Full Description
Little Women, Louisa May Alcott's masterpiece of Children's literature, is the story of the March sisters, Meg, Jo, Beth and Amy. Living in a small Massachusetts town, the girls and Mrs. March must make do while Mr. March is away serving as an Army Chaplain during the Civil War. At the story's center lies Jo who, as she approaches adulthood, must reconcile her duties to her family with her desire to become a successful writer.
The many appendices in this Broadview edition include materials on the early women's movement, the novel's composition, and Alcott's literary influences.
Contents
Acknowledgements
Introduction
Louisa May Alcott: A Brief Chronology
A Note on the Text
List of Abbreviations
Little Women, or Meg, Jo, Beth and Amy
Appendix A: The Composition and Publication of Little Women
Entries from Louisa May Alcott's Journals about Little Women
A Manuscript Page of Little Women
Correspondence concerning Little Women
Nineteenth-Century comments/reviews of Little Women
Appendix B: The Sources for Little Women
Louisa May Alcott's Journal entries
Early versions of Little Women stories:
"The Sister's Trial"
"Merry's Monthly Chat"
"My Polish Boy"
Appendix C: The March Girls' Writings
"Norna; or, The Witches' Curse"
"Aunt Sue's Scrap Bag" from Merry's Museum
"The Masked Marriage"
"The Greek Slave"
"The Rival Painters"
Appendix D: Literary Influences
Bronson Alcott's Influence
Louisa May Alcott's comments about books & reading
Jean de La Fontaine, "The Jay in Peacock's Feathers"
Hans Christian Andersen, "The Steadfast Tin Soldier"
"The King & the Beggarmaid" tales
Selections from John Bunyan, The Pilgrim's Progress
Appendix E: Feminist Issues
Excerpts from the Proceedings of the Women's Rights Convention
Selections from Louisa May Alcott's journals & letters
"Louisa M. Alcott's Defence of Woman Suffrage"
Selections from Louisa May Alcott's other writings
Works Cited & Recommended Reading
