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 apologize for the raw format of this post – these are the original notes I took while watching Little Women on my computer. I am under a lot of deadlines right now and don’t have the time to fashion this as I would like. But I did want to share my thoughts with you. …
Little Women on Masterpiece is a series that grew on me; it took two viewings to fully appreciate it. As mentioned in my previous post, this is an adaption worthy of reflection and study for there is much beneath the surface. In listening to Heidi Thomas describe her reading of Little Women, I was struck …
Heidi Thomas is an award-winning English playwright and screenwriter, whose previous television adaptations of classic novels include Cranford, I Capture The Castle, and Madame Bovary. She is especially known for her writing on the long-running PBS series, "Call the Midwife." I am thankful to Gabrielle Donnelly, member of the Hollywood Foreign Press Association, who conducted …
Excitement is building as details are revealed about the upcoming Little Women series on PBS' acclaimed Masterpiece. It will air on May 13th and 20th at 8 p.m. EST. I have pre-screened the series and will write more about my impressions as we come closer to the air date. I also have an exclusive interview …
Anna Alcott Pratt was one of the better writers in the family. Fluid, thoughtful and precise, her letters and journals provide valuable insight into Alcott family life. I have often referred to her as the family secretary since she presents each family member just as they are with no commentary on her part. The details …
NOTE: I feel a need to append this post as I have heard from many of you about all the inaccuracies in this article. This seamless mixing of fact, fiction and mythology between the fictional Marches and the real-life Alcotts is rather common in writing from this period. I've read several newspaper accounts from the …
In a collaboration between the Louisa May Alcott Society and Louisa May Alcott's Orchard House, a new Facebook discussion group has been created. It is called Louisa May Alcott: A Group for Fans, Readers, & Scholars. I hope you will all join in on the discussion! Here's a tease as to what is available in …
Here is Orchard House's announcement regarding the airing of "Little Women" on Masterpiece Theatre (taken from a December 7, 2017 Facebook post): "Now and then, in this work-a-day world, things do happen in the delightful story-book fashion, and what a comfort that is." from Little Women, "Pleasant Meadows." It's true! Thrilled to share that the …