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.
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 …
Continue reading "Jo’s evolution as a creative, and as a woman"
I thought I'd share with you what I share almost daily on the Louisa May Alcott is My Passion Facebook page: favorite links of the week. I'll do this every week so you too can join in the fun. I subscribed to Google Alerts for "Louisa May Alcott is My Passion" and you'd be surprised …
Continue reading "New feature: Fun and fascinating links of the week"
Today (April 22, 2015) marks the fifth anniversary of my mother's passing. But it's not a sad day. Like Louisa, I have a firm belief in the hereafter. Like Christie Devon in Work, I too have seen "signs" that my mother is still very close to me (see previous post). In those first weeks after …
Continue reading "Remembering my mom with the words of Louisa May Alcott"
I have just finished my second reading of Little Women. Both times I have listened to the free audio book on Librivox.com. The first time around wasn’t too bad until I got into the crux of Jo’s relationship with Professor Bhaer in chapter 46. The reader unfortunately had such a loud and grating voice that …
Continue reading "Thoughts on Little Women the second time around–seeing Jo in a new light"
You may recall an artist's rendition of The Wayside, originally named Hillside by Bronson Alcott after the home was purchased with Abba Alcott's inheritance. Although Orchard House is the physical setting for Little Women, artist Joyce Pyka, like many of us Alcott fans, knows that many of the childhood stories of the girls took place …
I recently reviewed an interactive book-on-app called Civil War Truce for a Catholic website (see review). It was developed by the 5-woman team of Davis Studio. Civil War Truce tells the fascinating story of a young nun, Sr. Mary Lucy Dosh, whose lovely singing and tender care impacted the lives of countless Civil War soldiers. …
In part two of my behind-the-scenes look at "The March Family Letters," we meet the March Sisters through a series of questions I posed to them: Meg What is your line of work? As well as working towards a bachelor’s in engineering, I supplement my income by tutoring lower years. Would you consider yourself to …
Continue reading "Meet today’s version of Meg, Jo, Beth and Amy from “The March Family Letters”"
I've been so enjoying The March Family Letters and I hope you have been too. Naturally, I was curious to learn more about how it came about. I recently had the pleasure of chatting via email with the series producer and showrunner Sarah Shelson; in part one of the interview she shares how the series …
I am pleased to announce The Annotated Little Women, edited by John Matteson, Pulitzer prize-winning author of Eden's Outcasts and The Lives of Margaret Fuller. This volume will contain over 200 illustrations. It is being published by W. W, Norton and Company, the same group which published the popular Norton edition of Little Women. You can …
Continue reading "Available for pre-order: The Annotated Little Women edited by John Matteson"
In the early twentieth century the world was changing at a breathtaking rate. As a country we moved onto the global stage with the Great War. Dazzling technological innovations created time- and work-saving devices along with new entertainment venues. Medical breakthroughs promised longer and healthier lives. Now that day-to-day survival was no longer the all-consuming …
Louisa May Alcott is My Passion 