Louisa May Alcott was an American novelist, poet, and short story writer. She is best known for her novel Little Women, 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.
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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.
Little Women is a semi-autobiographical novel that tells the story of the March sisters, four young women who learn to live on their own during the Civil War. The novel was a commercial success and was adapted into a number of films and television shows.
Also Read: A Short List of 13 Famous Books by Louisa May Alcott
Alcott also wrote a number of other novels, including Little Men, Jo's Boys, and Eight Cousins. She also wrote short stories, poems, and essays.
Alcott was a strong advocate for women's rights and social justice. She was a member of the American Equal Rights Association and the Massachusetts Suffrage Association. She also worked as a nurse during the Civil War.
Alcott died on March 6, 1888, at the age of 55.
Family Overview
Obviously, much is known about the dynamic of the Alcott family through Louisa May Alcott's book.
She was born to an educated and activist family.
Despite her family being from Pennsylvania when she was born, her family had deep ties to Connecticut. They were one of the first families to live in Connecticut.
Louisa never married or had any children of her own. However, she did adopt her youngest sister's child after her death.
Family Tree Chart
Parents:
Amos Bronson Alcott (1799 - 1888) - He was a transcendentalist philosopher, teacher, and reformer. He was a brilliant but eccentric man who was always searching for new ways to improve the world. He founded several experimental schools, including Fruitlands, a utopian community that was based on the principles of simplicity and self-sufficiency.
Abigail May (1800 - 1877) - She was outspoken and passionate about the rights of others; she was one of the first female social workers in Boston, Massachusetts. She later met and married Amos Bronson Alcott on May 23, 1830, and the union produced four daughters.
Spouse: None
Children: None
Siblings:
Anna Bronson Alcott (1831 - 1893) - She was the oldest of the Alcott children and was known as "Ame". She was a teacher and a social worker, and she helped her father run the Temple School. She also wrote a book about her experiences as a Civil War nurse. She married and had two children.
Elizabeth Sewall Alcott (1835 - 1858) - She was known as "Lizzie" to her family; she was the model for the character "Beth" in the book "Little Women," penned by her sister, Louisa May Alcott. Described as quiet, gentle, and someone who took pleasure in helping her family and friends, in 1856, she contracted scarlet fever from a poor German family that her mother was caring for but revived. However, the fever permanently weakened her, and she passed away from a "wasting illness" two years later."
Frederick Alcott (1839) - He was the only boy in the Alcott family but died at 2 days old.
Abiah May Alcott (1840 - 1879) - She was the youngest of the Alcott children and was known as "May". She was a painter and a writer. She married and had one child. Her daughter was adopted by Louisa May Alcott after her death.