An Old-Fashioned Girl (by Louisa May Alcott)

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In re-reading some of my Louisa M Alcott books, I finally came to my favourite of all, ‘An Old-Fashioned Girl’. It’s not nearly as well-known as ‘Little Women’ and its sequels, but I have loved this book since the first time I read it, many years ago. Written as a contemporary novel, it was published in 1869, and as well as being a good story, gives a nice picture of American life of the era.

The last time I read 'An Old-Fashioned Girl' was in 2011, and I remembered most of the storyline. Polly is the main character in this book; she’s thirteen when we first meet her, a shy girl from the country who still considers herself a ‘little’ girl, and dresses appropriately. Although not wealthy, she comes from a very loving family, with a mother who gives her excellent advice.

In the first chapter, we meet Polly’s friend Fanny Shaw.. She is only a year or two older, but already considers herself a young lady. Fanny does not like to run, or get in a mess, and sends her brother Tom to meet her friend from the railway. Tom and Fanny have a younger sister, Maud, who is six and rather a whiner.

Polly finds herself in awe of the Shaw family’s large house and evident wealth, but she quickly realises that they are discontented. Fanny’s father works hard but has little time for his children. Her mother is an invalid, and their only positive adult influence is Grandma, elderly at not quite seventy, who spends most of her time in her room, longing to see more of her grandchildren. Tom and Fanny squabble constantly, and Tom teases Polly too.

Into this rather unhappy household Polly brings love and light, although she’s by no means a perfect child. Polly likes to be independent, and goes on walks - or runs - by herself, without letting anyone know. She’s quite tempted to extravagance too though she only succumbs once - and although Fanny and her friends rather despite some of her old-fashioned ways, most of them can’t help liking her.

The first half of the book recounts Polly’s two-month visit, before she goes home for Christmas, promising to visit again the next year.

The action then skips forward six years. Polly evidently has continued to visit her friend regularly and has been considered part of the family, but now she is almost twenty, and has to earn her living in order to support her brother Will at university. Fanny is now a very elegant woman, who flirts with young men, and lives a life of leisure, although she’s often rather bored. Tom is at the same university as Will, but a year ahead - and rather than being determined to work hard, he wastes time and money, and regularly plays pranks.

While the Shaw family are still pleased to be friends with Polly, her status has changed. Now she is a working woman, many of Fanny's friends look down on her, some of them shunning her entirely. This is something quite hard to understand in today's society.

As with other books by Alcott, some of the chapters simply follow a day in Polly’s life, or a scene that demonstrates some aspect of her nature. It’s not a plot-driven novel as such, although there are romances which become more overt in the last part of the book. We see Polly learning to deal with her stresses, and the Shaw family having to pull together to overcome their own difficulties before the entirely satisfying resolution in the final chapters, part of which I still find very moving.

While the book is very readable, it’s inevitably full of author comment and moralising, rather more so than I had remembered. I don’t mind that, but it could be irritating to anyone reading the book for the first time. The author was very keen for women to be a force for good in society, to work hard in the homes or outside them, and as in her other novels makes the point that women can do most things that men do. This was quite radical in her era, but since she still expects men to be the main earners and women to cook and clean (if they don’t have servants to do so) she doesn’t seem so much of a feminist in today’s more egalitarian society.

I used to consider this one of my all-time favourite books, though I don’t any longer. I still like it very much, however, particularly the concluding chapters. Recommended to any teenagers or adults who have enjoyed others by this author, or who want to see a bit of social history from the late 19th century in context.

'An Old-Fashioned Girl' is regularly re-printed, both by well-known publishers and also in print-on-demand editions now that it is out of copyright. There are many Kindle versions too, some of them free; it's also available at no cost for various formats at Project Gutenberg.

Review by Sue F copyright 2019 Sue's Book Reviews

Under the Lilacs (by Louisa May Alcott)

(Amazon UK link)

In re-reading novels by some of my favourite authors, I picked up ‘Under the Lilacs’ by Louisa M Alcott. I last read this book in 2005 and had mostly forgotten it. This is partly because it’s not particularly memorable, and partly because I haven’t read it many times. It’s nowhere near as well-known as some of the author’s other books.

‘Under the Lilacs’ opens with a sweet scene portraying two small girls, Bab and Betty, about to have a dolls’ tea party. They are sisters, respectively nine and eight years old, and clearly of very different character. There’s much description of the dolls, a hotch-potch muddle of loved toys, written in a gently ironic style that might appeal to children, but is certainly enjoyable to me as an adult.

Into this idyllic scene comes a thief… accusations abound until the dog Sancho is revealed, along with his master Ben. Ben is twelve, and has run away from the circus where he was ill-treated. He’s very hungry and tired, and can’t quite believe it when the girls’ mother offers him food and a bed. She even persuades a neighbour to offer him some work.

It’s a character-based children’s book, but there are some grown ups too; in particular Miss Celia, owner of the big house in whose gardens the girls have been playing. She is a gentle young woman who cares for her fourteen-year-old invalid brother Thornton.

There’s not a great deal of plot; instead, each chapter recounts another incident in the lives of the girls or Ben, as he gradually adjusts to everyday family life. He’s nicely drawn and quite three-dimensional, full of doubts and suspicions, worried about his father, whom he hasn’t seen for months, and passionately devoted to his dog.

Inevitably there are authorial asides, and insights into the education system, much of which seems very dated by today’s standards. But this book was written in 1878; for a book that’s 140 years old, some of the themes are surprisingly modern. Betty is compliant and loving, Bab mischievous, determined to do everything that boys can do. The sexist attitudes portrayed by Ben and some of his contemporaries were probably normal; Alcott was unusual in her insistence, in this book as well as others, that women were as good as men, and could do many of the same things.

