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 was it like to live at Fruitlands? Serious Alcott biographers have devoted much ink to the family’s experience during this six-month utopian experiment. Sometimes thoughtful, often absurd and always dramatic, Fruitlands is credited with both the shaping of the famous daughter, and a change in the power structure of the Alcott marriage and family …
Continue reading "The unknown players of Fruitlands – finally hearing their voices"
I had the pleasure of having my books signed by author Eve LaPlante at Fruitlands yesterday. The setting was lovely: typically cold for December with light snow falling. The spirit of Fruitlands Having just completed a series of books on Fruitlands (which I will be writing about soon), the spirit of the Fruitlanders was palpable …
Continue reading "Meet and greet with author Eve LaPlante at Fruitlands"
Obviously we can't celebrate with a typical gooey, sugary birthday cake ... perhaps Apple Slump will do? My gift to Louisa? Plenty of plumcakes to go around this time ... Bronson would probably prefer some apples ... You both look very well for your ages ... Thank you for living your lives so fully, sharing …
Continue reading "Dual birthdays: Happy Birthday Louisa and Bronson! (Louisa is 180 today)"
I realize it's been nearly a month since I posted and I wanted to let you know why. I am hip deep in reading. And it started with a field trip to Fruitlands in Harvard, MA. And it will end there too. After visiting Fruitlands, I wanted to read more about it. I ended up …
In his book, Alcott Memoirs, Dr. Frederick Llewellyn Hovey Willis spends much time describing the special relationship he shared with Bronson Alcott, and the profound effect Bronson had on Dr. Willis’ life. As a teenage boy, Willis spent many hours in conversation with Bronson and recorded some of these in his journal. Thus we have …
Continue reading "From Alcott Memoirs: Bronson from the point of view of a grateful student"
Note: This post is longer than usual. I had considered running it in two installments but thought it would lessen the impact of its message by doing that. So sit back with a cup of coffee, relax and read. 🙂 Two ladies, same vision Two New England feminists, both heavily influenced by transcendentalism. Both in …
A ticking time bomb lay inside of Louisa May Alcott and she knew it. It went off with her father, her Uncle Junius, and eventually, herself. Her journals alluded to it. Her creativity was fueled by it. And chapter 5 of Work: A Story of Experience gives us a detailed look inside. Companion Having left the …
I just found this cool article about hidden historical treasures in Connecticut. Here's a tantalizing tidbit - makes me want to go and look for it: " 'There are abandoned graveyards in many towns. In Wolcott there’s a cemetery, hidden in brush, that is the final resting place of members of the Alcott family.' [says …
Yikes! Care to guess how many pages there are in these books? And guess what 95% of those many words are about. Goodness! Fortunately, I'm only looking for references to Lizzie. Curious thing - there are many letters to Anna and Louisa but hardly any directly to Lizzie or May (except when all the sisters …
I couldn't leaveMarch by Geraldine Brooks behind without mentioning one other element of the book that I really enjoyed - the back stories Brooks imagined which enhance Little Women. Haven't you often wondered just how the March family lost their fortune? Haven't you wanted to know more about Marmee's temper and how her husband helped …
Louisa May Alcott is My Passion 