Marmee & Louisa : the untold story of Louisa May Alcott and her mother / by Eve LaPlante.

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

LaPlante, Eve.

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Alcott, Louisa May, 1832-1888--Family.

Alcott, Louisa May.

Alcott, Louisa May, 1832-1888.

Families.

Physical Description:

ix, 368 pages ; 25 cm

Edition:

First Free Press hardcover edition.

Other Title:

Marmee and Louisa

Place of Publication:

New York : Free Press, 2012.

Summary:

Drawing on newly discovered family papers, LaPlante, a New England author who is a cousin of Louisa May Alcott and great-niece of Abigail May Alcott (the model for "Marmee" in Little Women), offers new insights into their relationship as a source for Louisa's fiction. In this dual biography, LaPlante recounts their unstable family life as the daughter and wife of a charismatic but chronically indigent man, and provides interesting historical context. She takes Abigail out of Bronson Alcott's shadow, giving due to a woman who was a progressive thinker/writer herself. Annotation ©2013 Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)

Contents:

1 A Good Child, but Willful 7

2 Drawing Toward Some Ideal Friend 28

3 Humiliating Dependence 50

4 Sacrifices Must Be Made 63

5 This Sharp Sorrow 87

6 Looking to My Daughter's Labors 100

7 To Drag Life's Lengthening Chain 112

8 The Best Woman in the World 133

9 Mother, Is It You? 146

10 A Dead, Decaying Thing 162

11 Left to Dig or Die 174

12 Paddle My Own Canoe 189

13 The Bitter Drop in This Cup 205

14 From May to March 217

15 Welcome to My Fortune 236

16 Thou Excellest Them All 251

17 Stay By, Louie 262.

Notes:

Includes bibliographical references and index.

Local Notes:

Athenaeum copy: Schneidman fund bookplate.

ISBN:

9781451620665 ;

Online:

Contributor biographical information

Publisher description