I don’t know many children nowadays who would enjoy this book, but a fluent reader around nine or ten who doesn’t mind old-fashioned language might like it. It could also make a pleasant read-aloud for younger children. With each chapter complete in itself, it would be a good bedtime book, or could be the springboard for discussions about the differences between children nowadays and at the end of the 19th century.

All in all, I enjoyed 'Under the Lilacs' more than I expected to. I would recommend it to Louisa May Alcott fans, or anyone who likes children’s fiction of this era. Since it is long out of copyright, there are many editions available - if you buy it online, check that it's a full edition.  It can also be found as a free download in various formats on Project Gutenberg.

Review copyright 2018 Sue's Book Reviews

Rose in Bloom (by Louisa M Alcott)

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Since I re-read ‘Eight Cousins’ by Louisa M Alcott a couple of months ago, it was time, I decided, to re-read its sequel, ‘Rose in Bloom’. I vaguely remembered the storyline, but it’s nine years since I last read it, and I had forgotten most of the detail.

Rose, in this book, has just returned to the ‘Aunt-hill’ after a couple of years of travelling with her guardian, Uncle Alec, and her best friend - and former housemade - Phebe. Phebe has received some training in singing, and hopes to earn her living that way. Rose has visited several places of interest in Europe, but has finally decided to go back home.

Four of her seven cousins are now presentable young men, and Rose doesn’t know quite how to relate to them any more. Archie, the eldest, is more interested in Phebe than he is in Rose, and Steve is keen on Kitty, one of Rose’s local friends. Mac, who has always been studious, is a classic ‘nerd’ long before the term was coined, with his nose always in a book, talking philosophy and poetry, and also studying medicine. But Charlie is a gentleman of leisure, determined to make Rose fall in love with him.

Unfortunately, Charlie has been brought up to be quite selfish, indulged by his mother Aunt Clara. Louisa M Alcott seemed to believe that nurture was more important than nature in the life of any young person; Charlie’s evidently a lover of life, and something of a risk-taker, as well as being very sociable and easily led. Rose disapproves of Charlie’s lifestyle, which she finds too shallow.

However Rose herself decides that it would be fun to spend a few months being frivolous, attending balls until late, and not doing anything useful. So she does this as an experiment, usually squired by Charlie who loves to party, and rumours start to spread…

As with the earlier book, ‘Rose in Bloom’ is a series of incidents rather than having any overall plot other than Rose deciding what to do with her life, and who to marry. The author was quite keen on education for women, and lives being useful, but even she seemed to feel that, after marriage, a woman’s place was in the home.

There’s a fair bit of moralising too, but given the age of the book (this was first published in 1876) some of her beliefs are quite radical. She evidently saw much that horrified her about the way some impoverished people and orphans were treated, and gives Rose the ability to help some of them. Phebe, too, is not considered good enough for Archie by some of the aunts, as nobody knows who her parents were; but it’s made clear that this is unpleasant snobbery.

I had forgotten one tragic incident and shocking in the middle of the book, which happened just as I had begun to wonder if I had mis-remembered the eventual outcome. I’m not sure I entirely believed the way Rose and others in the family recovered so quickly from the trauma, but perhaps in days when life expectancy was short, and medical knowledge scant, it wasn’t so unusual.

I’m glad I re-read the book, which has a satisfactory outcome, but some of it felt a bit too moralistic. Recommended to teenagers and adults if you have read and enjoyed ‘Eight Cousins’, and like gentle fiction of this era. But I don’t think this is as good as ‘Little Women’ and its sequels, nor my favourite of this author’s books, ‘An Old-Fashioned Girl’.

Long out of print, so re-printed in various editions, and also available free or inexpensively in Kindle form.

Review copyright 2018 Sue's Book Reviews

Eight Cousins (by Louisa M Alcott)

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Having recently re-read Louisa M Alcott’s classic series that begins with ‘Little Women’, I decided to re-read some of her other books too. I last read ‘Eight Cousins’ shortly after I acquired it back in 2009, and that was the first time in probably thirty years. I vaguely remembered that it was about a girl called Rose who had seven male cousins, but nothing much else.

As with others by this author, the book was written as contemporary fiction in the late 19th century. It’s set in small town USA, somewhere near a beach but the exact location doesn’t much matter. We meet Rose, aged thirteen and recently orphaned, after an experimental period living with her two great aunts who have the unlikely sounding names of Peace and Plenty. She has been away at school but didn’t like it at all.

What’s slightly mystifying is that she has not yet met her seven cousins, and is convinced she doesn’t like boys at all. Yet once she has met them, and decided they’re not so bad after all, she spends almost all her time with one or more of them as they all live nearby. In addition to the great aunts, Rose has four aunts. Jessie is her favourite; her husband is at sea, and she has four sons: Archie, who is sixteen, and three younger boys.

Then there’s Aunt Jane, who is quite strict although married to the friendly Uncle Mac. They have two sons: the bookworm, another Mac, and the dandy Steve. Aunt Clara is keen on fashion, and has one son, Charlie. Then there’s Myra, who is convinced Rose (and everyone else) is fading away, and wants them to take pills and potions and lie indoors. Myra is widowed and lost her only daughter some years ago.

All the aunts have different ideas about what should happen to Rose, and how she should be brought up. But she has been left to the guardianship of Alec, her late father’s brother. Rose meets Alec for the first time shortly after the book begins, and he proposes a year’s ‘experiment’ whereby he encourages her towards outdoor pursuits, nourishing food (without any of Myra’s medications) and a low-key relaxed (if formal, at times) education at home.

It’s clear that the author is on her hobby-horse with this book, which would have been quite radical in its day. Alec, who is a doctor, is very outspoken against some of the fads of the era, particularly corsets. And, naturally enough, Rose benefits strongly from his advice.

