Louisa May Alcott by Harriet Reisen

Although I love biographies, I don't read them as often as I would like.  I especially like a biographer who can bring the subject to life as Harriet Reisen does in Louisa May Alcott: The Woman Behind Little Women.  Reading it is like reading a blueprint for Louisa May Alcott's very famous and much loved Little Women, so much did Louisa pull from real life to create her story.  As a matter of fact many of her works are autobiographical or draw on her life and the lives of people she knew.  It's obvious that Reisen is very fond of Louisa May Alcott and after reading about her it's not hard to see why.  It seems as though Louisa was determined to lead the life she wanted despite the many obstacles that were in her way as a woman of that period.  And it wasn't really an easy life she led either, but she was a smart, self-reliant woman who persevered no matter the situation.

In writing the biography Reisen has drawn heavily on the letters and journals of Louisa May Alcott and her family.  Louisa and her sisters were urged by their parents to keep journals from the time they could write.  Much of the book is told in Louisa's own words, which gives the reading experience a certain immediacy.  Not only does Reisen portray the lives of Louisa and her family vividly but also that period in American history that was so tumultuous.  The daughter of one of the founders of the Transcendentalist Movement she grew up surrounded by such famous personages as Ralph Waldo Emerson, Henry Thoreau, Margaret Fuller, Dorothea Dix, Emily Peabody and Nathaniel Hawthorne to name a few.

Despite being part of such an illustrious milieu, however, life for the Alcotts was not especially easy.  Louisa's parents married later in life.  Abigail May was a spinster of 29 before she met and married Bronson Alcott.  She had eight children though only four survived and on more than one occasion the birth was not only difficult but dangerous.  Although Bronson had many progressive ideas about education and how society should conduct itself, he wasn't an especially practical man and never really held a regular job.  The burden of financial support for the family fell on Abby, who did odd jobs like sewing and teaching, and other family members who often gave gifts of money, but also Waldo Emerson (as he preferred to be known) and later on Louisa.  Often debts would follow the family about, as they moved no fewer than thirty times until they finally settled in Concord when Louisa was in her mid-twenties.  As an adult Louisa likened her philosopher father's relationship to the family as a man up in a balloon, "with his family and friends holding the ropes, trying to haul him down."  Reisen hints at the possibility that Bronson suffered mental illness which would have precluded him from holding a normal job.  In any case the family led an often precarious existence, all the more sad as they had many wealthy relatives.     

Louisa was born on November 29, 1832, the second of four daughters, and shared a birthday with her father.  She was a rambunctious and fearless child and often noted in her journal that she would try to be better.  Her family led a very bohemian lifestyle, which may have been as limiting in some ways as freeing in others.  They were vegetarians, though I think Abby would have preferred to eat meat and drew the line at not giving her children milk.  After a long walk from Boston to Concord (Louisa was a great walker and managed it in five hours even attending a party in the evening on top of that), Louisa was said to have noted in her journal "well done for a vegetable production!". The family lived for a short while in a communal environment, called Fruitlands, though without much success.  Louisa's happiest years, however, were spent in Hillside.  No doubt it was the closest the family had come to living as a normal, average family.  She had friends her age and attended a regular school at the time.

Although Louisa May Alcott is always associated with Concord, she spent much of her life in Boston, and it represented for her a life of independence.  The two oldest sisters, Anna and Louisa were often juggled about going off to earn money outside the home teaching or acting as nursemaids or seamstresses.  Lizzie, the third daughter, generally stayed at home to take care of their parents and younger sister May, though this job fell to Louisa after Lizzie became ill.  But Boston is where Louisa could earn her own living and try her hand at the things that inspired her.  She and Anna both tried their luck at acting.  Louisa was quick to understand that teaching wasn't for her and wanted more than anything to earn her living as a writer.   

