Louisa May Alcott (1832–1888)
Author of Little Women
About the Author
Louisa May Alcott was born in Germantown, Pennsylvania, in 1832. Two years later, she moved with her family to Boston and in 1840 to Concord, which was to remain her family home for the rest of her life. Her father, Bronson Alcott, was a transcendentalist and friend of Ralph Waldo Emerson and Henry show more David Thoreau. Alcott early realized that her father could not be counted on as sole support of his family, and so she sacrificed much of her own pleasure to earn money by sewing, teaching, and churning out potboilers. Her reputation was established with Hospital Sketches (1863), which was an account of her work as a volunteer nurse in Washington, D.C. Alcott's first works were written for children, including her best-known Little Women (1868--69) and Little Men: Life at Plumfield with Jo's Boys (1871). Moods (1864), a "passionate conflict," was written for adults. Alcott's writing eventually became the family's main source of income. Throughout her life, Alcott continued to produce highly popular and idealistic literature for children. An Old-Fashioned Girl (1870), Eight Cousins (1875), Rose in Bloom (1876), Under the Lilacs (1878), and Jack and Jill (1881) enjoyed wide popularity. At the same time, her adult fiction, such as the autobiographical novel Work: A Story of Experience (1873) and A Modern Mephistopheles (1877), a story based on the Faust legend, shows her deeper concern with such social issues as education, prison reform, and women's suffrage. She realistically depicts the problems of adolescents and working women, the difficulties of relationships between men and women, and the values of the single woman's life. (Bowker Author Biography) show less
Image credit: Courtesy of the NYPL Digital Gallery (image use requires permission from the New York Public Library)
Series
Works by Louisa May Alcott
The Quiet Little Woman, Tilly's Christmas, Rosa's Tale: Three Enchanting Christmas Stories (1999) 805 copies
Little Women (150th Anniversary Edition): With Foreword and 200 Original Illustrations (2019) 708 copies
Louisa May Alcott: An Intimate Anthology (New York Public Library Collector's Editions) (1997) 162 copies
The Best of Louisa May Alcott: A Charming Illustrated Collection of Little Women, Little Men, and 24 Short Stories (1994) 102 copies
Transcendental Wild Oats: And Excerpts from the Fruitlands Diary (Avenel Readers Library Series) (1975) 100 copies
Little Women (Sterling Classics) 43 copies
The Hidden Louisa May Alcott: A Collection of Her Unknown Thrillers: Two Volumes in One (1984) 40 copies
Little Women: The Complete Novel, Featuring the Characters’ Letters and Manuscripts, Written and Folded by Hand (2021) — Author — 39 copies
The Girlhood Diary of Louisa May Alcott, 1843-1846: Writings of a Young Author (Diaries, Letters, and Memoirs) (2001) 38 copies
A Louisa May Alcott Christmas Book and Charm: Selected Holiday Stories and Poems (Charming Classics) (2004) 29 copies
Little Women (Puffin in Bloom) 29 copies
Louisa May Alcott Collection 39 Works: Little Women Series (Little Women, Good Wives, Little Men, Jo's Boys), An… (2013) 24 copies
LOUISA MAY ALCOTT Ultimate Collection: 16 Novels & 150 Short Stories, Plays and Poems (Illustrated): Little Women, Good… (2015) 19 copies
American Classics for Children: Little Women / Pollyanna / Rebecca of Sunnybrook Farm (2003) 18 copies
Favourite Stories of Courageous Girls: inspiring heroines from classic children's books (2019) 12 copies
Works of Louisa May Alcott. (35 Works) Includes Little Women, Little Men, A Country Christmas and more (2007) 10 copies
Louisa Alcott Collection: 39 Works 8 copies
The Sketches of Louisa May Alcott (Ironweed American Classics) (Ironwood American Classics) (2001) 8 copies
Anne of Green Gables / Sense and Sensibility / Little Women / Pride Prejudice / Jane Eyre / Emma / The Secret Garden /… (2002) 8 copies
Little Women, (150th Anniversary Edition) Original Illustrations: (Little Women and Good Wives) (2020) 6 copies
The Little Women 4 Books Collection Box Set By Louisa May Alcott (Little Women, Good Wives, Jo's Boys & Little Men) (2022) 6 copies
Eight Cousins/Good Wives/Jo's Boys/Little Men/Little Women/An Old-Fashioned Girl/Rose in Bloom (2013) 6 copies
Little Women, Little Men, Eight Cousins, Jo's Boys, Jack & Jill, An Old-Fashioned Girl, Rose in Bloom (1946) 5 copies
The Complete Works of Louisa May Alcott (Illustrated): Novels, Short Stories, Plays & Poems: Little Women, Good Wives,… (2007) 5 copies
