Louisa May Alcott was an American novelist, poet, and short story writer. She is best known for her novel Little Women (1868), which was based on her own experiences growing up.
Alcott was born in Germantown, Pennsylvania, on November 29, 1832. She was the second of four daughters born to Amos Bronson Alcott, a transcendentalist philosopher and educator, and Abigail May Alcott, a social reformer and philanthropist.
The Alcotts were a close-knit family, and their home was a gathering place for many of the leading thinkers of the day, including Ralph Waldo Emerson, Henry David Thoreau, and Margaret Fuller. Louisa May Alcott was deeply influenced by her parents' idealism and their commitment to social justice.
Alcott began writing at a young age, and her first published work was a poem that appeared in a Boston newspaper when she was 16 years old. She went on to write novels, short stories, and poems, but she is best known for her novel Little Women.
Despite that being the most popular, she was a prolific writer and wrote over 30 pieces.
Here is a list of 13:
Little Women (1868): A semi-autobiographical novel about the March sisters, four young women who learn to live on their own during the Civil War.
Little Men (1871): A sequel to Little Women, about the March sisters' adventures as they raise their own children.
Jo's Boys (1886): The third book in the March sisters series about Jo's grown-up sons.
An Old-Fashioned Girl (1870): A novel about a young woman who learns to be independent and self-reliant.
Eight Cousins (1875): A novel about a young girl who is sent to live with her wealthy relatives.
Rose in Bloom (1876): A sequel to Eight Cousins, about Rose's adventures as she grows up.
Work: A Story of Experience (1873): A novel about a young woman who struggles to find her place in the world.
Hospital Sketches (1863): A collection of short stories about Alcott's experiences as a nurse during the Civil War.
Flower Fables (1854): A collection of fairy tales for children.
Moods (1865): A novel about a young woman who struggles with her emotions.
Transcendental Wild Oats (1873): A collection of short stories and essays about Alcott's experiences with transcendentalism.
A Modern Mephistopheles (1877): A play about a young man who makes a deal with the devil.
Lulu's Library (1886): A collection of children's stories.