"Little Women" one of the most famous books written by Louisa May Alcott about 150 years ago but did you know she did not want to write it originally?At the time, Louisa May Alcott wrote both literature and pulp fiction when one of the editors asked her to write a book for girls. She tried but wasn't able to do it.
This didn't stop the publishing company. They approached her father who was also a writer to produce a book of his own if she'd write the book, so she caved to the pressure.
She began writing the book in May 1868 and was so into it, she completed the book in 10 weeks. Remember at this time, all books including this one were written by hand so completing this 402 page book in such a short time was amazing. She sent the book to the publisher in July and by September it was published. The book immediately became a best seller making Louisa May Alcott a rich woman.
Due to the length, the book was actually published in two parts. The first ended with John Brooke proposing to Meg and one year later, the second part was published and also took only a few months to write. The girls were all based on either the author or her sisters and their lives.
In addition, the Alcotts grew up in the same poverty the March's did. Louisa's father found it difficult to find employment due to his beliefs so at points in her life, they only had bread and butter to eat. When she was old enough she worked as a paid companion, a governess, and wrote sensational stories the same as Jo in the book. The publication of "Little Women" allowed Louisa to help her family rise from poverty.
The character of Laurie appears to have been modeled after a Polish musician she met in Europe in 1865. They flirted and even spent two weeks in Paris together with no chaperones. All information in her diary about the affair was crossed out in her diary with a note "Couldn't be" written next to it.
People can visit Orchid House in Concord, Massachusetts where Louisa wrote the book. Over the years, there have been several movie and television adaptations along with several Broadway plays, a musical, a ballet, an opera, a Japanese Anime version, and most recently a big screen movie.
Yes, I read it as a child but maybe one of these day's I'll reread it but right now, I've other things to reread. Let me know what you think, I'd love to hear.
My mother gave it to me when I was somewhere in my youngish teens, I think. I did try to like it but failed, although I don't remember it clearly enough to tell you why.
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