Here's a podcast where you can listen to Susan Cheever talk about her latest book, Louisa May Alcott A Personal Biography, plus another podcast on her fascinating study on the Concord authors. American Bloomsbury. Read about and listen to the podcasts here. What did I think about her books? Read my review of Louisa May …
A trip through fairy land
I wanted to share a wonderful post I found on Dawn's "She's Too Fond of Books" blog where she describes an outing with her girl scout troop to Hapgood Wright Town Forest in Concord, where Louisa May Alcott roamed with Henry David Thoreau. As you may recall, Thoreau had a magical way of teaching nature …
Want to book a vacation in Concord touring its literary treasures?
Here's a brand new start-up company founded by two enterprising women who offer in-depth tours of the literary treasures of Concord, MA. Gatepost Tours began last February and is taking off like a rocket. Friends Joan Spinazola and Alida Bailey are the co-owners. Sounds like a great way to spend a summer vacation! Check out …
Continue reading "Want to book a vacation in Concord touring its literary treasures?"
An interview with Amy Belding Brown, author of Mr. Emerson’s Wife
1. What inspired you to write a fictional account of Lidian and Waldo Emerson? It took me a long time to decide to write a nocel about Lidian and Waldo. At first, I just had a lot of questions about Lidian, especially about why she was relatively absent from so many biographies of her husband, …
Continue reading "An interview with Amy Belding Brown, author of Mr. Emerson’s Wife"
Rediscovering the late Madelon Bedell, author of The Alcotts Biography of a Family
I just ordered a bunch of new books and needed to rearrange my book shelves to get everything to fit. In the midst of the rearranging, I pulled out my copy of The Alcotts Biography of a Family and discovered a promotional photo of the author, Madelon Bedell, and an interview released by the publisher’s …
Meeting Amy Belding Brown, author of “Mr. Emerson’s Wife”
I had the privilege yesterday of meeting author Amy Belding Brown who as you know, wrote the historical novel, Mr. Emerson’s Wife , based upon the lives of Waldo and Lidian Emerson and their relationships with Henry David Thoreau, Margaret Fuller, and other famous Transcendentalists. Sharing lattes together at a local cafe/country store, Amy and …
Continue reading "Meeting Amy Belding Brown, author of “Mr. Emerson’s Wife”"
Final Thoughts on “Mr. Emerson’s Wife”
Reading the last few words, I slowly closed Mr. Emerson’s Wife and felt a welling up inside of emotion. I was so tied to the character of Lidian Jackson Emerson that I felt they were her emotions too. This is how Amy Belding Brown's book hit me. I lived inside of Mr. Emerson's Wife for …
Learning more about 19th century life for women with “Mr. Emerson’s Wife”
As a follow-up to American Bloomsbury, and in an effort to continue to build on knowledge of life in New England for women in the 19th century, I've started reading Mr. Emerson’s Wife by Amy Belding Brown, at the advice of a friend (good advice!). This is a beautifully written book that attempts to fill …
Continue reading "Learning more about 19th century life for women with “Mr. Emerson’s Wife”"
Sculptor Harriet Hosmer and Louisa May Alcott
Quick question: I saw this on the following page http://theloopny.com/2011/03/10/march-happenings-furniture-drive-a-judge-and-a-sculpture/ Harriet Hosmer (1830–1908) was regarded as the nation’s most prominent woman sculptor and was seen as instrumental in promoting women in the field of sculpture. After moving from Boston to Rome in 1852, she was, according to Culkin, the only American woman sculptor working in …
Continue reading "Sculptor Harriet Hosmer and Louisa May Alcott"
Book Review: American Bloomsbury
I know I said I would not finish American Bloomsbury but I really do enjoy Susan Cheever's writing style despite the problems her books pose. This is the second non-fiction book I've read by Cheever and it's frustrating that her work is so uneven. She is either utterly brilliant or totally inane. Despite several factual …
Louisa May Alcott is My Passion 