Each chapter outlines a different incident in Rose’s life, mostly involving her cousins, although she also befriends Phebe, the kitchen maid. The author is also quite outspoken against the injustices of poverty, and Phebe’s lack of education; while still seeing quite a distinct difference between the gentry and servant classes. Even then a moral is drawn as Phebe is thankful for all she has, while Rose tends to get bored, and complains about what she doesn’t have.

There’s a great deal of inherent sexism too, alongside the author’s attempts to show that Rose is every bit as intelligent and courageous as the boys, if not more so at times. We see her making a big sacrifice in one chapter, and several small ones when her cousins fall into scrapes, or are sick in any way. We also see her gentle influence on her cousins and the households where she lives or stays. Rose is almost too good to be true, but is so full of genuine doubts and questions, and so loving that she is quite an endearing character.

Inevitably the style of writing is old-fashioned, along with some of the principles and values; yet it remains an enjoyable book, interesting from the social history point of view, and in better understanding the attitudes of the times. The aunts are all slightly charactured, other than Jessie, but that doesn’t matter; despite their foibles, each one has her endearing side, and they all genuinely care about Rose.

Originally written for teenagers, this would probably appeal to children (mostly girls) over the age of about eight or nine who are fluently reading. It would make a good bedtime read-aloud book too, as each chapter is complete in itself. Many teens would find it too date or moralistic, but there are some good principles involved, and I love the way that family ties and loyalties are seen as supreme. I skimmed a few descriptive sections here and there, but on the whole liked it very much. There were one or two places which I found very moving.

There’s not all that much story; it’s mostly incidents over the course of Alec’s experimental year, but Louisa M Alcott does that kind of thing well, and I’d recommend it to anyone who likes her style of writing, or books of this era.

Regularly republished in paperback, often found second-hand, and available in Kindle and other e-book form too.

Review copyright 2018 Sue's Book Reviews

Jo's Boys (by Louisa M Alcott)

(Amazon UK link)

One of the authors whose works I’m re-reading, every couple of months, is Louisa M Alcott. She is probably best known for the classic ‘Little Women’, which introduces us to the March family. I have read that book many times, and its sequel ‘Good Wives’. I’m not quite so keen on the two later books in the series, but I re-read ‘Little Men’ a couple of months ago, so decided it was time to read the final book of the four, ‘Jo’s Boys’.

My copy is a hardback children’s edition published by Bancroft, which states on the front page that it is abridged. Since I also have a Kindle version of all the author’s works, I spent some time comparing the two. I quickly realised that two entire chapters are missing from the abridged edition. So although I mainly read the hardback, I went to my Kindle for the two missing chapters. There are a few odd paragraphs missing as well.

The story takes place about ten years after the events of ‘Little Men’. Jo Bhaer must be in her late thirties, and Meg Brooke perhaps forty. They both seem to consider themselves quite elderly, although Jo is still full of energy. Meg now lives in a cottage built in the grounds of Jo’s home Plumfield, and there is also a university, built by a legacy from Laurie’s uncle. Laurie and Amy also live in the grounds, in a large and elegant house called Parnassus.

There’s much coming and going between all the families, and the book mostly follows the lives of the boys who were featured in ‘Little Men’, now mostly grown up. A couple have died, some are off at another university, and some have stayed around. Demi has become a journalist, Nat sets off to be a musician, Dan has been travelling in the West, and Tom nurses an unrequited passion for the doctor Nan. Emil has been at sea, and Franz is succeeding in business.

The book is really a series of anecdotes, each chapter following either life in the Plumfield environment, or seeing what one of the ‘boys’ has been doing. There’s a poignant chapter about Emil at sea, for instance; a dramatic one about Dan getting into trouble; one observing Nat, learning to deal with his pride as he studies in Germany.

Inevitably the style is dated, and the values of the era come through (it was first published in 1886). The writing is good, the conversations believable, if a bit over pious and moralising in places. The affection between the characters - particularly Jo and her ‘boys’ - comes through in a way that is timeless, and I was surprised at how poignant some of the scenes were.

Anyone with feminist tendencies might be horrified at some of the attitudes shown. It’s taken for granted, for instance, that girls are to be protected, and that they have smaller brains than boys. Yet Alcott was ahead of her time; the Plumfield university takes young women as well as men, and all the girls are encouraged to follow careers. Mention is made of some of the early women pioneers, and one of the strong young women in the book gives a rousing speech described in a couple of paragraphs which are also cut from the abridged version.

The two chapters removed from the abridged version don’t really add anything much to the book. One is a series of conversations next to a tennis court, involving two of the young men who went to study at a different university and see themselves as men of the world. It’s perhaps more preachy than other parts of the book, but also shows the author’s positive attitudes to early feminism. The second missing chapter is about the girls rather than the boys and acknowledges itself as a sideline to the main focus of the book.

I don’t know why I like these books so much, or why some parts are so moving, but I enjoyed this very much. I had remembered one or two passages, and the general themes, but had forgotten a lot of detail since I last read it almost seventeen years ago. The final chapter draws everything together, giving a brief description of all the main characters and what happens to them, and - as its title makes clear - draws the curtain for the last time on the March family.

I would definitely recommend this to adults or teenagers (or older children who like this style) if if you have read the earlier books in the series, particularly ‘Little Men’. It wouldn’t work as an introduction to this author, however: it would be very confusing to anyone who had not met most of the characters in the previous volume.

As with the other books in this series, there are many printed editions available; it's worth making sure you have a full version if possible. You can also find it inexpensively or free in electronic form.

