A Marble Woman: Unknown Thrillers of Louisa May Alcott

Louisa May Alcott is best known for the Little Women books but at one point she was a writer who had to pay the bills. To do that she wrote thrillers with Gothic themes and exotic European settings. In this, the second collection of her unknown works, her stories are reads reminiscent of Poe and Conan Doyle with touches of the supernatural and human frailty. The introduction is the true find of this collection as Madeline Stern writes about how Alcott put her own writing struggles into the role of Jo and reflected some of the stories she wrote for serials and dime novels in Jo's works. A worthwhile read for any lover of Louisa May Alcott who wishes to read another side of her.

I love stories that can catch me up in some way and I certainly became enmeshed in Alcott's blood and thunder stories. I'm very glad to have done so.

Important in terms of understanding Alcott, but ultimately pretty poor dime novel stuff.