writer

Recently I was asked by my writing tutor analyze the beginning pages of books I've read to see how the author set up the story. I  immediately thought of  Little Women’s first chapter as it is so iconic. Louisa did a masterful job of introducing the four sisters and giving the reader a sense of …