Review copyright 2018 Sue's Book Reviews

Little Men (by Louisa M Alcott)

(Amazon UK link)

I wanted something reasonably easy to read, on my Kindle, for an early morning flight. Scrolling through the books I had downloaded, I spotted a complete works of Louisa M Alcott, and decided to re-read ‘Little Men’. This is the third in her series about the American March family, following on from her well-known classic ‘Little Women’ and its sequel ‘Good Wives’.

This book is about the school for boys established by the former Jo March and her German husband Professor Bhaer. The opening chapter sees the homeless Nat introduced to the school, captivated by the friendliness of the other boys, and by the love of ‘Mother Bhaer’. Jo must be only about twenty-eight in this book, which takes place ten years after ‘Good Wives’, but she thinks of herself as middle-aged, and takes a variety of stray boys under her wing.

The Professor’s two orphaned nephews are the oldest boys in the school, and there are about half a dozen others, including the obese, gluttonous George, and the sharp, sometimes mean Jack. Nat soon makes friends with Tommy, who is full of mischief, and also the creative, story-loving Demi, son of Meg and John Brooke. The only girl in the school at the start of the book is Daisy, Demi’s twin, but her influence is seen to be so good that another girl, Nan - who is rather wild - comes to join them part-way through the book.

The author says in one of the chapters that, rather than having any real plot, the book is a series of vignettes of life at Plumfield. Some chapters just recount the happenings of the day, giving a glimpse into everyone’s lives. But there are also some extremely moving sections. I had tears in my eyes in the first couple of chapters, seeing the homeless, friendless Nat welcomed and given a new home, and hope. Later on, too, are some extremely poignant chapters alongside the more relaxed ones.

I had recalled only the vaguest outline of the story-lines, including some of the most significant ones involving Nat and Demi. But it was a delight to read it again; it felt as if I were among old friends. I was a tad shocked at Mr and Mrs March being considered old - I doubt if they were much over fifty - but then when I last read it, I probably considered that age to be quite old myself.

Inevitably old-fashioned, and perhaps a tad moralistic in places, but thoroughly enjoyable nonetheless. Definitely recommended, for teens who like this kind of historical character-based fiction, and nostalgic adults. However I would recommend reading 'Little Women’ and ‘Good Wives’ first.

(Note that since this book is out of copyright, there are many editions, both paperback and electronic. Ensure that you buy a full/non-abridged version if you want the original text, and check Project Gutenberg for various free electronic formats).

Review copyright 2018 Sue's Book Reviews

Marjorie's Three Gifts (and Roses) by Louisa May Alcott

(Amazon UK link)

I was going away for a week, with rather an early morning flight. I wanted something light to read that wouldn’t tax my brain too much. Scrolling through my unread Kindle books, I found this one by Louisa M Alcott, best known for ‘Little Women’ and its sequels. I must have downloaded it some years ago, in a free edition.

I’ve had somewhat mixed feelings about Alcott’s lesser-known works that have only recently been published in ebook form, but guessed from the title, ‘Marjorie’s Three Gifts’, that it was most likely a children’s book.

I was correct in my assumption. The story, written at the end of the 19th century, is about a girl on her twelfth birthday, remembering a fairy story about three wishes. Marjorie lives with her grandmother, and we meet her sitting on her doorstep, shelling peas and daydreaming about wealth, happiness and a handsome prince.

She is distracted by an old man who asks for her help with his horse, and then, later, by a beautiful woman, drawing in a field. Is she dreaming or are they real…? It’s never made entirely clear. However the later part of the story, where Marjorie discovers what her friends think about her, is delightfully done.

Essentially this is a barely disguised morality tale about the importance of hard work, helping other people and being grateful. But Marjorie’s personality is nicely drawn, and it was easy to empathise with a little girl dreaming big dreams, and then realising that she has everything she could want, in her home and loved ones.

It was a very short book - more a short story - but to my surprise there was another story of similar length in the same Kindle book. The second one is simply called ‘Roses’. In this we meet someone in much direr poverty than Marjorie. Lizzie is an orphan who works as a delivery girl, out in all weathers. We meet her as she is taking an expensive and flamboyant bonnet to a spoilt rich girl called Belle.

Belle is shallow and extravagant, but she’s not hard-hearted. When she sees how Lizzie is shivering in soaking wet clothes, she talks to her, and invites her to get warm. She even gives her some old boots, and some roses. Then disaster strikes…

The plot then moves forward several years, and we meet both Belle and Lizzie again. This time, Lizzie is able to help Belle. This story, too, demonstrates the importance of hard work and thankfulness, contrasting the contentedness of Lizzie, despite some terrible life circumstances, with the discontent and self-centredness of Belle, even though she has never wanted for anything.

As a pair of short stories intended for girls of around 11-13, I thought these worked rather well. I know of some young people that age who would probably appreciate them, although the language is inevitably dated and the morals rather obviously put. Still, avid readers who like historical fiction of this kind would probably like these.

Recommended in a low-key way - if this interests you, look for the free Kindle editions at Amazon or Project Gutenberg.

Review copyright 2017 Sue's Book Reviews

Good Wives (by Louisa M Alcott)

(Amazon UK link)

I re-read Louisa M Alcott’s classic novel ‘Little Women’ about four months ago. So I decided that it was time to re-read the sequel, known in the UK as ‘Good Wives’. She apparently wrote it in response to a huge demand from her readers to find out what happened to Meg, Jo, Beth and Amy March, the four girls in her original story. In the US it is still considered to be part two of ‘Little Women’.

The book opens with quite a lengthy introduction, which I had completely forgotten about. Perhaps I read an abridged version last time, although as it’s sixteen years since I last read this book, my memory is vague. I had, of course, recalled the main points of the story but few of the details. The introduction takes us through a three-year period, telling us what has happened to each of the girls and some of the other important characters.

