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 pleased to present this guest post by Richard Smith. Meeting Thoreau In March 1840, Bronson Alcott and his family moved to Concord, Massachusetts. Along with Bronson were his wife, Abigail May, and their three young daughters: nine-year-old Anna, seven-year-old Louisa, and Elizabeth, aged four. There would soon be a fourth daughter added to …
Continue reading "“Our Pan” — Henry Thoreau and the Alcotts"
Looking for a first edition volume of Jo's Boys? Perhaps you've been searching for works done by friends of the Concord authors or biographers whose books are hard to find. Maybe you want an older copy of Walden by Thoreau or Nature by Emerson. For antique books by the Concord authors, The Barrow Bookstore in Concord, …
Continue reading "Wonderful audio series on YouTube by The Barrow bookstore in Concord"
Wednesday's presentations proved to be lively, poignant and brain-busting! Gabrielle Donnelly, author of The Little Women Letters, spoke on Louisa's trips to Europe in her presentation titled, "Our Foreign Correspondent Louisa May Alcott's Travels Through Europe." She read extensively from Shawl Straps (Aunt Jo's Scrap-Bag) and had the room in stitches. Gabrielle has a unique …
Continue reading "Summer Conversational Series for Wednesday, July 15"
In my continuing research on Elizabeth Alcott, I find that letters by her mother offer the most poignant moments. I am already obsessed with Lizzie and Abba's comments act as gasoline on an already roaring fire. I'm told that obsession with a character will produce a good story; I sure hope so! I believe in …
Continue reading "Lizzie’s favorite hymn, perhaps the one sung at her funeral"
The Journals of Bronson Alcott by Odell Shepard My rating: 5 of 5 stars I just finished reading The Journals of Bronson Alcott, edited by Odell Shepard. I was fascinated, stimulated and deeply moved. Let no one judge Bronson Alcott until they have done a thorough study of his life (which I have not yet …
Cathlin Davis on Louisa’s philosophy of life Continuing with Day 4 of the series, Professor Cathlin Davis from California State University presented on “Practice Philosophy: ‘I want something to do.’” Through passages from Hospital Sketches, Work, Little Men and some of the rarer short stories (“May Flowers” from A Garland for Girls and “What Becomes …
Day Two of the Summer Conversational Series featured a fine array of speakers. Kristi Lynn Martin and Duty's Faithful Child Starting off the morning was Kristi Lynn Martin, a doctoral candidate at Boston University. Martin’s many years of experience as a tour guide at Concord’s finest historical homes (The Old Manse, “Bush” (aka the Emerson …
During my vacation this week I will be attending the Summer Conversational Series sponsored by Louisa May Alcott’s Orchard House. The theme is "Chaos, Cosmos, and the Oversoul" The Influence of Transcendental Philosophy on the Life and Writing of Louisa May Alcott. Speakers include Gabrielle Donnelly (author of The Little Women Letters), Eve LaPlante (author …
Note: This post is longer than usual. I had considered running it in two installments but thought it would lessen the impact of its message by doing that. So sit back with a cup of coffee, relax and read. 🙂 Two ladies, same vision Two New England feminists, both heavily influenced by transcendentalism. Both in …
What's your dream for the ultimate summer vacation? Is it a trip to a new and/or exotic place? Is it time all to yourself to do whatever you wish? How about both? That’s been my dream for many summers and this year, it came true. New and exotic places Back in June, our whole family …
Continue reading "The vacation of my dreams: 3 days with Louisa May Alcott"
Louisa May Alcott is My Passion 