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.
I got this exciting piece of news today from the Louisa May Alcott Society: New Alcott Letter at the Concond Free Public Library by Leslie Perrin Wilson, Curator, William Munroe Special Collections, Concord Free Public Library Sometimes a single letter or journal entry can open a window on the past in a way unanticipated by …
Continue reading "Just when you think there is nothing more to find … something is found!"
From the pages of Aunt Jo’s Scrap-Bag comes an intriguing memoir of the boys in Louisa May Alcott's life, "My Boys." From one "boy" to another Louisa had always preferred the company of boys and wished she had been born one herself. She particularly favored the age when boys were "regarded as nuisances till they are …
How are you doing on the Louisa May Alcott Summer Reading Challenge? I've been pecking away at the Little Women re-read along with a re-read of Louisa May Alcott: A Biography by Madeleine Stern. I've been keeping a casual reading journal for the latter and I'll share some from that. Still the best biography Louisa May …
Continue reading "Louisa May Alcott Reading Challenge Update"
Memorial Day weekend means getting all our gardens into shape. I've got more of a black thumb than green (meaning I've killed the vast majority of things I've planted :-)) but there are some plants I can keep alive! I decided to rely on the tried and true this year so that my gardens will …
Continue reading "Channeling a little Thoreau, a little John Denver while gardening"
So what's a girl to do? Louisa May Alcott is my passion but so are spring birds! Two weeks out of the year, the spring migrants come through my area. I am fortunate to live in what's known as a "fly zone" where all sorts of colorful birds with lovely songs spend a few days …
I just got a glimpse of Annie Leiborvitz' new book, Pilgrimage and it is amazing! For those who don't know, Pilgrimage is a journey through the places that mean the most to Leibovitz. One of those places is Concord where she toured Orchard House, Emerson's home (Bush) and Walden Pond. The pictures from Orchard House …
Continue reading "Book alert: Pilgrimage by Annie Leibovitz and Doris Kearns Goodwin"
I had the very rare opportunity yesterday of actually having 2 hours of free time lining up with beautifully warm weather in the middle of October! I jumped on it. 🙂 I grabbed the Sylvia Yule and went down to the local boat launch to take a final kayak trip before the cold weather settles …
Continue reading "A last journey on the Sylvia Yule before the winter comes"
Remember Louisa May Alcott's first poem, written when she was 8? To the First Robin Welcome, welcome little stranger, Fear no harm, and fear no danger, We are glad to see you here, For you sing, "Sweet Spring is near." Now the white snow melts away; Now the flowers blossom gay; Come dear bird and …
(Disclaimer: Admittedly I've only just started pouring over Louisa's works, and I haven't yet ventured into her "blood and thunder" tales, so my comments here are limited to the later stage of her writing which proved to be the most successful). Louisa's genius I've often said that Louisa May Alcott's genius was twofold. She crafted …
Continue reading "Controversy wrapped in sentiment: Louisa May Alcott’s genius"
. . . through the acting skills of Jan Turnquist, performer extraordinaire and director of Louisa May Alcott's Orchard House. From Jan's website she writes, "Due to a 'minor carriage accident,' 20th century audiences have the opportunity to 'meet' Louisa May Alcott through the living history portrayal of Jan Turnquist." She swept into the room …
Louisa May Alcott is My Passion 