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.
Susan Cheever in her biography, Louisa May Alcott A Personal Biography briefly mentioned Louisa's first novel, The Inheritance, written before she was twenty. Based upon the "gothic novel" formula of the day (poor orphan girl works on an English country estate for a fabulously wealthy family only to find out she is the true heir), …
Continue reading "Louisa May Alcott’s first novel, “The Inheritance”"
One of our readers submitted the following intriguing comment: "Katharine Anthony wrote a biographical series on Louisa in the Woman’s Home Companion of February 1938. It was titled THE MOST BELOVED AMERICAN WRITER and illustrated by Norman Rockwell. The Jo in the attic painting is one of at least several that appeared. There is another …
Continue reading "Solving the mystery of the Norman Rockwell illustrations re: Little Women"
I need your help! Here is one area of Louisa's writing that I am not familiar with. Can you recommend to me Christmas stories that Louisa has written? Seems like a nice way to prepare for the Christmas season. 🙂
I am so glad I went on that buying spree a few months ago for books by and about Louisa because now as I plough through Susan Cheever's book, I actually have at my fingertips the vast majority of sources and stories she mentions. Chapter 4 talks in part about Louisa's foray into being a …
Continue reading "“How I Went Out to Service” – Louisa May Alcott’s humiliation"
I received this message from Kelly O'Connor McNees: I hate to bother you again so soon after my last email, but I had to spread some exciting news: The Lost Summer of Louisa May Alcott has been nominated for a Goodreads Choice Award for Best Historical Fiction of 2010! Voting is easy. Just visit this …
Continue reading "Vote for Lost Summer on the Goodreads site"
I just finished the section in Louisa May Alcott A Personal Biography by Susan Cheever about the 3-1/2 years the Alcott Family spent at Hillside (must make a point of touring Hillside, now known as the Wayside, next summer). Cheever spent a couple of pages on Thoreau and how Louisa felt about him and it …
Continue reading "From Hillside to Thoreau to Irish Immigrants"
At 257 pages, I would have thought that my read of Susan Cheever's Louisa May Alcott A Personal Biography would have been quick and easy. Not so, especially since I've adopted the habit of taking notes as I read! This reminds me of school. 🙂 But I can't tell you how many times I have …
Continue reading "Catching up on Susan Cheever’s new biography on Louisa"
Thank you for the great entries for the DVD Giveaway of Louisa May Alcott The Woman Behind Little Woman, directed by Nancy Porter, written by Harriet Reisen, and produced by both. While all the entries were worthy, there were two in particular that really stood out. I asked Harriet if perhaps 2 DVDs could be …
Continue reading "We have a tie! Two winners of the DVD Giveaway"
One of my favorite new books about Louisa May Alcott is The Lost Summer of Louisa May Alcott. This is not a standard biography but a flight of fancy - a historical novel based on a period in Louisa's life where there is a notable gap in her journal writings and letters. Author Kelly O'Connor …
Continue reading "An interview with author Kelly O’Connor McNees"
I had this interesting little revelation that Amy March lives in my house in the body of my son! How is that possible? Here's how. Jo/Louisa loved her sister Amy/May very much but resented her "good luck." I always suspected that May created her own luck because of the way she treated people. My son …
Louisa May Alcott is My Passion 