Merry Christmas from Orchard House (and from me!) – a look back over an extraordinary year, and a look ahead

2017 has been a banner year for Alcott fans (and more is promised in 2018 and 2019 as the 150th anniversary of the publication of Little Women looms). As a result it has also been quite the year for this blog! Especially within the last several months, the growth of readership has been extraordinary. I …

New Facebook discussion group on Louisa May Alcott — come join us! Plus, more sneak peaks at the Little Women BBC series

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 …

Air dates for “Little Women” in America on Masterpiece Theatre announced!

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 …

Air dates announced for Little Women on the BBC!

For all you lucky souls who get BBC One, the air dates have been announced for the three-part Little Women series! From the BBC Christmas TV Guide Boxing Day - Tuesday, December 26 Little Women (1/3) - 7.30pm on BBC One - Based on Louisa May Alcott's universally beloved novel, this new three-part series is …

Recent discovery of photos of Anna Alcott and John Pratt covered in the Boston Globe

I am pleased to announce that the Boston Globe has covered the recent discovery of previously unpublished photos of Anna Alcott Pratt and John Bridge Pratt which I posted on this blog. Here you will meet Mrs. Donna Keeler, the owner of the photo album, and get to see the album page with John and …

Little Women Anthology announced for 2018 — looking for submissions

Pink Umbrella Books, a Phoenix-based micropublisher is currently accepting submissions for a Little Women Anthology in honor of the upcoming 2018 150th anniversary of its publication. Here are details from their website: Pink Umbrella Books is pleased to honor the beloved children’s classic with an original anthology. We invite writers around the world to submit …

Living history – Marianne Donnelly as Louisa May Alcott

“What fun we had this evening when Louisa May Alcott came to visit her childhood home at Fruitlands!” Facebook post from the Fruitlands Museum It was indeed great fun taking in the living history performance by actress and historian Marianne Donnelly at the Fruitlands Museum Vistor’s Center. Her bigger-than-life portrayal of Louisa May Alcott was …

As the Masterpiece Theater production of Little Women approaches, a key question is posed

We just passed the 149th anniversary of the publication of part one of Little Women. Happy Anniversary! And we have an exciting year ahead of us, particularly with the three-part Masterpiece Theater production of Little Women coming up in the Spring (with Jan Turnquist, Executive Director of Louisa May Alcott's Orchard House acting as consultant!). …

You can never tour Louisa May Alcott’s Orchard House too many times

Recently I took in a tour of Orchard House (I've lost count how many times I've toured this wonderful home) and learned some fascinating new information with regards to the renovations made to the house. Merging the main house with a cottage The tour guide disclosed information from the Fox family whose ancestors had owned …

May Alcott’s call to the creative life is our call

I had the pleasure last night of attending a presentation by Elise Hooper regarding her new book, The Other Alcott (see previous post for review). Among the many interesting aspects of her talk was the idea of women and artistry and the difficulty in claiming your vocation as an artist. May’s dilemma Elise pointed out …