Other editions of book Louisa May Alcott

*This book is Annotated (It contains a biography of the Author).* Raised among the New England Transcendentalists in Concord and Boston, Ms. Alcott grew up among some of the giants of American literature and history, including Emerson and Thoreau. However, her philosopher father Bronson Alcott was often unable to financially support his family, and Ms. Alcott devoted most of her life to giving her altruistic mother, her father and her sisters some financial security. During the Civil War, Ms. Alcott volunteered to nurse soldiers in Washington, D.C. but she became seriously ill after 6 weeks and never recovered her health, although that didn’t stop her from working 14 hour days, writing, writing, writing. After the first volume of Little Women was published, editors began soliciting her work and paying her much higher rates. She kept right on working and was able to realize her dream of supporting her family in comfort and assisting others. Published in 1889 a year after her death, Ms. Alcott’s letters and the journal supplemented with the editor’s comments form a virtual autobiography, which reflects her idealism, integrity, humor and practicality. Sadly, she had most of the letters she wrote to her family destroyed (she also edited her journal), but the letters from her European trip with her sister were inadvertently saved by her father and are delightful. “I am in the garret with my papers round me, and a pile of apples to eat while I write my journal, plan stories, and enjoy the patter of rain on the roof, in peace and quiet.” April 1855—age 22

Louisa May Alcott was an American novelist and poet best known as the author of the novel Little Women (1868) and its sequels Little Men (1871) and Jo's Boys (1886). Raised by her transcendentalist parents, Abigail May and Amos Bronson Alcott in New England, she grew up among many of the well-known intellectuals of the day such as Ralph Waldo Emerson, Nathaniel Hawthorne, and Henry David Thoreau. Nevertheless, her family suffered severe financial difficulties and Alcott worked to help support the family from an early age. She began to receive critical success for her writing in the 1860s. Early in her career, she sometimes used the pen name A. M. Barnard and under it wrote novels for young adults. Published in 1868, Little Women is set in the Alcott family home, Hillside, later called the Wayside, in Concord, Massachusetts and is loosely based on Alcott's childhood experiences with her three sisters. The novel was very well received and is still a popular children's novel today, filmed several times. Alcott was an abolitionist and a feminist and remained unmarried throughout her life. She died in Boston on March 6, 1888. Henry James called her "The novelist of children... the Thackeray, the Trollope, of the nursery and the schoolroom."

An intimate portrait of one of America's most beloved writers is revealed in this 1889 work from editor Ednah Dow Cheney. Originally published just a year after Louisa May Alcott's death at the age of 55, this unparalleled collection of Alcott's surviving personal letters and journal entries and the additional biographical commentary from family friend Cheney serve to paint a picture of Alcott's "true and frank nature" and "how faithfully and fully she performed whatever duties circumstances laid upon her." This important work gives the reader insight into Alcott's life, and portrays how her experiences informed her timeless and much-loved classics.

1889. Louisa May Alcott is universally recognized as the greatest and most popular story teller for children in her generation. She has known the way to the hearts of young people, not only in her own class, or even country, but in every condition of life, and in many foreign lands. It is impossible to understand Miss Alcott's works fully without a knowledge of her own life and experiences. Miss Alcott speaks mainly for herself in this book through her journals and letters.

Louisa May Alcott was an American novelist best known as author of the novel Little Women. In the mid-1860s, Alcott wrote passionate, fiery novels and sensational stories. She also produced wholesome stories for children, and after their positive reception, she did not generally return to creating works for adults. Alcott continued to write until her death.

Her Life - Letters and JournalsLouisa May Alcott, american novelist (1832-1888)This ebook presents «Her Life - Letters and Journals», from Louisa May Alcott. A dynamic table of contents enables to jump directly to the chapter selected.Table of Contents-01- About this book-02- INTRODUCTION-03- GENEALOGY AND PARENTAGE-04- CHILDHOOD-05- FRUITLANDS-06- THE SENTIMENTAL PERIOD-07- AUTHORSHIP-08- THE YEAR OF GOOD LUCK-09- HOSPITAL SKETCHES-10- EUROPE AND LITTLE WOMEN-11- EUROPE-12- FAMILY CHANGES-13- LAST YEARS-14- CONCLUSION-15- FOOTNOTES

LOUISA MAY ALCOTT is universally recognized as the greatest and most popular story-teller for children in her generation. She has known the way to the hearts of young people, not only in her own class, or even country, but in every condition of life, and in many foreign lands. Plato says, "Beware of those who teach fables to children;" and it is impossible to estimate the influence which the popular writer of fiction has over the audience he wins to listen to his tales. The preacher, the teacher, the didactic writer find their audience in hours of strength, with critical faculties all alive, to question their propositions and refute their arguments. The novelist comes to us in the intervals of recreation and relaxation, and by his seductive powers of imagination and sentiment takes possession of the fancy and the heart before judgment and reason are aroused to defend the citadel. It well becomes us, then, who would guard young minds from subtle temptations, to study the character of those works which charm and delight the children.

Of no author can it be more truly said than of Louisa Alcott that her works are a revelation of herself. She rarely sought for the material of her stories in old chronicles, or foreign adventures. Her capital was her own life and experiences and those of others directly about her; and her own well-remembered girlish frolics and fancies were sure to find responsive enjoyment in the minds of other girls. It is therefore impossible to understand Miss Alcott's works fully without a knowledge of her own life and experiences. By inheritance and education she had rich and peculiar gifts; and her life was one of rare advantages, as well as of trying difficulties. Herself of the most true and frank nature, she has given us the opportunity of knowing her without disguise; and it is thus that I shall try to portray her, showing what influences acted upon her through life, and how faithfully and fully she performed whatever duties circumstances laid upon her. Fortunately I can let her speak mainly for herself. Miss Alcott revised her journals at different times during her later life, striking out what was too personal for other eyes than her own, and destroying a great deal which would doubtless have proved very interesting. The small number of letters given will undoubtedly be a disappointment. Miss Alcott wished to have most of her letters destroyed, and her sister respected her wishes. She was not a voluminous correspondent; she did not encourage many intimacies, and she seldom wrote letters except to her family, unless in reference to some purpose she had strongly at heart. Writing was her constant occupation, and she was not tempted to indulge in it as a recreation. Her letters are brief, and strictly to the point, but always characteristic in feeling and expression; and, even at the risk of the repetition of matter contained in her journals or her books, I shall give copious extracts from such as have come into my hands

This early work is a collection of Louisa May Alcott's letters, journals, and notes. Louisa May Alcott (1832-1888) was an American author best known for her "Little Women" trilogy. An interesting and uniquely insightful look into the life and mind of this esteemed author, "Louisa May Alcott: Her Life, Letters, And Journals" will appeal to those who have read and enjoyed any of Alott's works. Many classic books such as this are becoming increasingly rare and expensive. It is with this in mind that we are republishing this volume now in an affordable, modern, high-quality edition complete with a specially commissioned new biography of the author.