We are then taken directly into Meg’s wedding to John Brooke. This is evidently considered the first ‘interesting’ thing that happens since the announcement of their engagement at the end of ‘Little Women’. The wedding is simple, with family and close friends present. We then hear nothing more of Meg and John until a few chapters later, when we see the first tensions arising in their domestic bliss.

Meanwhile Amy, the youngest in the family, attempts to develop different artistic skills. She joins a class, where she finds it hard to make friends, and then decides to host a picnic lunch. This makes an amusing chapter, although I could also feel Amy’s stress and embarrassment when things go wrong. That chapter is followed by a look at Jo, the strongest character in the family, and - based on the author herself - a writer.

There’s not a great deal of plot, as these books are character-based. Each chapter gives an incident in the lives of one or more of the girls, with some humour, some stresses, and one very sad chapter towards the end. Inevitably there’s a fair amount of authorial aside, including some preaching and moralising - but the author evidently expects it to be taken with a large pinch of salt, and even comments, sometimes, on her commentary.

Inevitably a book first published in 1869 - nearly 150 years ago - is in places very dated. Feminists may decry the expectations put upon women of the era, and the idea of a husband being the head of the household. But the girls are surprisingly modern in their outlook, with distinct personalities. None of them, except perhaps Beth, is too good to be true. They all have their faults, and we see them mature and develop over the course of the book. Meg and Amy learn to be less envious of the good fortune of others, for instance, and Jo learns to be less outspoken.

‘Good Wives’ was originally written for teenage girls, but I suspect some modern teens today would find it too slow-moving. They might not have the maturity to appreciate the slow-moving but tender love stories that develop, or appreciate the morals and philosophies expounded.

However, I have always loved these books, and enjoy them just as much in my fifties as I did when I was in my teens. Highly recommended, but it’s best to read ‘Little Women’ first. Regularly re-printed, including some inexpensive and free editions for the Kindle as it is long out of copyright. Widely available second-hand. Make sure you get hold of un-abridged versions, as the shorter ones miss out rather a lot.

Review copyright 2017 Sue's Book Reviews

Little Women (by Louisa M Alcott)

(Amazon UK link)

In between reading new books, I’m re-reading some of my favourites. This time I decided to indulge myself with a much-loved book from my childhood. ‘Little Women’ is probably Louisa M Alcott’s best-known book; it’s been made into various films, and has three sequels. First published in 1868, it’s more rambling (with typical author asides) than today’s literature, but still a good story, with delightful characters.

I first read this classic as a child, and re-read several times in my teens. I read it aloud to my sons nearly seventeen years ago, when they were fourteen and twelve. Despite the old-fashioned writing, and the mostly female viewpoints, they enjoyed it very much. However, I had not re-read it since then, so while I remembered the story and most of the subplots well, I’d forgotten much of the detail, and some of the minor events and conversations.

‘Little Women’ was intended for teenagers, but is the kind of book that can be read by anyone from the age of about eight or nine upwards. The four March girls, when the story opens, range in age between sixteen and twelve. They are described in the first pages, and their characters are quite diverse. Meg, the oldest, dreams of dances and fashionable clothes. Jo, close in age to Meg, is tomboyish, considering herself the ‘man’ of the household in their father’s absence. Not that this is a broken family; Father is a chaplain in the American civil war.

Beth and Amy are the younger girls, and are very different from their sisters. Beth is sweet and loving, but also quite frail and shy. Amy is a classic youngest child, long before psychologists identified the idea of a ‘spoilt princess’. She is pretty, and popular, but also very hot-tempered and independent.

We first meet the family when they’re discussing how difficult it is to be without money at Christmas. It’s clear, though, that theirs is a genteel kind of poverty. The March family still has enough to eat, and employs Hannah, who cooks for them and does some of the household management. Meg and Jo are both out at work, and there’s no spare money, but they’re not in nearly such dire straits as other families who are mentioned in the book, without food or warmth of any kind.

As a different contrast, the March’s closest neighbours are the wealthy Laurence family. Mr Laurence is considered bad-tempered, and his grandson, known as Laurie, is lonely and shy. But Laurie - who is sixteen - gets to know the girls, and is accepted into their family circles as an adopted brother.

The author acknowledged that there was a strongly autobiographical slant to ‘Little Women’, and this is perhaps what makes the people seem so real. It’s a character-based novel that takes place over the course of a year; it ends with Christmas a year later. There’s a fair amount of moralising, as the girls all decide to be ‘pilgrims’, working harder and trying to overcome their faults. But along the way there’s some humour, some very moving scenes, and many glimpses into life in the United States in this era.

I enjoyed re-reading this very much, and recommend it highly. It has been continually in print in many different versions, both printed and ebooks. Make sure that you have a full edition; the abridged ones miss out some of the author viewpoint comments, but also miss out many of the girls' own thoughts and feelings.

Review copyright 2017 Sue's Book Reviews

Invincible Louisa (by Cornelia Meigs)

(Amazon UK link)

I have no idea how this little paperback ended up on our shelves. Maybe I picked it up in a charity shop, or perhaps someone moved and passed it on to me. In any case, I had not previously read it. I knew nothing about Cornelia Meigs, the author, but apparently she wrote quite a few books for children. 

In any case, I was interested to learn a bit more about Louisa May Alcott, who is best known for her classic novel for girls, 'Little Women' and its sequels. So I've been reading this over the past ten days or so.

Apparently 'Invincible Louisa' won a Newbery medal. Perhaps I'm a bit of a philistine.. but I didn't find this particularly engaging. Having said that, I did find it interesting to see how Louisa M Alcott's life was mirrored, in many ways, by her novels, particularly those featuring the March family.

The research for this biography was evidently extensive, impressively so in a pre-internet era. But despite Alcott's lifeline and circumstances being portrayed thoroughly, I found the book dry. For my tastes it was too full of description and facts, with little characterisation, nothing much to engage my interest.

