Alcott was born on November 29, 1832 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. She created colorful relatable characters in 19th century novels. Her work introduced readers to educated strong female heroines. As a result, her writing style greatly impacted American literature.
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Alcott’s parents were a part of the 19th century transcendentalist movement. Their religious and political beliefs inspired Alcott. Her father was a popular educator who believed that children should enjoy learning. Therefore, Alcott took to reading and writing. While most of her schooling came from her parents she also studied under famed philosopher Henry David Thoreau and popular authors Ralph Waldo Emerson and Nathanial Hawthorne. Much like her novel Little Women, Alcott was one of four daughters and she remained close with her sisters throughout her life. Many times, Alcott’s family suffered from financial woes, forcing her to attend school irregularly. She took jobs to help alleviate financial struggles, working as teacher and washing laundry. She turned to writing for both emotional and financial support.
Her first book, a compilation of short stories, was published in 1854. When the Civil War started in 1861, Alcott served as a nurse in a Union hospital. Unfortunately, she contracted typhoid fever. Her experience in the hospital as a patient and a nurse, inspired the novel Hospital Sketches. After the war, Alcott published several other works and gained a following.
During this time, one of Alcott’s publishers asked her to write a novel for young women. To do so, she simply reflected back on to her childhood with her sisters. In 1868, Alcott published her most popular work, Little Women. The novel was published in a series of short stories, but was eventually compiled into one book. Little Women was an instant success and the book cemented Alcott as one of the foremost novelist of the 19th and early 20th century. In 1870, with one successful book, Alcott moved to Europe There she published, another classic Little Men. She also joined the women’s suffrage movement, and would contribute to publications which promoted women’s rights. She was the first woman to register to vote in Concord, Connecticut.
Alcott never married nor had any children, however, when her sister died, she adopted her niece. Afterwards she moved to Boston and continued publishing works that followed the characters from Little Women. Alcott suffered from illness. She attributed her poor health to mercury poisoning which she believed she contracted while she worked as a nurse during the Civil War. In 1888, she died at the age of 56 in Boston, Massachusetts. Today, readers continue to enjoy Alcott’s writings and her novels still appear on bestseller list throughout the world. Source: Women’s History Museum website
I like good strong words that mean something…
I am not afraid of storms, for I am learning how to sail my ship.
Let us be elegant or die!
A faithful friend is a strong defense;
# Love is a great beautifier.
# You don’t need scores of suitors. You need only one… if he’s the right one.
# Be comforted, dear soul! There is always light behind the clouds.
# Love is the only thing that we can carry with us when we go, and it makes the end so easy.
# Nothing is impossible to a determined woman.
# Woman work a great many miracles.
# I’m happy as I am, and love my liberty too well to be in a hurry to give it up for any mortal man.
# Go on with your work as usual, for work is a blessed solace.
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