One of my favorite books as a child was Little Women, by Louisa May Alcott. To quote another New Englander, it is seared—seared in my memory.
The book was so riveting because the girls were real live people who formed a real family—with their jokes, squabbles, problems and vanities. Every girl who ever read the book identified with Jo, the impetuous, warm-hearted yet hasty-tempered heroine. I don't know anyone who read it who didn't shed a tear at the death of Beth. Yet it seemed right and fitting for Beth to die—you sensed she was too good to live.
The girls had a lot of fun, even though they were poor. Fortunately, they befriended a lonely boy, Laurie, and his wealthy grandfather, a kindly old man who let Beth practice on his piano.
They had their hardships, too. Jo had to live with and help her mean old great-aunt, Aunt March. Meg had to go to dances in dresses that were shabby. I was fascinated by the idea that when a dress showed wear you took it apart and put it together again inside out.
The girls grew up and faced grown-up challenges. Meg married, Jo fulfilled her ambition to become a writer, Amy went to Europe to study art. Laurie proposed to Jo, and she turned him down. It did not seem right or natural for Jo not to marry her childhood friend. He had everything: they were soulmates, he had money, he adored her—what was not to like? I'm still mad at Louisa May Alcott for that.
But maybe Louisa had her reasons. She had seen enough of marriage, perhaps. Her father, Bronson Alcott, a true idealist, never met a principle he would not sacrifice his comfort and that of his family for. As a traditional nineteenth century husband and father, he was a dud. Louisa had to earn her own living and provide for the rest of her family as well, much of the time.
Article comments
1 - alpha
Miriam. Successful short commentary on a wonderful not-quite-for-children classic. Very nice.
Not so nicely there was a time I didn't hink I could read female writers. I was wrong and Little Women was one beautiful read that proved it to me.
For my wife, whose childhood copy I read; it had been the first book she was tutored to read and enjoy after being (a bit dyslepsic) told that she was lacking intellect and couldn't read.
She is quite bright, graduated with honors from our fine college, and now reads as I do and more.
Little Women was the gift from her tutor for her successful change from slow to very bright. It has great feelings for both of us.
And it is a great novel even for very adult adults. Grown ups as it were.
2 - alpha
Miriam wrote a fine comment on the book. I, on the other hand, wrote of dyslepsia which is actually a problem with hallucinogenic dreamstates. It is not what I meant. Dyslexia is the challenging inability to see letters in the "normal" manner and sequence making reading difficult.
Since I don't have it; senility is the probable cause of the error that will soon be called to my attention.
3 - DrPat
I thought Jo's need to cater to her crabby Aunt March prepared her for her marriage to an older man who helped her find a way to be a successful 19th-century woman (have plenty of children) AND fulfill her authorial ambition.
4 - Voracious Reader
You may want to take a look at the Long and Fatal Love Chase or The Heir of Redclyffe (Jo is reading it in Little Women). It may answer your question about Lauri and Jo. Plus, LW was autobiographical.