Perhaps there was too little source material available, or perhaps the author simply wanted to outline Alcott's life in this factual way. Evidently it was considered an excellent work by those who award medals. But despite it being a relatively easy read, if a bit rambling, I found it hard going in places, and difficult to concentrate. I rapidly lost track of all the many locations where the family lived, and most of the family friends, too, meaning that I rather missed the point of many of the philosophical discussions.

It isn't a bad book, just dry. I guess it's worth perusing by anyone interested in Louisa M Alcott's life. Not in print the UK, but fairly widely available second-hand.

Review copyright 2014 Sue's Book Reviews

An Old-Fashioned Girl (by Louisa M Alcott)

(Amazon UK link)

I've always enjoyed reading Louisa M Alcott's books - at least, the ones that were published, intended for teenage girls. She is, of course, best known for her classic novel 'Little Women' and its sequels, but my favourite of all her works is this one.

I last read 'An Old-Fashioned Girl' in 2005, and thought that it was high time for a re-read a few days ago. I had forgotten most of the details of the plot so enjoyed renewing my acquaintance with the characters and their circumstances, set towards the end of the 19th century.

Polly is the heroine of the book, the old-fashioned girl of its title. We meet her in her early teens, when she arrives from the countryside to pay a visit to her friend Fanny. Fanny is a couple of years older and has acquired city ways, liking to dress fashionably and giggle about boys with her friends. Inevitably there are some culture clashes between the two, although Polly is gentle and hates conflict of any kind. She struggles with her conscience as well as feeling deeply hurt by Fanny's friends looking down on her, and Fanny's brother Tom who teases her mercilessly.

However, Polly stays a couple of months and gradually eases her way into the hearts and lives of the entire household. When she has to return to her own home and siblings, her new friends are devastated, and give her a standing invitation to stay with them every year.

The book then fast-forwards to Polly as a young women, about to start work in the city as a music teacher. Her old friends want to help her, and Tom is particularly attentive, as is the likeable Mr Sydney who was polite to her even as a little girl. However she finds that some of Fanny's friends look down their noses at a 'working' woman, despising her respectability and genteel poverty. So Polly makes some new friends - artists and writers, mainly - and also gains insight into some of the problems besetting those whose poverty is a great deal more severe than her own.

It's interesting as a story about democratic America which apparently had just as much snobbery as the UK did at the time despite the theories of equality and the so-called Protestant work ethic. It's also a coming-of-age story - Polly struggles with temptations as much as anyone - and as well, perhaps inevitably, it's a low-key love story. Naturally it seems quite dated in some respects, a hundred and forty years after it was written; yet human nature does not change, and I could relate to Polly on many levels.

Originally intended for teenagers, I expect this would now more likely be read by girls of about nine to twelve, and also by adults like myself who revel in re-reading our childhood and teenage favourites. I'm happy to have a fairly good quality hardback edition, but 'An Old-Fashioned Girl' is now available for the Kindle in both the USA and UK, or can be downloaded in various formats from Project Gutenberg.

Review copyright Sue's Book Reviews, 19th September 2011

Pauline's Passion and Punishment (by Louisa May Alcott)

(Amazon UK link)

I have very much enjoyed most of Louisa M Alcott's books, including her best-known series ('Little Women' and its sequels) and 'An old-fashioned girl'. I was pleased to discover that some of her shorter novels are available for the Kindle, although I have never seen them in print. I was even more pleased to discover that, since they're long out of copyright, they're generally free to download.

However, I am now beginning to see why some of Alcott's works have not been revived in print form. 'Pauline's Passion and Punishment' is, I think, what would have been called a 'gothic' novella in its time. It's a rather depressing tale of unrequited love, leading to bitterness, anger, and betrayal.

Pauline, heroine of the book, but not a particularly likeable one, learns that the man she loves is married to someone else. She is comforted by Manuel, a man a few years younger than she, who has loved her for a long time. She agrees to marry him... but he knows that she only cares for him as a friend, and thinks of him as a brother rather than a husband. As readers, we know that she has ulterior motives too, wanting revenge on the man she thought she would marry.

Alas, there are no redeeming features to this book. Pauline shows an increasingly vicious desire for revenge. This leads, in a shocking climax, to a lifetime of regret. I like books to have some kind of positive conclusion, but the ending of this, when it comes, is sudden and abrupt.

I suppose the story might be considered a moral tale, pointing out the evils of bitterness and the disasters befalling a lust for revenge. But personally, I just found it depressing. Not recommended - but at least I didn't pay anything for it.

Note that the Amazon link given is to a Kindle of the book which has been published recently, presumably due to the expiry of the copyright. But I would recommend downloading the free e-book edition of 'Pauline's Passion and Punishment' from Project Gutenberg if you wish to read it.

Review copyright Sue's Book Reviews, 28th April 2011

Jack and Jill (by Louisa May Alcott)

(Amazon UK link)

I've long been a fan of Louisa M Alcott, best known for her classic novels 'Little Women' and its sequels. She wrote during the latter part of the 19th century, so her books inevitably seem rather dated, but the characters are believable and warm, and I've managed to collect copies of most of her books on my shelves over the years.

I didn't, however, have a copy of 'Jack and Jill', although it has recently been reprinted in paperback. It's many, many years since I had read it. So I was delighted to find a free edition for my new Kindle. It's the first full-length novel I have read in e-book form.

It's a pleasant enough story revolving around several teenagers in small-town USA, written 130 years ago. Given its age, I suppose it's surprisingly up-to-date in some ways although the style seems very dated; more so than with other Alcott novels. Jack and Jill are close friends despite vastly different social circumstances and temperaments. Jill is a live-wire who tends to lead Jack into trouble.