"Shortly after her twenty-sixth birthday, she took stock of her mood and her prospects.  'This past year has brought us the first death and betrothal--two events that change my life.  I can see these experiences have taken a deep hold, and changed or developed me.'  Louisa judged herself stronger and more mature for her ordeals, and more confident of her powers.  'I feel as if I could write better now--more truly of things I have felt and therefore know.  I hope I shall yet do my great book, for that seems to be my work, and I am growing up to it.  I even think of trying the Atlantic.  There's ambition for you...!'"

She did publish in the Atlantic, which was a literary magazine, but she published in a variety of other publications as well.  "She had trained herself to succeed in genres of writing that had commercial markets--the children's tale, the short story, the longer serial fiction, and nonfiction."  By the time she was thirty she was making a living in the trade unlike most other authors who couldn't support themselves solely by writing.  Although most famous for Little Women and it's sequels, she also penned pulp fiction, the fact of which I find so fascinating (and will have to follow up this read with some of those novels).

"These psychologically complex tales of lust, betrayal, revenge, and violence satisfied Louisa's thirst for adventure as nothing else did in her life could.  Her daring tales of scheming heroines and villainous suitors allowed her to explore incest, sadism, murder, suicide, swindling, transvestism, revolution, espionage, unwed motherhood, and above all power struggles between the sexes.  Her own violent, passionate, even homicidal thoughts drew her to the darker side of human nature embodied in sinners who, despite her claims, often have no good in them at all." 

I think it's amazing what she did considering the period in which she lived.  She was an abolitionist and worked as a nurse during the Civil War, an experience which "replaced her book knowledge of behavior under duress with real-life experience."  She traveled to Europe (as a governess/chaperon), which had been a dream of hers.  All before she wrote her famed Little Women, which was a phenomenal success when published and we see today it's lasting effect on generation after generation of reader.  While she began life living in near poverty, later in life she would have her own servants.  There's so much more to Louisa's life, but it's impossible to write about it all in one post.   

Reisen's account of Louisa May Alcott's life is thoroughly enjoyable to read.  Even if you haven't read any of her fiction, Louisa May Alcott was a remarkable woman and a fascinating study.  I'd be very curious to read her letters and wonder if her journals have ever been published.  I have a copy of American Bloomsbury by Susan Cheever, which I plan on reading at some point.  I also have a few of Louisa's sensationalist stories/novels: A Long Fatal Love Chase (which I read when it was reissued in the mid-1990s and must dig out) as well as Behind a Mask: The Unknown Thrillers of Louisa May Alcott and A Marble Woman (yet more unknown thrillers by LMA).  My curiosity about this period in American history has also been piqued so I see yet another reading tangent coming up.  Now that I have the facts of her life in mind, I can't wait for the documentary!  

Comments

[Sam Sattler]

That's a great review of one of my favorite books of the year. I became fascinated by the Alcotts when I stumbled onto the novel "March." I imagine you've already read that one but you might also want to check out "Woodsburner," a novel that cover's an interesting period in Thoreau's early life - when he almost burned down the local forest. It's written by John Pipken.

[Dorothy W.]

Thanks for the review -- there's so much information here! I'd love to read some of Alcott's works for adults, just to see how they compare. I find that whole literary circle fascinating, particularly after visiting Concord so recently. I didn't know you could walk from Boston to Concord -- people were such amazing walkers back then! You don't tend to hear of people doing that kind of thing now.

[Danielle]

Sam--I've really enjoyed reading this as well and my curiosity has been piqued now by all the other writers working during this period! As a matter of fact I have not yet read March, though I do have it on my pile and will have to pull it out now. And I'm adding Woodsburner to the list as well. It was interesting that LMA had 'crushes' on both Thoreau and Emerson! It sounds like she preferred older or younger men--no doubt her father and the other men in her life made quite an impact on her.
Dorothy--I didn't mean to make my post quite so long--the thing is I keep thinking of more things I could have added to it. I'm also curious about her books written for adults--I think that's what she preferred writing. She obviously didn't lead such a wild life, but she read enough to write about those things putting her own spin on the stories. And I bet most people do not walk from Boston to Concord--it took her something like five hours to make the trip. She apparently would often go out for 'runs' and loved to walk. What a different world it was then! Lots and lots of interesting things in this book!

