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 am giving my talk tonight, March 16, on the life of Louisa May Alcott at the Kutztown Community Library in PA from 6:30 to 7:30 EST via Zoom. You can register by sending an email to kutztownlibrary@gmail.com Visit https://www.berkslibraries.org/events/3391 for more information. Are you passionate about Louisa May Alcott too? Subscribe to the email …
Titled The Forgotten Alcott Essays on the Artistic Legacy and Literary Life of May Alcott Nieriker, This book is truly a labor of love and I am so grateful to our distinguished editors, Lauren Hehmyer and Azelina Flint for all of their hard work in bringing this book to life. The book is available through …
Continue reading "It’s out! The first academic study of May Alcott Nieriker is now available."
Before May Alcott left for Europe to study and become a professional artist, she gave lessons from a studio at Orchard House which her father Bronson made for her. A student of hers created one of the most iconic pieces of sculpture in America: One of his first commissioned works is in Concord: That artist …
Continue reading "Meet the artist to whom May Alcott acted as mentor: Daniel Chester French"
I have finally finished Caroline Ticknor's memoir of May (I told you I was a slow reader!) and although it is pretty romanticized, I enjoyed it thoroughly. Being able to blog about it as I read made it far more enjoyable. I will reiterate that May must have been a delight to know and that …
Caroline Ticknor pointed out something key to May Alcott Nieriker's success in life, both as a person and an artist - "It was characteristic of the aspiring artist form Concord to make the most of her opportunities and much of May's so-called 'good luck' was traceable to the alacrity with which she seized upon each …
In reading May's accounts of her travels and adventures, and hearing how other family members saw her, it occurs to me that May Alcott Nieriker is the first artist I've ever 'met' that didn't have the artist temperament. How do I know? I should know, I've been 'blessed' with one. 🙂 My art teacher in …
Continue reading "An Artist without the Temperament: How Rare!"
When Louisa sent May back to Europe on her own, I found it amusing to read in May's letters (from Ticknor's memoir) how she would bargain shop. A woman after my own heart! She often mentioned in her letters how she did this, from shopping for clothes out of fashion season, to taking free art …
Continue reading "May Alcott Nieriker was a bargain shopper!"
I get it now why Louisa became so close to her sister, May, and it's because they were opposites. An obvious thought to be sure, but Ticknor's memoir made that all the clearer to me. Louisa was complex, conflicted, duty bound, guilt-ridden . . . a rather typical 19th century New Englander from all appearances. …
Continue reading "Day 3 May Alcott a Memoir – Opposites Attract"
Reading about May and Louisa's European tour in 1870-71 in Caroline Ticknor's book, May Alcott A Memoir reminds me again of how strong the creative life force was in that family. There was such a sense of adventure in those two women, expressed through colorful stories and informative sketches and drawings. Was such talent and …
Continue reading "Where are the current relatives of the Alcott Family?"
I'm about a quarter of the way through Caroline Ticknor's May Alcott A Memoir and wanted to comment on it here as I read it. Already I'm finding things of interest. 1. I knew that Alfred Whitman was part of her inspiration for Laurie in Little Women, but I didn't realize how close the friendship …
Continue reading "Reading May Alcott’s memoir, some thoughts"
Louisa May Alcott is My Passion 