Early in the book, the pair have a nasty accident while sledging. The book follows them and their friends over the next year, as they convalesce, making their own amusements for the most part in an age free of technology to entertain them. I didn't entirely understand all the cultural references, and found myself just a little cynical that teens would be quite so motivated to study, to perform tableaux for each other, and so on, even if they didn't have any other forms of entertainment. But still, it's a gentle story and quite readable.

Subtitled 'a village story', it doesn't have any great plot - it just follows the lives of these two young people and their friends. There's a fair amount of authorial intrusion, much of which I skipped. Some of it is rather preachy, at least to modern ears, and I felt it went a bit overboard, even given the date and genre. It's hard to believe that even teens of the late 19th century would swallow quite so many moral lessons, as Jill learns patience and fortitude due to enforced inactivity, and I think it's unlikely to appeal to most modern children or teenagers.

Nonetheless it's a pleasant piece of social history, and I'd recommend it in a low-key sort of way to anyone who enjoys books of this age and genre. It was a good book to read on the Kindle, for twenty minutes or so each morning, without any feeling that I couldn't put it down. The links given above is to a paperback edition - of which there are many - but you should be able to find inexpensive or free e-book editions too, either at Amazon or Project Gutenberg.

Review copyright Sue's Book Reviews, 8th January 2011

The mysterious key and what it opened (by Louisa M Alcott)

(Amazon UK link)

I have long enjoyed Louisa M Alcott's novels, the best-known of which is 'Little women'. I was aware that a few of her works were long out of print, but had not realised until recently that they are available free as e-books.

'The mysterious key and what it opened' is the first book I read on the Kindle which I was given for Christmas. It's not a full-length novel; I was easily able to read it in a couple of sittings. So it made a good starter for e-reading as I got used to my new toy.

The story begins with the mysterious death of Lillian's father, after he receives an unexpected visitor. Lillian, who is young at the time, grows up rather spoiled. When she's about twelve she befriends Paul, who works as a servant but is evidently from her class - and, equally evidently to the reader, has some connection with her past.

It's written in an almost gothic style, with a rather melodramatic ending.Were it not for the author's fame through the 'Little Women' series and others, it would probably have been lost to the world by now. But for the genre, it's nicely done; I quite like the style, and there are plot twists that I wasn't expecting.

All in all, I enjoyed it, and (since it was free) would recommend it to anyone who likes this kind of historical fiction. I look forward to reading more books that have been long out of print on my new Kindle.

Note that this book has been re-published in paperback, and the Amazon link above is to one of these editions. You can find Kindle editions at the Amazon site too, or download it free from Project Gutenberg.

Review copyright Sue's Book Reviews, 28th December 2010

Rose in Bloom (by Louisa M Alcott)

(Amazon UK link)

I've always enjoyed novels by the American writer Louisa M Alcott. She's best known for her classic teenage story 'Little Women' and its three sequels, but she also wrote a few other books, which have mostly remained in print for over 100 years. I borrowed some from the library in my teens, and was then unable to find them until they were re-printed again recently.

'Rose in Bloom' is the sequel to 'Eight Cousins', which I re-read last week.

In this story, Rose returns from travelling abroad and finds that four of her cousins are adults. The aunts would like her to marry one of them, but Archie falls in love with Phebe, and Steve with Kitty. That leaves the dashing "Prince' Charlie, and the intellectual bookworm Mac.

Archie's love does not progress smoothly, because some of his relatives cannot forget Phebe's humble origins. So she decides to go away for a while and seek her fortune, singing professionally in choirs and teaching music. Steve has no problems with his romance, and Rose finds herself starting to fall for the attractive Charlie, despite his many weaknesses.

Uncle Alec, as always, is Rose's chief confidante and advisor, and Rose finds herself torn, when she sees Charlie continuing in his destructive lifestyle. Meanwhile, she determines to immerse herself in philanthropy, funding houses for homeless teenagers and orphans.

Although it must be well over twenty years since I last read these books, I found that I did remember the most shocking even that happens, although I had quite forgotten how it took place. I'd also forgotten most of the subplots, and also the slightly annoying moralistic tone that pervades the book. I suppose it was typical for the era - this was first published in 1975 - but despite Louisa M Alcott's feminism (for the time) and belief in healthy lifestyles, it seems extremely old-fashioned, rather prudish, and decidedly sexist.

As such, I very much doubt if it would appeal to the majority of today's teenagers, other than those who enjoy similar books, preferring old-fashioned romances to gritty modern novels. I enjoyed it - despite skimming in a few places - and am glad I was able to find it to add to my book collection, but would only really recommend it to people who enjoy other books by this author, and similar ones of the era.

Available in Kindle form as well as various print editions, and free as an ebook from Project Gutenberg.

Review copyright Sue's Book Reviews, 21st June 2009

Eight Cousins (by Louisa M Alcott)

(Amazon UK link)

Louisa May Alcott is best known for her classic American teenage novel, 'Little Women' and its sequels.I have read and re-read those many times during my teens and adulthood, and was pleased when I discovered, many years ago, that she had also written some lesser-known novels.

'Eight Cousins' is one of these, which I read many years ago - probably thirty or more! - but was unable to find again until recently. I now have the unabridged paperback version published by Dover Evergreen Classics, and have re-read the book over the past few days.

It's about Rose, a young orphaned teenager, who lives with two great-aunts. They love her, but have little idea how to help her stay healthy and to mature. Her Uncle Alec is her legal guardian, but has been away at sea. He returns and is horrified by her shy, pale, weak behaviour, and decides to give her plenty of fresh air and good food. He also tries to encourage her to spend time with her seven cousins - all boys, of varying ages.

