You never know what a house can tell you! No matter how many times I visit Orchard House, I always learn something new. Last Friday I had the privilege of meeting longtime email friends from Paris, France. Charline Bourdin, the author of the first French biography of Louisa May Alcott and the webmaster of a …
The Alcotts in Boston: Come visit 20 Pinckney Street
The year is 1853, a critical year in the lives of several members of the Alcott family. Since 1848 when the family moved from their beloved Hillside home in Concord, the family had lived like gypsies, moving from place to place. Some of these places were dreary basement apartments in poorer sections of the cities, …
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Unpublished Letters: A long letter from Lizzie Alcott to the family from the Sewall household in Boston
Here is a long letter from Elizabeth Alcott, written just before she and Abba left for the North Shore. They are staying at the home of Tom and Mary Sewall in Boston. It was written on August 6, 1857. The letter comes from the Amos Bronson Alcott Family Letters collection, Houghton Library MS Am 1130.9 …
Elisabeth Alcott through the eyes of her father
By the time Elisabeth Sewall Alcott was born, Bronson had moved on from chronicling the daily activities of his daughters to exploring the soul. In Eden’s Outcasts, John Matteson writes that “Elizabeth was fairer than her elder sisters and … was the model of serenity that Bronson had vainly hoped Anna and Louisa would be. …
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The million dollar question, and the priceless answer
Following up with my last post about the lecture I attended at New North Church featuring John Matteson, author of Eden’s Outcasts: The Story of Louisa May Alcott and Her Father, there is a question I have wanted to ask Matteson since I started reading his book almost two years ago. How is it that …
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Lizzie Alcott’s keyboard: seraphine or melodeon? What’s the difference? And which one is it?
I recently read an intriguing line in Eve LaPlante's book, Marmee & Louisa: The Untold Story of Louisa May Alcott and Her Mother regarding the keyboard that Lizzie Alcott used to play. It reads: In 1847, "Abigail, who had acquired a keyboard instrument called a seraphine, gave the children regular music lessons, as her mother …
The vacation of my dreams: 3 days with Louisa May Alcott
What's your dream for the ultimate summer vacation? Is it a trip to a new and/or exotic place? Is it time all to yourself to do whatever you wish? How about both? That’s been my dream for many summers and this year, it came true. New and exotic places Back in June, our whole family …
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Iconic, and Real: Annie Leibovitz and Doris Kearns Goodwin visit Orchard House
Tuesday was a memorable day. Imagine the pleasure of attending a conversation with Annie Leibovitz and Doris Kearns Goodwin, hosted at Louisa May Alcott's Orchard House. Approximately 200 people had that pleasure, gathered in an array of tents on the lawn of the Alcott home. It was the kickoff event for an exhibition of photos …
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Louisa has primed my pump and changed my life
I happened to stumble upon a great find: The Glory Cloak by Patricia O'Brien, an historical novel featuring Louisa May Alcott and Clara Barton. It covers the Civil War through the eyes of a fictitious Alcott cousin, Susan Gray, who comes to live with the Alcotts after being orphaned. Susan becomes Louisa's constant companion, confidant …
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“Our Little Ghost”
I couldn't help but think that Louisa might be musing about Lizzie when she wrote this (even if the description sounds more like May). I know it made me think of her. Judging from the date, a dear departed soldier could be imagined too (despite the description) What do you think? OUR LITTLE GHOST by: …
Louisa May Alcott is My Passion 