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 want to do something splendid. . . something heroic or wonderful that won't be forgotten after I'm dead. I don't know what, but I'm on the watch for it and mean to astonish you all someday.” -Jo March Looking for some great and meaningful family-friendly entertainment as we muddle through the pandemic? From Far …
Continue reading "Just in time for the holidays: Audio Play adaptation of “Little Women”"
Anna Alcott Pratt was one of the better writers in the family. Fluid, thoughtful and precise, her letters and journals provide valuable insight into Alcott family life. I have often referred to her as the family secretary since she presents each family member just as they are with no commentary on her part. The details …
Continue reading "In her own words: Inside the head and heart of Anna Alcott Pratt, newlywed"
What a treat for Halloween and beyond! Juvenilia Press is announcing a new, annotated version of "Norna, or the Witch's Curse:" You can find out more at http://www.arts.unsw.edu.au/juvenilia. "Norna, or the Witch's Curse" is the play performed in Chapter 1 of Little Women. It is part of a book issued in 1893 by Roberts Brothers …
Results of True/False Quiz I see some of you tried the True/False quiz of what was real and what was made up in Little Women. No one got 100% but you were very close! Here are the answers: Hannah the servant FALSE - The Alcotts could not afford any servants in those days The Christmas …
In the last post, I shared Geraldine Brooks' imagined back story on Marmee's temper and how her husband helped her to control it. Now from March I'd like to share Brooks' version of how the March family lost their fortune. She creates a very plausible scenario with an historical figure, one that captivated much of Concord …
Continue reading "Another Little Women back story – How did the March family lose their fortune?"
Friends and biographers of Anna Alcott Pratt are so busy singing her praises as a loving and selfless daughter, wife and mother that is was hard to find more substantive information. That is, until I came across Little Women Letters from the House of Alcott. Co-authors Jessie Bonstelle and Marian deForest offered journal entries from …
I just finished chapter 12, Camp Laurence and am in the middle of chapter 13. Louisa's introduction of John Brooke as Meg's love interest is subtle and sweet. She offers up a little tease and begins the dance of courtship. I can tell this will take a while to bloom into the lifelong love that …
Continue reading "Meg March and John Brooke – The Dance of Romance Begins"
I came across this very sweet letter from Anna Alcott Pratt to some young admirers of Louisa after she had written Little Women. It's very revealing as to how she felt about her sisters, and herself. To me she seems hard on herself but most people don't think they are as good as their family …
Continue reading "A sweet letter to young fans of Little Women from “Meg”"
Louisa May Alcott is My Passion 