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Under the Lilacs (1878)

by Louisa May Alcott

Other authors: See the other authors section.

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1,911138,759 (3.52)46
Classic Literature. Young Adult Fiction. HTML:

Readers who can't get enough of the quaint and quirky sisters in Alcott's Little Women will love Under the Lilacs, too. In it, two young girls set out to have a pretend tea party, but wind up finding a runaway circus performer, whose discovery sets off a chain of mysterious events. A whimsical read for fans that will delight young and old alike.

.… (more)
  1. 10
    The Circus is Coming by Noel Streatfeild (HollyMS)
  2. 10
    Toby Tyler, or Ten Weeks with a Circus by James Otis (BonnieJune54)
    BonnieJune54: Both books involve children working in a 19th century circus.
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» See also 46 mentions

English (12)  Spanish (1)  All languages (13)
Showing 1-5 of 12 (next | show all)
This is a sweet, little, predictable book suitable for children. When I was seven, it would have been a favorite, no doubt. It has a poor boy who is orphaned, rich ladies who are gracious and generous, old houses that have sat unoccupied and are now brought back to life, circus life, horses, a dog that does tricks like spelling its name with blocks, a boy’s first ever birthday party, and a tea party with two girls and eleven dolls!

Louisa May Alcott writes excellent children’s fare and if I were rating this from that point of view I could give it another star for sure. But, I opened it as an adult and I’m grading it as fare for an adult, and of course it doesn’t measure up. It read quickly enough and I have no doubt I will forget it almost as rapidly. If you have a child seven or eight years old, this should be an excellent read for them; if you are looking for something for yourself, you should probably pass.
( )
  mattorsara | Aug 11, 2022 |
Boys used to dream about running away to join the circus, right? Lots of stories about that. Well, in this one, a boy ran away from the circus, where he had been happy until his father left for "the West", promising to come back to get him as soon as he saved up some money. Of course, he didn't return, and without his protection, young Ben began to suffer ill treatment at the hands of the man who ran the show. So off he struck, with faithful performing dog companion, Sancho (a poodle, yet), sleeping in barns, and generally falling on hard times...until he and the dog were discovered by two little girls whose mother cared for the "big house" on an estate with no master or mistress in residence. Soon enough, along comes the young mistress and her recuperating even younger brother (why is there always such a time gap between siblings in these stories?) to settle in. Lovely frolics and tea parties and poetry recitations ensue, all the while Ben's getting educated and properly clothed, and brother Thorny is grower stronger after his long and mysterious illness (illnesses never had names in the 19th century, did they?) and Betty and Bab have such fun...until Bab fails at minding Sancho and the poor critter gets kidnapped to be taken, we assume, back to the circus, and Ben gets word that his father has died in California... *sigh* There are fine pen and ink drawings illustrating the copy I read, and there's a happy ending as preposterous as it is predictable. I contemplated skimming from time to time, but in the end I managed to read it all. If I were raising young people in the late 1800's, I suppose this is just the sort of book I would have wanted them to read. But honestly, no one in it, with the possible exception of Bab, behaves in a recognizable human manner, and I don't think that's just because I'm reading it so far out of its time. ( )
  laytonwoman3rd | Feb 22, 2019 |
Forgettable, happily-ever-after. Disappointing effort from Alcott. ( )
  ErinMa | Feb 22, 2019 |
I'm delighted that this title showed up on my book group list. We all enjoyed its old fashioned sweetness. The generosity and kindness of some of the characters is an inspiration. The bad guys are very bad. Not at all like my everyday life. A wonderful escape. ( )
  njcur | Jul 31, 2017 |
This book is intended for children; it features two sisters called Bab and Betty, who are 10 and 9 respectively, and a boy called Ben who is 12 and who has run away from a circus, looking for his father.

It's old-fashioned, of course, and based in America, but the language is simple enough that fluently-reading girls of around 8 or 9 might enjoy it, and perhaps some boys too since Ben is actually the hero of the book. There are a few places where the author makes comments, as tended to happen in previous centuries, and an over-emphasis on formal education and learning poetry or facts by heart, which I might have found annoying a few years ago. But on the whole it's a delightful story, quick to read with a couple of very moving moments that brought tears to my eyes.

Not particularly memorable, but very pleasant reading, and good to re-read every ten years or so. . ( )
  SueinCyprus | Jan 26, 2016 |
Showing 1-5 of 12 (next | show all)
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» Add other authors (10 possible)

Author nameRoleType of authorWork?Status
Louisa May Alcottprimary authorall editionscalculated
Davis, MargueriteIllustratorsecondary authorsome editionsconfirmed
Ives, RuthIllustratorsecondary authorsome editionsconfirmed
Stephenson, EuniceIllustratorsecondary authorsome editionsconfirmed
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To Emma, Ida, Carl, and Lina, Over the Sea. This little book is affectionately inscribed.
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The elm-tree avenue was all overgrown, the great gate was never unlocked, and the old house had been shut up for several years.
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(Click to show. Warning: May contain spoilers.)
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Classic Literature. Young Adult Fiction. HTML:

Readers who can't get enough of the quaint and quirky sisters in Alcott's Little Women will love Under the Lilacs, too. In it, two young girls set out to have a pretend tea party, but wind up finding a runaway circus performer, whose discovery sets off a chain of mysterious events. A whimsical read for fans that will delight young and old alike.

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Book description
Ben and his trained dog, Sancho, run away from the circus and soon find a warm welcome in a kind community where spirited games are played. Theatricals and imaginative pageantry are all part of the fun.
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