Louisa May Alcott and Little Women
A video talk
Writer Anna Quindlen once claimed “Little Women changed my life”, and she was not alone in having such a strong reaction to this extraordinary classic. J.K. Rowling, Simone de Beauvoir, Ursula le Guin and Ethel Turner were just some of the literary fans of the novel.
I have laughed and cried over Little Women so many times! As a girl I simply loved the story and the romance of it all, but as an adult, when I came to learn more about its remarkable author and her struggle to support herself, I appreciated the book even more. Now there’s a new film version, introducing Little Women to a new generation of viewers and, hopefully, readers as well. Let me introduce you to the extraordinary Louisa May Alcott, to share with you some of the unusual and memorable aspects of her story.
Just $15.00
This video is about 40 minutes full of intriguing information.
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Did you know that Louisa’s grave is marked by an American flag indicating service in the Civil War? She was eager to serve – after all, this was a war fought over slavery and the Alcotts were ardent abolitionists. Her modest childhood home had served as a ‘stop’ on the famous Underground Railway, assisting escaped slaves from the South to head north to Canada looking for freedom, and Louisa wanted to play her part.
Enlisting as a hospital nurse, Louisa saw some horrific sights – men mutilated by cannon fire and wracked by the diseases that swept through the armies of both the North and South. She was paid just $10 for her service. After only six weeks she fell ill with typhoid pneumonia and nearly died. Her thick, glossy hair was chopped off and she was treated with calomel, a mercury-based medicine. This treatment caused far more problems than it cured, for the mercury poisoned her system. “I was never ill before this time and never well afterward”, she later wrote. The world had come so very close to not having Little Women in it at all.
Louisa’s first book, Hospital Sketches, based on the letters she wrote home during the war and published in 1863, didn’t make much money, but it did help to get her name known in the literary world and, most importantly, it taught her her true style. She realised that writing about what had actually happened was something she did well. This little book taught her the writing path she should follow and was a precursor to Little Women.
“Louisa May Alcott was telling girls they could do anything they wanted to: be actresses, writers, artists, wives or homebodies. That you could be a philosopher and still cook and look after people. And I thought that was wonderful.”
― Sandi Toksvig, writer, broadcaster and actor
I also love the story of her publisher making up his mind about the manuscript of this novel. He personally thought it was a dull story, but gave it to a group of young girls to read. These girls said it was a “splendid” book and longed to know what would happen next to the ‘little women’. The publisher concluded that young girls must be the best critics of a tale intended for them, so he made the decision to publish. Of course, he never regretted that decision!
So, how did Little Women come to be written in the first place, when Louisa never much liked stories about girls? How did she cope with all the fame it brought to her and her family? She financially supported her sisters, parents and nephews and nieces through using her pen – a rare feat for a woman in the 19th century.
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My talk explains the autobiographical aspects of Little Women. You will discover what parts of her own life Louisa May Alcott changed when she turned her experiences into fiction. You will learn about the start of her writing career, penning what she called her ‘blood and thunder’ novels packed with murder, guilty secrets, frustrated passion and violence.
I also delve into the novel itself and discuss what makes Little Women such an enduring tale. How did Louisa use a religious classic as a model? What are the major personality traits of each sister? How do we respond to the men they marry?
Jo lies on the rug, and cuts her hair short – not proper behaviour for a young lady of that era? But there’s so much more that makes this a feminist book. Discover all the ‘Me Too’ aspects of Little Women. Buy it now and receive a link to view your video immediately
This Video Talk is a real video treat! In it, I reveal intriguing stories about the author to help you understand what prompted this book to be written. I identify the main characters and their roles, analyse the themes behind the story, and describe the influence that the era, lifestyle and circumstances have on the book’s setting. This talk is illustrated with photographs, paintings, scenes from different film versions and book covers – you’ll have plenty to look at while you listen.
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Anne Boyd Rioux who wrote the book Meg, Jo, Beth and Amy: The Story of Little Women and Why It Still Matters first read the novel as an adult, and yet still fell in love with it. Did you read it in childhood, or later? Did you fall in love with the book? It’s a deeply religious book – do you think that is off-putting for a modern reader? Do you think this novel still matters and why? I’d love to hear your reactions to this classic story. Let’s discuss it here.
It is not possible in a 37 minute talk to cover all aspects of Louisa’s life and work. If you’re keen to learn more, look up these fabulous books about the unusual circle in which she lived (authors Emerson, Thoreau and Hawthorne). There’s also a superb book about why we should all be reading this classic (boys as well as girls, men as well as women!), and an extremely comprehensive biography about Louisa.
Here is where to buy the book in print, ebook or audio. Find the books on my recommended reading list, watch a movie version, enjoy related videos, websites and much more. Have anything to add here? Let me know.
BUY THE BOOKS
Little Women by Louisa May Alcott
Eden’s Outcasts: The Story of Louisa May Alcott and her Father by John Matteson
Louisa May Alcott by Madeleine B. Stern
Louisa May Alcott: The Woman Behind Little Women by Harriet Reisen
Meg, Jo, Beth and Amy: The Story of Little Women and Why It Still Matters by Anne Boyd Rioux
The Concord Quartet: Alcott, Emerson, Hawthorne, Thoreau and the Friendship that Freed the American Mind by Samuel A. Schreiner
FREE DOWNLOAD
Some free versions are better than others, please feel free to try these, but I cannot guarantee the quality.
Little Women by Louisa May Alcott. Free downloadable version in kindle or epub format. (Select from the available versions.) If you are unsure of how to add these files to your ereader, look here.
Little Women by Louisa May Alcott, narrated by Abigail Rasmussen.
FIND IN A LIBRARY (You will need to create an account and hold a library card.)
Little Women by Louisa May Alcott National Library of Australia free public access to books in Australian libraries.
MOVIES
Some free versions are better than others, please feel free to try these, but I cannot guarantee the quality.
A video playlist for Little Women by Louisa May Alcott.
Streaming Guide from JustWatch Australia: Little Women various adaptations
LINKS
Susannah Fullerton: Louisa May Alcott is born
Susannah Fullerton: More about Louisa May Alcott
Susannah Fullerton: First volume of Little Women is published
Susannah Fullerton: Happy Birthday, Louisa May Alcott
Susannah Fullerton: Louisa May Alcott dies
Louisa May Alcott Society
Louisa May Alcott’s Orchard House
Anne Boyd Rioux who wrote the book Meg, Jo, Beth and Amy: The Story of Little Women and Why It Still Matters first read the novel as an adult, and yet still fell in love with it. Did you read it in childhood, or later? Did you fall in love with the book? It’s a deeply religious book – do you think that is off-putting for a modern reader? Do you think this novel still matters and why? I’d love to hear your reactions to this classic story. Let’s discuss it here.
Jilda Whiddon
I have really enjoyed hearing about the life of Louisa May Alcott her parents and siblings.it was extremely interesting and informative and so well .researched and presented by Susannah. The video talk was a gift and gave me so much pleasure I can’t wait to hear some of the other presentations available. I have recently chosen The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie and sent it to a friend as a birthday gift which she loved and thought it was such a special present.
Susannah Fullerton
Oh Jilda, that’s so lovely of you. I am delighted you enjoyed the video talk on Louisa May Alcott – I hope a trip back down memory lane and girlhood radings of Little Women.
I do have to agree that my video talks make special gifts, and also such easy ones in times of lockdown when shopping isn’t so simple.
Many thanks!