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.
Look at what I got at The Barrows in Concord! New meaning This is the first time that I've acquired first editions of Louisa May Alcott's books. Knowing she was alive when these books were published adds another layer of meaning to the reading. I feel myself transported back to 1886, catching up on the …
Continue reading "Jo’s Boys – reading the first edition knowing Louisa was alive"
Louisa's yearning for private space and her glorious room at Hillside/Wayside always made me crave a special space too. I never dreamed it could be portable! Here's a picture of where her room was in the house at Wayside. Nathaniel Hawthorne changed the house after he bought it from Bronson and Louisa's little room no …
Continue reading "A room of one’s own: what if your “room” could be portable?"
I embody a bit of Louisa in my writing and Lizzie in my music; my sister definitely embodies May Alcott Nieriker in her art and her love of the rugged outdoors (as you may know May enjoyed rowing and horseback riding). My sis, Christine Hoyle Houde, just launched her artist website and I am proud to …
Continue reading "The Alcotts in my family – my sister is May!"
Following up on my last post on Abigail Alcott, I finished transcribing yet another letter from her to Bronson dated January 4, 1858. Looking for a reply Lizzie is clearly getting worse, her days winding down until her death on March 14. Abba was her primary caregiver, a crushing responsibility in and of itself. But …
Continue reading "Abigail May Alcott’s love was her strength"
Slowly but surely I am getting through Abba’s letters in relation to my research on Lizzie Alcott. These letters cover a period from 1853 to 1858. Abba’s handwriting is difficult; it appears she often wrote in haste. Her eyesight was poor so it’s amazing she could write letters at all considering she was writing either …
Continue reading "Revealing the real Abigail Alcott to the world must include Bronson"
As you may know, I have been researching and writing a book about Elizabeth Alcott. I wanted to share with you some wonderful technology tricks that make researching and writing a book a lot easier for me. And it actually is pretty affordable! Check it out …
As this blog is about collecting and connecting all the pieces of a life together into one flow, I realized I needed to add another interest to this blog: technology. I love technology and have ever since I started on my first Mac back in the 1980’s. I’m a PC person now but I have the iPhone, 2 iPods and a Barnes & Noble Nook. I was holding my iPod when I heard Steve Jobs passed away and I shed a tear.
A great exampleAs a practical example of collecting pieces together, the Nook is my favorite example. You won’t believe what I require of my Nook and how it delivers!
I have had a Nook for a few years and I love it. The backlighting and adjustable size of type and line spacing is perfect for my failing eyesight. It’s so convenient having…
View original post 796 more words
Check out this perk for supporting Orchard House with a membership: Now I can share my love of Louisa May Alcott with everyone! Here's how you can join and support Louisa May Alcott's Orchard House. Click to Tweet & Share: Share your love for Louisa May Alcott with everyone! http://wp.me/p125Rp-1Ex Are you passionate about Louisa May …
Continue reading "Share your love for Louisa May Alcott with everyone!"
Louisa May Alcott had numerous friends and admirers. Being writers themselves (or children of famous writers such as Julian Hawthorne, see previous post), these friends and admirers provide us with what I think are the most colorful biographical sketches of Louisa. No scholar can truly capture what a contemporary (especially a friend) can reveal through …
My family visited Orchard House back when I was a little girl (I'm the one with the pig tails - my brother is to my left and sister to my right). The family with us are my aunt, uncle and cousin. My uncle took hours and hours of home movies and made a short one …
Continue reading "My first visit to Orchard House in 1963, captured on film!"
Check out this fascinating anecdote-rich article by an Alcott contemporary, Julian Hawthorne (son of Nathanial Hawthorne) Written in the 1920s he gives a unique perspective on the popularity of Little Women during the free-spirited flapper era. He also spills some gossip about he and Abby May. 🙂 Enjoy! http://clickamericana.com/eras/1920s/louisa-may-alcott-the-woman-who-wrote-little-women-1922 Click to Tweet & Share: Louisa May …
Continue reading "Louisa May Alcott The Women Who Wrote Little Women by Julian Hawthorne"
Louisa May Alcott is My Passion 