Louisa May Alcott is My Passion
Begun in 2010, this blog offers analysis and reflection by Susan Bailey on the life, works and legacy of Louisa May Alcott and her family. Susan is an active member and supporter of the Louisa May Alcott Society, the Fruitlands Museum and Louisa May Alcott's Orchard House.
I recently watched again the PBS film Louisa May Alcott The Woman Behind Little Women and thoroughly enjoyed it. To see Louisa portrayed on the small screen is just as thrilling as ever. This reminded me of how I started my blog 1 year ago today after reading the book. What a wonderful year it …
Continue reading "One year old today! Celebrating with a special gift for you!"
I found a lovely poem that Louisa May Alcott wrote that perfectly reflects the successful formula she used in writing for children. She may have disdainfully considered it "moral pap" and only wrote it to make money, but when I read something like this, a very reassuring voice comes through the simple tale and time-tested …
I found a wonderful article about a book featuring Louisa May Alcott and 3 other women authors in a study on American women authors' domesticity. Here is an excerpt from the article - the link is at the end of the excerpt so you can read the whole article: Newswise — Brooklyn, NY -- The …
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I am pleased to present a guest blog by the author of The Little Women Letters, Gabrielle Donnelly. Recently I reviewed this fine book and had a chance to talk with Gabrielle via email about it. I was intrigued by her biography where it stated that she had no sisters but in fact had 4 …
Thanks to the advice of a reader (much appreciated, Gina!), I've started reading Marmee, the Mother of Little Women by Sandford Meddick Salyor. Certainly you cannot look at the life of Louisa May Alcott without looking at her parents. There are plenty of works on Bronson but not that much on Abba ("Marmee"). This 1949 …
I just created a page with personal recommendations of places to visit and things to do while visiting Concord, Massachusetts. The one thing I could not recommend is hotels because I live too close to Concord to have stayed overnight. Here's some recommendations for those of you who want to indulge in living history (to …
Continue reading "Coming to Concord this summer? Here’s some recommendations"
After writing yesterday's post on Polly's modern sensibilities, I thought about what Louisa May Alcott's core belief was which motivated her feminism, and why she was so effective in imparting it. Autonomy My conclusion? Louisa's feminism was based on autonomy - the right of every woman to be autonomous, the freedom for each woman to …
Continue reading "The core of Louisa May Alcott’s feminism explains her timelessness"
It's interesting how the supposedly old-fashioned Polly is actually more modern than the sophisticated Fanny. That's if you think in 21st century terms. In the Shaw household, the acquisition of wealth and keeping up with fashion are both considered "sophisticated" and desirable, whereas purposefulness and little kindnesses are considered "old-fashioned." Yet, as Louisa May Alcott …
Continue reading "Was the “Old-Fashioned Girl” actually modern?"
The Christian Science Monitor has posted a 10-question quiz - test your Louisa knowledge and leave a comment as to how you did. I'll let you know how I did after I hear from you! Take the quiz.
Marianne Donnelly recently left a comment on this blog referring readers to this video. She gave me permission to post it here. “Beyond Little Women” celebrated Louisa in this living history performance at Brownell Library, Essex Junction VT. Marianne is available for national bookings with references available. You can contact her at 831-454-6333 or email …
Continue reading "Here’s a fun re-enactment of Louisa May Alcott by actress Marianne Donnelly"
Louisa May Alcott is My Passion 