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.
Louisa May Alcott has legions of fans worldwide because of a book published in 1868 that targeted younger readers. The author drew heavily upon her family history to create this coming-of-age story that has been cherished and passed down from generation to generation. Yet, the author is far more complex than the book would suggest. …
In this post, I would like to acquaint you with Kent Bicknell, an avid Alcott scholar and collector of artifacts related to Transcendentalism. Bicknell has amassed a fantastic collection that tells compelling stories about the Alcott family not found in biographies of this remarkable family. Recently, Bicknell was honored by The Ticknor Society, which awarded …
Continue reading "Alcott artifacts and collectibles tell stories beyond the written word."
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"
Guest post by Lorraine Tosiello In March 1871, Louisa May Alcott, her sister May, and May’s friend Alice Bartlett spent two weeks in the hill towns south of Rome. Based in Albano Laziale, the women had access to the nearby lakes of Albano and Nemi, picturesque villages such as Frascati and Grottaferrata, gardens to walk …
Continue reading "In the footsteps of Louisa May Alcott in the Castelli Romani Part 2"
Guest post by Lorraine Tosiello In March 1871, toward the end of their Grand Tour in Europe, Louisa May Alcott, her sister May, and May’s friend Alice Bartlett were ready to quit Rome. Alcott had suffered from neuralgia during a rainy winter and had seen the Eternal City through blue glasses. Her dislike of nobility, …
Continue reading "In the footsteps of Louisa May Alcott in the Castelli Romani Part 1"
Ever since the publication of Little Women in 1868, readers have been enchanted with Theodore "Laurie" Lawrence and were bitterly disappointed when Jo March rejected his marriage proposal. The dark, handsome, and lively young man loved pulling pranks, often engaged in fiery discussions with Jo, and was there for her in every significant moment of …
You may have noticed that I have not been as active on this blog as I used to be. The combination of writing my book on Elizabeth and health issues has made it challenging to keep up. I would like this blog to have fresh posts more frequently. Therefore, I am reaching out to you. …
Continue reading "Looking for correspondents for Louisa May Alcott is My Passion"
Here are two articles I wrote that were published in "Discover Concord" magazine. My apologies for not posting the article from 2022 in a more timely fashion. I have been utterly immersed in my biography of Elizabeth Alcott (two chapters to go before I finish the first draft!) and therefore, have been neglecting this blog. …
After capturing Louisa May Alcott’s legacy in a haunting portrait, Canadian artist Malcolm Hollyman has generously donated his work to Louisa May Alcott’s Orchard House. Working off of a familiar daguerreotype of the Little Women author, Mr. Hollyman sought to portray Louisa’s complex life beyond that of a best-selling children’s author. “I wanted to paint …
I am indebted to my good friend Virginia Martin for alerting me to the latest issue of "Piecework" and the wonderful article by Lisa-Anne Bauch about Louisa May Alcott's needlework and its connection to one of her later juvenile novels, Jack and Jill. Bauch summarizes the plot and weaves Louisa's use of needlework to flesh …
Continue reading "Louisa May Alcott’s exquisite needlework and its connection to “Jack and Jill”"
Louisa May Alcott is My Passion 