On Saturday, Oct. 1 I had the distinct pleasure of touring the town of Walpole NH where Louisa May Alcott and her family lived in Walpole, NH from 1855 through 1857. I was accompanied by my sister Chris and friend Kristi Martin, a certified tour guide of the various Concord historical homes. The historical society …
Louisa May Alcott is My Passion: The Podcast! Episode Three: Louisa the runner, the real Beth’s piano, and more
"I always thought I must have been a deer or a horse in some former state, because it was such a joy to run." Louisa May Alcott, "Sketch of Childhood, by herself." Welcome to the third episode of Louisa May Alcott is My Passion: The Podcast! Welcome to the third episode of Louisa May Alcott …
Celebrating the re-opening of The Wayside — a peak inside
After a three year renovation, the home of famous authors Louisa May Alcott, Nathanial Hawthorne and Margaret Sidney is finally open! I recently toured the house and was allowed to take pictures of each room, some of which I will share in this post. The force behind the preservation of the home Sidney (aka Harriet …
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Louisa May Alcott is My Passion: The Podcast! Episode Two: Wrap-up of the 2016 Summer Conversational Series
"It's amazing how lovely common things become, if one only knows how to look at them." (from "Marjorie's Three Gifts," 1877) Welcome to the second episode of Louisa May Alcott is My Passion: The Podcast! During the next thirty six minutes I will give you an overview of the recent Summer Conversational Series, "'Finding Beauty …
Louisa May Alcott is My Passion: The Podcast! Episode One: “Beauty in the humblest things”
Welcome to the premier episode of I will share your message on the July podcast! Your participation is so important. Topics and show notes: A reading Louisa May Alcott: Illuminated by The Message by Susan Bailey, pgs. 88-89, from Work: A Story of Experience * * * * * * * * * * * …
Time again for the Louisa May Alcott Reading Challenge! What will you be reading?
Dust off your books and library cards--it's time again for the Louisa May Alcott Reading Challenge sponsored by In the Bookcase. Already there are some terrific books lined up by readers including An Old-Fashioned Girl, Proverb Stories, March by Geraldine Brooks and even my own Louisa May Alcott: Illuminated by The Message. I am already about …
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Coming soon to an iTunes near you–Louisa May Alcott is Our Passion Podcast!
Interesting in hearing readings from Louisa May Alcott's works? Fascinated by the family letters? Want to hear about fascinating books regarding the Alcotts, both old and new? Do you want to learn more from leading Alcott scholars, authors and experts? How about a discussion among fans? How about Louisa herself? This and more will be …
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Those unconventional Alcotts left behind quite the mark
The Alcotts were an atypical Victorian family to be sure. Along with rather unconventional philosophic and religious ideas as to how to live, the family did not subscribe to typical Victorian role models. Role reversal To begin with, Bronson’s refusal or inability to work to support his family necessitated that his wife Abba take on …
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Inside the heart of Bronson Alcott
In the last post covering John Matteson's talk at the Colonial Inn I mentioned Bronson Alcott's Sonnets and Canzonets, published in 1882 and how they reveal the heart of the man. Each sonnet or canzonet is dedicated to his wife, daughters and many luminary friends such as Ralph Waldo Emerson, Henry David Thoreau and Margaret Fuller. …
Finding the “prince of patients”—John Matteson discovers the whereabouts of John Suhre from Hospital Sketches
On Saturday, April 2 many of us had the distinct pleasure of hearing Pulitzer-prize-winning author John Matteson speak at the Colonial Inn in Concord for the Friends of Sleepy Hollow’s annual breakfast. His talk was titled “How Nurse Alcott Earned Her Star: The Author of Little Women and the Civil War.” He was referring to …
Louisa May Alcott is My Passion 