I'd pretty much forgotten what it this book was about, and enjoyed it on the whole. Each chapter is an incident in Rose's first year of learning to care for her cousins, and take care of her health. There are some amusing incidents, and one or two sections that are quite moving, too.

It's obviously dated, with authorial asides typical of the era (it was first published in 1875), and some parts that seem extremely sexist. It's also evidently intended to publicise Louisa M Alcott's pet theories about the need for teenage girls to get exercise, wholesome food, good surroundings, and lessons in housework and cooking. At the time, these were probably very radical ideas. She also manages to throw in 'lessons' to the reader about boys behaving in gentlemanly ways, avoiding eye-strain, and the dangers of smoking.

I doubt if it would appeal to many teenagers today, but for those - adults or teens - who enjoy old-fashioned novels, I think it's worth reading. It could probably be enjoyed by younger children too - probably from the age of about eight or nine - if they read well and don't mind the dated style and language.

Overall I thought it a good light read. Particularly recommended for anyone who enjoyed Louisa M Alcott's other books such as 'Little Women', 'Good Wives', etc.

Note: There is a sequel to 'Eight Cousins', entitled 'Rose in Bloom'.

Review copyright Sue's Book Reviews, 17th June 2009

Under the Lilacs (by Louisa May Alcott)

(Amazon UK link)

After my lengthy marathon reading of 'Drums of Autumn', I decided to pick up something light and easy. I opted for Louisa M Alcott's 'Under the Lilacs'. Of course this author is best known for her series starting with 'Little Women', but I enjoy her other children's and teenage work just as much.

This particular story is intended for children. It features two sisters called Bab and Betty, who are ten and nine respectively. They meet a boy called Ben who is twelve and who has run away from a circus, looking for his father. The girls' mother takes him in and he finds work locally, gradually making friends and settling down to get an education.

It's old-fashioned, of course, and based in America. But the language is simple enough that I would expect many girls of around eight or nine to enjoy it, and perhaps some boys too, since Ben is actually the hero of the book.

There are a few places where the author makes comments, as tended to happen in previous centuries. I also felt that there was an over-emphasis on formal education and learning poetry or facts by heart, something which I might have found annoying a few years ago and which would seem odd to modern children. However, knowing about this kind of thing is important from the social history perspective.

On the whole 'Under the Lilacs' is a delightful story. It's quick to read with a couple of very moving moments that brought tears to my eyes, even though I had read the book some years previously. 

Now out of copyright, this book can be found free at Project Gutenberg as well as published in many independent editions online. Easily found second-hand. 

An Old-Fashioned Girl (by Louisa May Alcott)

(Amazon UK link)

This is a wonderful, somewhat weepy old-fashioned kind of book really intended for teenagers but probably read more by younger girls and adults these days. Louisa M Alcott wrote 'An Old-Fashioned Girl' back in about 1870 so inevitably the language is dated, and the style peppered with comments from the author about good mothers and the benefits of trials and tribulations.

But these things don't particularly worry me. I skim them and either smile or nod inwardly, depending on how quaint or accurate her perceptions are.

Of course Louisa M Alcott is best-known for her classic novel 'Little Women' and its sequels. But I think this particular book is probably my favourite. It's a character-driven novel charting the growing up of Polly, a minister's daughter from the country, and her friend Fanny Shaw who is wealthy and lives in the city.

The book starts with them both aged 14. Polly pays her first visit to the Shaws' home and finds herself taken to their hearts for her goodness, despite her rather old-fashioned ways. There are some charming interludes as Polly contrasts her own simple - but loving - lifestyle with that of her grand friends. She delights their grandmother with her attentions and interest in her anecdotes.

Then the book fast-forwards six years. Polly comes back to the city to earn her living, and there are inevitable romances afoot. The plot isn't very exciting, but in places it was extremely moving. Despite having read this before (many years previously) I found myself almost unable to put it down. I can easily see why this author's books have remained popular for over 130 years - no doubt they will still be around when today's children's books are long forgotten.

Definitely recommended.

(Note: I also wrote a longer review of 'An Old-Fashioned Girl' on re-reading six years later)

Good Wives (by Louisa M Alcott)

(Amazon UK link)

I do like children's fiction - or some of it, anyway. Louisa M Alcott is, of course, known best for her classic 'Little Women'. This book is the immediate sequel. It is in fact (confusingly) included in the movie version of 'Little Women', whereas the book stops at the stage where Meg and John get engaged, much to Meg's sister Jo's disgust...

'Good Wives' takes up the story when Meg is still newly married. It also follows the other sisters as they grow up and fall in love. There's not a huge amount of plot. The book is character-driven, and follows the problems and joys of day-to-day life.

There's light humour here and there, as well as some extremely moving moments in the midst of sadness. Inevitably there's an old-fashioned feel to this book, and some author asides that are a bit irritating, but overall it's a warm book which I enjoyed re-reading. 

Recommended, but best to read after 'Little Women'.

(I wrote a longer review of 'Good Wives' in 2017, after re-reading yet again). 

Jo's Boys (by Louisa M Alcott)

(Amazon UK link)

Having re-read and enjoyed one of Louisa M Alcott's books recently, I thought I would re-read its sequel.

'Jo's Boys' is the last of the four novels she wrote for teenagers, in the 19th century.  It's about the March family, introduced in the book 'Little Women' and its descendants.

This book mainly focuses on the school that Jo Bhaer (originally Jo March) has founded for boys. She uses principles that would have been considered quite radical in those days. 

I thought it very pleasant read, despite a bit of author moralising now and again.

Recommended; but it's best if you've read the other books in the series first. Note that while they are regularly in print in paperback form, these books are long out of print and can be found inexpensively or free to download in electronic form.

(If you would like to know more about this book, I wrote a much longer review of 'Jo's Boys' when I re-read it yet again in 2018)