An Alcott Christmas Collection: A Christmas Dream, A Country Christmas, Excerpts from Little Women, & More (2020) 5 copies
Mujercitas para niños (Clasicos Para Ninos / Classics for Children) (Spanish Edition) (2002) 4 copies
LITTLE WOMEN Easton Press 4 copies
Louisa May Alcott: Complete Collection Works with analysis and historical background (Annotated and Illustrated)… (2014) 4 copies
Little Women Collection: Little Women, Little Men, Eight Cousins and More (Xist Classics) (2015) 4 copies
A Sprig of Andromeda 3 copies
Charming Novels of Classic Heroines : Pollyanna, The Secret Garden, Little Women, Anne of Green Gables, and Rebecca of… (2017) 3 copies
Louisa May Alcott Family Favorites Collection: 5-Book Boxed Set with Postcards & Journal (2021) 3 copies
Little Women / The Last of the Mohicans / The Red Badge of Courage / Oliver Twist / Captains Courageous / The Call of… — Contributor — 3 copies
Doctor Dorn's Revenge {short story} 3 copies
Little Women (Unabridged Classics) 2 copies
Mulherzinhas - Little Women - Romance No Qual Foi Baseado O Filme Adoráveis Mulheres - 9ª Ed. (2009) 2 copies
Little Women (Classics Starts) 2 copies
The Little Women Collection Box Set (Little Women, Good Wives, Little Men & Jo's Boys) (2019) 2 copies
50 Masterpieces you have to read 2 copies
Hombrecitos para niños (Clasicos Para Ninos Classics for Children) (Spanish Edition) (2019) 2 copies
Civil War Memoirs of Louisa May Alcott (Unabridged): Including Letters, Hospital Sketches & Biography of the Author -… (2015) 2 copies
The Louisa Alcott story book 2 copies
The Dover Anthology of Classic Christmas Stories: Louisa May Alcott, Charles Dickens, Leo Tolstoy, Mark Twain And… (2023) 2 copies
Tant Hannas gossar 2 copies
Een neef en vijf nichtjes 1 copy
نساء صغيرات #1 1 copy
True Friends 1 copy
Good Wives/Jo's Boys 1 copy
OCHO PRIMOS, LOS 1 copy
Rainbow classics 1 copy
Mutevoli umori 1 copy
Double Life, A 1 copy
Little Women 1 copy
Classic American Fiction: 22 books by Louisa May Alcott in a single file, improved 12/10/2010 (2009) 1 copy
Louisa M. Alcott. Adaptation de R. et A. Prophétie. Illustrations de Guy Sabran. Petites bonnes femmes : Les… (1950) 1 copy
hidden Louisa may alcott 1 copy
KUCUK KADINLAR 1 copy
Marmee's Surprise 1 copy
Fijne Handschoenen 1 copy
Bellas historias 1 copy
Los hombrecitos entrometidos 1 copy
Louisa Mary Alcott, Little Women. Betty und ihre Schwestern - Erster und zweiter Teil. Schmuckausgabe mit… (2023) 1 copy
[Classic Starts®: Little Women (Classic Starts® Series)] [By: Alcott, Louisa May] [March, 2005] 1 copy
Little women from the novel 1 copy
Aquelas mulherzinhas 1 copy
Sylvia En Haar Luimen 1 copy
Rosy's Journey 1 copy
Piccole donne 1 copy
The Inheritance 1 copy
Little Women, Little Men, Jo's Boys, Under the Lilacs, Eight Cousins, Jack and Jill. Six Volume Set. 1 copy
Le piccole donne crescono. 1 copy
Los primos 1 copy
Sireenien alla 1 copy
Eight Cousins (Unabridged) 1 copy
Little Men: Thanksgiving [1998 TV episode] — Author — 1 copy
The Abbot’s Ghost 1 copy
El espectro del abad 1 copy
Ruthie Rides the Trolley 1 copy
Cac Cau Be Cua Jo 1 copy
138. Mulherzinhas 1 copy
A Christmas Dream Comes True 1 copy
Rosa en Flor 1 copy
MUJERCITAS 1 copy
Piccole Donne a fumetti 1 copy
Malé ženy 1 copy
Lost in a London Fog 1 copy
Little Women-1963 1 copy
Little Women. (1868) NOVEL by: Louisa May Alcott ( INCLUDE: An Old-Fashioned Girl. (1870) NOVEL by: Louisa May Alcott ) (2016) 1 copy
A Strange Island 1 copy
A Song for A Christmas Tree 1 copy
Väikeste naiste abielud #1.5 1 copy
Four Stories 1 copy
25 Favorite Children's Books 1 copy
Alcott, Louisa May Archive 1 copy
Mulherzinhas v.1 1 copy
Mulherzinhas v. 2 1 copy
Cousin Tribulation's Story 1 copy
Little Women and Other Works 1 copy
Little Women [adapted - Sadler] — Author — 1 copy
An Hour 1 copy
Short Stories Collection 1 copy
Green Apple - Life Skills 1 copy
En ädel qvinna 1 copy
PICCOLE DONNE CRESCONO 1 copy
Meadow Blossoms 1 copy
Water Cresses 1 copy
Will's Wonder Book 1 copy
How It All Happened 1 copy
Una ragazza vecchio stampo 1 copy
Anos Felizes 1 copy
A Christmas Song 1 copy
Complete Louisa May Alcott Works - 35 Complete Works (Little Women Trilogy, An Old Fashioned Girl, Work, Eight Cousins,… (2017) 1 copy
LC: Little Women 1 copy
The Uncollected Works of Louisa May Alcott, Volume One: Short Stories (Ironweed American Classics) (How-To Series) (2001) 1 copy
Good Wives 1 copy
Småfrøkner 1 copy
Småfrøknene gifter seg 1 copy
Work: A S tory of Experience 1 copy
Associated Works
The Assassin's Cloak: An Anthology of the World's Greatest Diarists (2000) — Contributor, some editions — 550 copies
