Concord’s all a-buzz about the centennial of Orchard House

Thursday's Boston Globe (March 8, 2012) ran a wonderful spread in their Globe West section on all the festivities taking place this spring in Concord in honor of Orchard House's centennial as a museum. Here's a teaser with a link to the rest of the article. The online version didn't carry the great pictures so …

“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’s summer retreat

A trip to a warehouse bookstore in the middle of nowhere produced a great find! I had just about given up the hope of finding something interesting until this book caught my eye:  Nonquitt A Summer Album, 1872-1985, edited by Anne M. Lyell. What is so significant about Nonquitt? This is where Louisa May Alcott …

Louisa May Alcott Goes to War (from the Weider History Group)

Eager to support the North, the budding author volunteered for a fledgling corps of female nurses By Robert Sattelmeyer Published Online: January 30, 2012 historynet.com For generations of Americans, Louisa May Alcott has been revered as the author of Little Women (1868), the semi-autobiographical novel about four sisters living in Concord, Massachusetts, while their father …

Referrals in Louisa’s journal to Little Women

Following up on Jillian's post, I thought it would be fun to look back on journal entries that Louisa made that directly correlate with Little Women. I found these in Little Women (Norton Critical Edition) edited by Gregory Eiselein and Anne K. Phillips; the page citations come from this book. Note the comments Louisa makes …

“Little Robin” is the heroine of Christmas Eve

It amazes how Louisa May Alcott's children's stories, written approximately 130 years ago, continue to strike a chord, reminding me of similar stories in my own life. The second story from Christmas Tales and Stories (edited by Laura Ciolkowski), "Little Robin," instantly brought to mind the entertaining and slightly ridiculous Christmas Eve adventures that my dear …

Louisa May Alcott’s Christmas Stories – “Bertie’s Box” in real life

I just picked up an e-book of Christmas stories by Louisa May Alcott from Barnes & Noble called Christmas Tales and Stories (have to love e-books for the convenience, especially since I wanted to start reading right away). "Bertie's Box" - setting up the story It includes an introduction by the editor, Laura Ciolkowski. She …

Magazine Alert!

The Atlantic's special commemorative Civil War issue There's a  Barnes & Noble on the way home that I'll be visiting . . . 🙂 UPDATE Here is a wonderful article from NPR about The Atlantic and this particular issue. I am embarrassed to say that I didn't realize that among the Atlantic's founders were Ralph …

Book alert: Pilgrimage by Annie Leibovitz and Doris Kearns Goodwin

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 …