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Alcott, Louisa May, 1832-1888

 Person

Dates

  • Existence: 1832 - 1888

Biography

Louisa May Alcott (1832-1888) was an American novelist.

Louisa May Alcott, author of the "Little Women" series, was born in Germantown, Pennsylvania, on November 29, 1832, to Bronson and Abigail (Abba) May Alcott. In 1840, the Alcotts moved to Concord, Massachusetts, where their neighbors included Ralph Waldo Emerson and Henry David Thoreau. During the short time the Alcotts lived in Concord, Louisa began to write dramas for her sisters to enact in the barn. The memories of these barnyard melodramas and other childhood experiences would later find their way into Louisa's books, especially "Little Women."

After a trip to Europe in 1842 to visit an experimental school named for him, Bronson Alcott returned with Charles Lane and Henry Wright. With them, Bronson bought a farm in Harvard, Massachusetts, called "Fruitlands," and there developed a utopian society for his family. Mr. Alcott's experiments with cold baths, linen tunics, and vegetarian diets were not compatible with the harsh New England winter, and the Alcott family suffered from poor health and poverty until Bronson finally gave up on his "New Eden" scheme. The Alcotts then began a series of moves to and from Boston and Concord as Mr. Alcott searched for new means to support his family.

In September 1851, Louisa's first poem, entitled "Sunlight," was published in Peterson's Magazine under the pseudonym of "Flora Fairfield." This was followed by several other "Flora Fairfield" compositions, including a book of fairy stories written for Emerson's daughter, Ellen. Louisa's first novel, "Moods," was begun in 1860-1861. Her progress was impeded, however, by a desire to nurse soldiers wounded in the Civil War. She was accepted as a nurse by the Union Hotel Hospital in December 1862. In August 1863, Louisa's letters to her family describing her experiences as a nurse were published in Hospital Sketches, under the pseudonym "Tribulation Periwinkle." "Moods" was finally published in December 1864.

During the mid to late 1860s, Louisa attempted another type of writing style which she called her "blood and thunder stories." These gothic romances were written under the pen name "A. M. Barnard.” Louisa also began her career as a children's author in 1867 as the editor of the juvenile magazine, Merry's Museum.

In September of 1867, Thomas Niles of Roberts Brothers Publishing asked Louisa if she would write a children's book for him and, in May 1868, "Little Women" began to take shape. In this children's novel about the March family, Louisa encapsulated the Alcott home, presenting a cheerful account of her own early life in New England. The book gained instant recognition upon its publication in 1869. During the 1870s, Louisa published prolifically, completing at least one book per year.

Toward the end of her life, Lousia constantly suffered from poor health, concentrating on rearing her niece, Louisa May ("Lulu") Nieriker, the daughter of her sister May and Ernest Nieriker. May had died in 1879 shortly after Lulu's birth. In June of 1887, Louisa began her last novel, "A Garland for Girls," which was published in November. In July of 1887, she wrote and signed her will. On March 6, 1887, Louisa May Alcott died in Boston, Massachusetts. She was fifty-six years old.

Citation:
Gulliver, L. Louisa May Alcott, a bibliography ... 1932.

nuc88-133929: Her Hospital sketches [MI] 1863 (hdg. on NNC-T rept.: Alcott, Louisa May, 1832-1888; usage: L.M. Alcott)

Jo's boys, 1983: t.p. (Louisa M. Alcott)

MWA/NAIP files (hdg.: Alcott, Louisa May, 1832-1888; usage: Louisa M. Alcott; author of Little women; author of An old-fashioned girl; author of Little men; author of Hospital sketches; author of Kitty's class-day; author of Moods; author of Aunt Jo's scrap-bag; author of Work; author of Aunt Kipp; author of Eight cousins; author of Psyche's art)

Wikipedia, Dec. 9, 2010 (Louisa May Alcott; b. Nov. 29, 1832 in Germantown (Philadelphia), Pa.; d. Mar. 6, 1888 in Boston, Mass.; American novelist)

Selected letters of Louisa May Alcott, 1995, via WWW, viewed April 20, 2022 (letters signed: Lou, Louy, Louisa, L. M. Alcott, L. M. A.)

UPB files, March 27, 2024 (Born to Bronson and Abigail (Abba) May Alcott; 1840, the Alcotts moved to Concord, Massachusetts, where neighbors included Ralph Waldo Emerson and Henry David Thoreau. Louisa began to write dramas for her sisters to enact in the barn. The memories of these barnyard melodramas and other childhood experiences would later find their way into Louisa's books, especially Little Women. After a trip to Europe in 1842 to visit an experimental school named for him, Bronson Alcott returned with Charles Lane and Henry Wright. With them, bought a farm in Harvard, Massachusetts, called "Fruitlands," developed a utopian society for his family. Mr. Alcott's experiments with cold baths, linen tunics, and vegetarian diets were not compatible with the harsh New England winter, and the Alcott family suffered from poor health and poverty until Bronson finally gave up on "New Eden" scheme. Began a series of moves to and from Boston and Concord as Mr. Alcott searched for new means to support his family. September 1851, Louisa's first poem, titled "Sunlight," was published in Peterson's Magazine under pseudonym of "Flora Fairfield." Followed by several other "Flora Fairfield" compositions, including a book of fairy stories for Emerson's daughter, Ellen. First novel, Moods, was begun in 1860-1861. Progress impeded by a desire to nurse soldiers wounded in the Civil War; Accepted as a nurse by the Union Hotel Hospital in December 1862. In August 1863, letters to her family describing experiences as a nurse were published in Hospital Sketches, under the pseudonym "Tribulation Periwinkle." Moods published in December 1864. During the mid to late 1860s, attempted another type of writing style, "blood and thunder stories." Gothic romances written under the pen name A. M. Barnard. Began career as a children's author in 1867 as the editor of the juvenile magazine, Merry's Museum. In September of 1867, Thomas Niles of Roberts Brothers Publishing asked if she would write a children's book for him and, in May 1868, Little Women began to take shape. Novel about the March family, encapsulated the Alcott home, presenting a cheerful account of her own early life in New England. Gained instant recognition upon its publication in 1869. During the 1870s, Louisa published prolifically, completing at least one book per year. Toward the end of her life, Lousia constantly suffered from poor health, concentrating on rearing her niece, Louisa May ("Lulu") Nieriker, the daughter of her sister May and Ernest Nieriker. May had died in 1879 shortly after Lulu's birth. In June of 1887, began last novel, A Garland for Girls, published in November. In July of 1887, she wrote and signed her will. On March 6, 1887, Louisa May Alcott died in Boston, Massachusetts at 56)

Found in 1 Collection or Record:

Madeleine B. Stern papers

 Collection — Multiple Containers
Identifier: MSS 1486
Abstract The collection consists of Stern’s research and manuscript files including correspondence, photographs and photocopies, research notes, drafts and proofs, periodicals, etc., documenting her career between 1944 and 1998 as a biographer of assorted figures and aspects of 19th century American life and literature, most notably Louisa May Alcott, Margaret Fuller, feminists, Sherlock Holmes, phrenology and its founders, etc. It contains original manuscripts and printer’s proofs of such works as...
Dates: 1944-1998

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  • Subject: American literature -- 19th century -- Bibliography X