Meg, Jo, Beth, and Amy: A Graphic Novel: A Modern Retelling of Little Women (2019) — Original Story — 308 copies
The Snow Queen and Other Winter Tales (Barnes & Noble Leatherbound Classic Collection) (2015) — Contributor — 184 copies
The Graphic Canon, Vol. 2: From "Kubla Khan" to the Bronte Sisters to The Picture of Dorian Gray (2012) — Contributor — 183 copies
Enchanting Stories for Young Readers (Usborne Illustrated Classics) (1999) — Contributor — 150 copies
The Children's Treasury: Best Loved Stories and Poems from Around the World (1987) — Contributor — 148 copies
American Antislavery Writings: Colonial Beginnings to Emancipation (2012) — Contributor — 122 copies
Weird Women: Classic Supernatural Fiction by Groundbreaking Female Writers: 1852-1923 (2020) — Contributor — 82 copies
The Lifted Veil: The Book of Fantastic Literature by Women 1800-World War II (1806) — Contributor — 42 copies
A Christmas Carol and Other Christmas Tales (Barnes & Noble Collectible Editions) (2021) — Contributor — 37 copies
Civil War Memories: Nineteen Stories of Battle, Bravery, Love, and Tragedy (2000) — Contributor — 33 copies
Little Women: A Story about the Value of Generosity [abridged - Chick-fil-A] (2005) — Author — 19 copies
Jane Eyre/ Wuthering Heights/ Little Women/ Adam Bede/ Emma/ Pride and Prejudice (2001) — Contributor — 15 copies
Out of the Sand: Mummies, Pyramids, and Egyptology in Classic Science Fiction and Fantasy (2008) — Contributor — 5 copies
Penguin Readers Library Pack Level 1: WITH David Beckham AND Barcelona Game AND Girl Meets Boy AND Run for Your Life… (2005) 3 copies
Botanica Delira: More Stories of Strange, Undiscovered, and Murderous Vegetation (2010) — Contributor — 2 copies
Little Women [1958 TV movie] — Author — 1 copy
90 Masterpieces You Must Read (Vol.1): Novels, Poetry, Plays, Short Stories, Essays, Psychology & Philosophy (2020) — Contributor — 1 copy
Tagged
Common Knowledge
- Canonical name
- Alcott, Louisa May
- Other names
- Barnard, A. M.
- Birthdate
- 1832-11-29
- Date of death
- 1888-03-06
- Burial location
- Authors' Ridge, Sleepy Hollow Cemetery, Concord, Massachusetts, USA
- Gender
- female
- Nationality
- USA
- Birthplace
- Germantown, Pennsylvania, USA
- Place of death
- Boston, Massachusetts, USA
- Cause of death
- stroke
- Places of residence
- Germantown, Pennsylvania, USA
Concord, Massachusetts, USA
Boston, Massachusetts, USA
Utopian Fruitlands Community, Harvard, Massachusetts, USA (1843-1844) - Education
- homeschooled
- Occupations
- novelist
nurse
seamstress
teacher
governess - Relationships
- Alcott, Amos Bronson (father)
Alcott, Abigail May (mother) - Organizations
- Transcendentalism
- Agent
- Zachary Shuster Harmsworth (estate)
- Short biography
- Louisa May Alcott (November 29, 1832 – March 6, 1888) was an American novelist, short story writer 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 in New England by her transcendentalist parents, Abigail May and Amos Bronson Alcott, she grew up among many of the well-known intellectuals of the day, such as Ralph Waldo Emerson, Nathaniel Hawthorne, Henry David Thoreau, and Henry Wadsworth Longfellow.
Alcott's family suffered from financial difficulties, and while she worked to help support the family from an early age, she also sought an outlet in writing. 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, under which she wrote novels for young adults that focused on spies and revenge.
Published in 1868, Little Women is set in the Alcott family home, Orchard House, in Concord, Massachusetts, and is loosely based on Alcott's childhood experiences with her three sisters, Abigail May Alcott Nieriker, Elizabeth Sewall Alcott, and Anna Alcott Pratt. The novel was well-received at the time and is still popular today among both children and adults. It has been adapted many times to the stage, film, and television.
Alcott was an abolitionist and a feminist and remained unmarried throughout her life. All her life she was active in such reform movements as temperance and women's suffrage. She died from a stroke, two days after her father died, in Boston on March 6, 1888.
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Louisa May Alcott in Tattered but still lovely (February 2018)
Alcott favorites? in Tattered but still lovely (November 2014)
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Statistics
- Works
- 528
- Also by
- 95
- Members
- 89,894
- Popularity
- #111
- Rating
- 3.9
- Reviews
- 1,212
- ISBNs
- 4,636
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- Favorited
- 290