When I was around 10 years old, I read Little Women.  How many times have you heard a grown woman say something similar to this?  Maybe the age wasn’t the same, but nearly every woman I know has read Little Women at some point in their life.  Nowadays it’s very possible they’ve seen the movie too, you know.. the one with Wynona Rider as Jo?  I loved that movie as well!

I remember falling in love with Laurie and feeling so much frustration that Jo wouldn’t just give him a chance!  I mean, I understood, but not really.. because at 10 years old, true love would conquer all!  Now, as I read the book every year as an adult, I’m struck by how insightful Jo was, and how capable she was of making a difficult decision, but one that she knew would ultimately bring her happiness.

Louisa’s life was very similar to Jo’s. This biography, written by Harriet Reisen, of an incredible woman was rather dry reading and peppered throughout with excerpts of letters, journal entries and even a few memories.  Her father, not unlike Mr. March, was away for a good amount of time (in fact, one letter he wrote home was copied directly from his letter to Little Women, in those first very few pages).  Louisa had three living siblings, and her mother had various miscarriages.  There was Anna, the oldest. Louisa, Lizzie and Abby (called May) later on.  Fairly easy to see where she got her inspiration from.

The sheer amount of famous people that crossed the Alcott’s life was astounding.  The irresponsibility of Louisa’s father was heart-breaking and the courage and strength of her mother was inspiring.  I always had wondered what the home life of the author of Little Women was like, and, all dryness set aside, what a perfect model for a story her real life was.