Other editions of book Good Wives

Three years after the close of Little Women, the March girls, four of the most beloved young women in American literature, are young adults carving out their futures. John Brooke is home and planning a life with Meg, despite his modest financial situation. The other girls see promises of fulfillment ahead as well, as they grow and develop a certain amount of independence. Along the way, they all face painful trials, from Jo's struggle with her writing career to her friend Laurie's heartbreak in a love tragedy. Eventually, each of the girls finds happiness, but not always in the ways that they expect. Though often classified as a children's book, Good Wives, with its lifelike characters and situations, has entertained millions of adults. The delightful adventures of the March children still possess great power to inspire countless listeners.

Time has brought changes to the March household -- home of the girls Jo, Amy, Beth and Meg, introduced in Louisa May Alcott's classic novel Little Women. Having returned safely from war, Mr. March has become a trusted and beloved minister in the local parish. Home, too, is young John Brooke, whose plans for a shared life with Meg, however modest and poor that life may turn out to be, make the eldest March girl think herself the happiest soul in Christendom. The young lovers will live in a charming little house dubbed "The Dovecote," with its front lawn the size of a handkerchief. Life promises adventures and fulfillment for the other March girls, as well -- for not only are their talents developing, but they are growing older and more accomplished in the complicated matter of living their own lives. Tomboyish Jo's curly crop is lengthening into long coils, and she is learning to carry herself with ease -- if not quite with grace. Beth has grown slender, pale, and more quiet than ever, with beautiful eyes brimming with kindness. And Amy, the flower of the family, at sixteen already has the air and bearing of a full-gown woman, and exerts an indescribable charm -- especially on young men.

Excerpt from Good Wives: Being a Sequel to "Little Women"Meg had spent the-time in working as well as waiting, growing womanly in character, wise in house witawy arts, and prettier than ever; for love is a mat heautifier. She had her girlish ambitions and hem-and felt some disappointment at the humble way in which the new life must begin. Ned Moflat had just married Sallie Gardiner, and Meg couldn't help contrastihg their fine house and carriage, many gifts, and splendid outfit, with her own, and secretly wishing she could have the same. But somehow envy and discontent soon vanished when she thought of all the patient love and labour John had put into the little home awaiting'her; and when they sat together in the twilight talking over their small plane, the future always grew so beautiful and bright, that she forgot Sallie's splendour, and felt herself the richest. Happiest girl in Christendom.About the PublisherForgotten Books publishes hundreds of thousands of rare and classic books. Find more at www.forgottenbooks.comThis book is a reproduction of an important historical work. Forgotten Books uses state-of-the-art technology to digitally reconstruct the work, preserving the original format whilst repairing imperfections present in the aged copy. In rare cases, an imperfection in the original, such as a blemish or missing page, may be replicated in our edition. We do, however, repair the vast majority of imperfections successfully; any imperfections that remain are intentionally left to preserve the state of such historical works.

Little Women is, to this day, one of the most beloved novels in the English language. But few of its fans realize that it was originally published complete with its sequel, 1869's Good Wives, in one volume. This wonderful book picks up the story of sisters Jo, Meg, Beth, and Amy three years later, as they've passed through childhood and begin to face the complications of adult life. The further adventures of the March women-as well as their friend Laurie-will delight and enthrall readers who've only known their tale as ending with Little Women. LOUISA MAY ALCOTT (1832-1888), one of the most well-known American novelists of the 19th century, was born on November 29, 1832 to transcendentalist educator Amos Bronson Alcott and his wife, Abigail May Alcott. She was the second of four sisters (like Jo, her literary corollary), and grew up in a family that encouraged and sympathized with her abolitionist and feminist leanings. As a child she received instruction from noted literary figures such as Henry David Thoreau, Ralph Waldo Emerson, Margaret Fuller, and Nathaniel Hawthorne, all family friends. In addition to the Little Women series, which included four novels, she wrote 28 other works, three under the pen name A.M Barnard. Though Alcott had chronic health problems in her later years, most likely attributed to an autoimmune disease, she continued to write until her death at 55 in 1888.

This scarce antiquarian book is a facsimile reprint of the original. Due to its age, it may contain imperfections such as marks, notations, marginalia and flawed pages. Because we believe this work is culturally important, we have made it available as part of our commitment for protecting, preserving, and promoting the world's literature in affordable, high quality, modern editions that are true to the original work.

Three years after the close of Little Women, the March girls, four of the most beloved young women in American literature, are young adults carving out their futures. John Brooke is home and planning a life with Meg, despite his modest financial situation. The other girls see promises of fulfillment ahead as well, as they grow and develop a certain amount of independence. Along the way, they all face painful trials, from Jo's struggle with her writing career to her friend Laurie's heartbreak in a love tragedy. Eventually, each of the girls finds happiness, but not always in the ways that they expect. Though often classified as a children's book, Good Wives, with its lifelike characters and situations, has entertained millions of adults. The delightful adventures of the March children still possess great power to inspire countless listeners.