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 particularly appreciated a paragraph I read in today in May Alcott A Memoir by Caroline Ticknor where she summarized May's true contribution to the art world. Here's what she said: (page 225-226) "These slender links that bind May Alcott to the little group [in Grez, a small French village that proved to be a …
Continue reading "May Alcott Nieriker’s True Contribution to Art"
I loved this section that I read in Carolyn Ticknor's May Alcott A Memoir this morning. It details how May, while visiting the small village of Grez in France ( the latest mecca for artists), ran into a 14 year old fan of Little Women. Having read before how Louisa May Alcott was the first …
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 …
I'm reading the chapter entitled "Marmee's Journal" from Caroline Ticknor's May Alcott A Memoir; this journal was written in the last year of Mrs. Alcott's life. There were several little things I noticed that I wanted to share. First, there was an excerpt from one of May's letters about an episode in her drawing class. …
Continue reading "More musings from May Alcott Nieriker’s memoir"
The more I read of Caroline Ticknor's May Alcott A Memoir, the more I like May Alcott Nieriker (and Ticknor obviously did too). I just read a section in Ticknor's book where May was in London with friends and wanted to go rowing. Apparently in that day and age, it was not proper for well-bread …
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 …
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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 