Little Women — Alcott Louisa May

Little Women has remained enduringly popular since its publication in 1868 becoming the inspiration for a whole genre of family stories Set in a small New England community it tells of the March family Marmee who looks after her four daughters while her husband serves in the Civil War and the girls Meg Jo Beth and Amy who experience domestic trials and triumphs as they attempt to supplement the family s small income In the second part of the novel sometimes known as Good Wives the girls grow up and fall in love The novel is highly autobiographical and in Jo s character Alcott portrays a strong minded and independent woman determined to control her own destiny The introduction to this edition provides a fascinating history of the Alcotts and of Louisa Alcott s own struggles as a writer