Little Women Signet Classics

Louisa May Alcott was a successful writer of sensational fiction before producing a "girl's story" at the request of her publisher. Her book, Little Women, has always had a following among young readers, yet this story of four girls growing up at the time of the Civil War provides much for twentieth century adult readers as well, not only as a straightforward and affecting narrative, but as a feminist primer on female relationships and the values of nineteenth-century New England society. Louisa May Alcott drew from her own memories to create the adventures and trials of the four sisters - domestic Meg, tomboyish Jo, gentle Beth, and artistic Amy - who are helped by their beloved Marmee to conquer their minor faults and disappointments and reach their "castles in the air." Many readers will identify with Jo, who longs for independence; cry when Beth dies; and happily follow Amy on her extended European tour. Although Victorian in sensibility, the novel escapes being cloying. Rich in love, Meg, Jo, and Amy ultimately learn their lessons and end up happily married, as convention would dictate. But the differences in their personalities and the paths they take to attain their goals offer a critique of a society that would place women within a single mold. -- For great reviews of books for girls, check out Let's Hear It for the Girls: 375 Great Books for Readers 2-14. -- From 500 Great Books by Women; review by Averill Curdy--This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.