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.
The Alcotts were an atypical Victorian family to be sure. Along with rather unconventional philosophic and religious ideas as to how to live, the family did not subscribe to typical Victorian role models. Role reversal To begin with, Bronson’s refusal or inability to work to support his family necessitated that his wife Abba take on …
Continue reading "Those unconventional Alcotts left behind quite the mark"
In the last post covering John Matteson's talk at the Colonial Inn I mentioned Bronson Alcott's Sonnets and Canzonets, published in 1882 and how they reveal the heart of the man. Each sonnet or canzonet is dedicated to his wife, daughters and many luminary friends such as Ralph Waldo Emerson, Henry David Thoreau and Margaret Fuller. …
From Women and Health in America (first edition) there is this intriguing essay titled "What Ought to Be and What Was: Women’s Sexuality in the Nineteenth Century" by Carl N. Degler. Quoting Dr Charles Taylor, 1882— “It is not a matter of indifference whether a woman live a single or a married life … I …
Continue reading "Louisa May Alcott was not the only Alcott working off sexual energy"
This comment from Diana regarding a previous post prompted a discussion on whether or not Louisa May Alcott was gay: “What is your opinion of the evidence that she may have had some suppressed passion, such as crushes, on girls? Remember she said in an interview that she had been in love with so many …
On Thursday I toured Louisa May Alcott's Orchard House. I was anxious to see the artifacts pictured in The Annotated Little Women, edited by John Matteson and took a vacation day to see them as November can get swallowed up in holiday preparations. If you live anywhere near Concord and can get to this exhibit, …
This past Sunday, November 8, a group of Alcott enthusiasts had the distinct pleasure of attending a book signing and reading with John Matteson, the editor of The Annotated Little Women at The Concord Bookstore. Surprise! As he was about to speak, we were greeted with a surprise guest, "Louisa" (aka Jan Turnquist) herself! She …
I could not leave this book without revealing a few of John Matteson’s wonderful insights into Little Women and Louisa May Alcott. I will begin with the introduction, “Little Pilgrims.” Reflecting real life “Little Women retains its importance in part because it recognizes that many of our most potent enemies lie within us and that life is far …
This an amazing post from one of our readers, a young educator who spoke for the first time at the Summer Conversational Series this summer. She certainly made me rethink "Dead Poet's Society," one of my favorite movies.
Lots of great links this week! Through the month of May, the Concord Public Library is celebrating 160 years of Flower Fables, Louisa May Alcott's first book. They will have displays (including the first edition of the book), children's activities and a visit with "Louisa" herself in the form of Jan Turnquist, executive director of …
Continue reading "Louisa Links of the Week (formerly known as Fun and Fascinating Links)"
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 …
Louisa May Alcott is My Passion 