From the Firestone Library of Princeton University comes this fascinating and brief look inside the process of putting together the Second Part of Little Women for initial publication. This article shows the original frontispiece illustrated by Hammatt Billings (showing Amy and Laurie in Europe) and Louisa's comments scribbled in the margins. Then we get to …
“Poppy’s Pranks” reveals the childhood of Louisa May Alcott
I am listening for a second time to Harriet Reisen's fine biography, Louisa May Alcott The Woman Behind Little Women. In discussing Louisa's childhood Reisen makes many references to a story Louisa wrote for her first children's series, Morning-Glories and Other Stories. Having little experience with writing children's stories, Louisa opted to learn by doing, …
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Sibling rivalry – did “Little Women” spur May on to success?
In reading through the large collection of letters and journal entries I have from Alcott family members, it occurred to me that with a few exceptions, the sisters did not disparage one another. This is remarkable since sibling rivalry and age differences can present many challenges. Since any show of anger was frowned upon in …
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Fruitlands through the years in sight and sound
Recently a reader (thank you Michelle!) sent me a wonderful interview with Richard Francis, author of Fruitlands: The Alcott Family and Their Search for Utopia. Francis does an excellent job of clarifying a complex situation (anyone who has studied the Fruitlands experiment in depth knows what I mean!). It was presented on The Woman's Hour …
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A trivia backstory: how is it that Catholic holy cards show up in Louisa’s stories?
While researching my biography on Elizabeth Alcott, I did a very careful re-read of Little Women using Daniel Shealy's excellent annotated edition. In the course of my reading I found many interesting little details. One of them involved the poem in Chapter 46 which brought Professor Bhaer to Jo's side. Called "In the Garret," a …
Gossip from overseas: stories from “Little Women Abroad” by those mapcap Alcott sisters
I am pleased to present this guest post by Elizabeth Hilprecht, a regular reader whose insightful comments you have most likely read. We have been having a wonderful email chat back and forth about Daniel Shealy's Little Women Abroad and I asked her if she would share some of the wonderful stories taken from letters …
The Palace Beautiful: The Little Women trail #5
This is a wonderful tour of the places where Jo March and family members dwelled through the real-life Alcott family members. My thanks to the "Much Ado about Little Women" blog.
Call for proposals for 2017 Summer Conversational Series
“Noble Companions and Immortal Labors”*: The Alcotts, Thoreaus, and the Quest for Social Justice Louisa May Alcott’s Orchard House SUMMER CONVERSATIONAL SERIES Sunday, July 16 – Thursday, July 20, 2017 Transcendental neighbors and thinkers Amos Bronson Alcott and Henry David Thoreau shared ideals and hopes for changing society. Ever interested in improving the world to …
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Pilgrimage to the heart(h) of Bronson Alcott
I am pleased to present this guest post by Helen Batchelder -- she had the privilege of visiting the birthplace of Bronson Alcott. You can still sign up to attend Helen's two lectures on Alcott at the Fruitlands Museum - call 978-456-3924, ext. 291. Cost is $12 for members, $20 for non-members. * * * …
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Three-part series on Bronson Alcott at Fruitlands Museum: genius or crackpot?
Last Wednesday I attended the first of three lectures on Bronson Alcott at the Fruitlands Museum in Harvard, MA, presented by Helen Batchelder, a local scholar. Fruitlands in the dark I have never been to Fruitlands before in the dark and it was disconcerting to see the lights over the mountains, reminding me it was …
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Louisa May Alcott is My Passion 