[Maire]

What an engrossing summary! Now I really want to read this book.

I also read A Long Fatal Love Chase when it was reissued. I don't remember much of it all anymore, though.

I have a copy of American Bloomsbury waiting on my shelves. I read one or two chapters when I first bought it and was quite impressed. I also have this fiction book called March, which is a sort of fictional biographical tale of Louisa's father. You might consider that if you keep reading about this family/time period.

[Maire]

Whoops, just saw that someone already recommended March....

[Kate]

What a marvelous review. You've made me want to read this immediately! It seems the more I read about Alcott, the more there is to know! I'm contenting myself with adding it to my list and very much looking forward to the documentary on PBS.

[litlove]

What a fascinating post! I would love to know more about Alcott, and about the American Bloomsbury group that surrounded her. This book is already on my wish list so I do hope I'll manage to read it in the not-too-distant future!

[Rachel]

I love LMA and would love to read more about her life - what a fascinating and in depth review! I'll be looking out for this!

[Sam Sattler]

I handed off a copy of Little Women to my 10-year-old granddaughter last night. She reads way above level and I'm trying to distract her from that silly Twilight series (she's only read book one of that thing and I don't like the idea of someone so young reading the later books). She has read all the Little House books now and seemed enthusiastic about another book about girls from "the old days." I'm hoping...

[Stefanie]

I'm going to need to get myself a copy of this book, it sounds so good! American Bloomsbury is a fun book, very gossipy.

[catharina]

This review had me on the edge of my seat right from the beginning!
I very much appreciated it that you added the link to The Trancendentalist Movement. Very, very interesting. As reading Walden already is part of my reading plan for 2010, maybe I should add some Louisa May Alcott now.

[Debby]

Thank you for sharing so much about LMA. I so want to learn more about her. I won't get to a book anytime soon, but I'm looking forward to the documentary!

[Danielle]

Maire--I didn't realize LMA's life was so interesting. I had an idea she based Little Women on her life, but I didn't know how much. I hope to read some more on this period/group of writers. And I need to dig out my copy of A Long Fatal Love Chase, too, as I remember nothing about it now.
Kate--I'm really looking forward to the documentary as well--there'll be visuals then to add to the facts in the book.
Litlove--I think you would really enjoy this. There's lots on Abby and the three sisters as well as her famous father. I think you might especially be interested in Abby if you are still looking for books on mothering. In any case, this group of 'American Bloomsbury' authors sounds fascinating and I'd like to know more as well.
Rachel--I really only skimmed the surface on what I wrote--there is still so much more I could say. I love how the author incorporated the letters and diaries of the family as well as quotes from her work. Definitely a book to keep an eye out for.
Sam--My niece is a so-so reader. She likes books but she also likes her nintendo ds and other games. I plan on giving LW to her this Christmas (along with some other books). I don't think she is mature enough for the Twilight books, which I am sort of happy about. I think they are too emotionally engaging for her at the moment. I don't think she's get into that love story, which also makes me sort of happy. She has read one or two of the Little House books, which I also loved growing up. I think I tend to give her all my favorites for Christmas and birthdays!
Stefanie--I like fun and gossipy and American Bloomsbury also looks like a fast read, too. I hope to get to it sooner rather than later. I really enjoyed the Reisen bio--particularly since she quotes LMA directly so often.
Catharina--I have never read Walden in full--I should pick it up next year, too. There was lots about Emerson and Thoreau in the the biography since they were so close to the Alcott's. Louisa's father even helped build the little cabin Thoreau stayed in when writing his book. This bio or something similar might be a nice companion piece to your other reading.
Debby--She was a really fascinating person. Not necessarily perfect but quite something for the time she lived in. I can't wait to see the documentary, too, for the visuals--to finally see what I read about. You will probably recognize some of it having visited! :)

[Kristina]

LMA's journals are indeed published, a few years ago I read one very interesting version edited by Joel Myerson and Daniel Shealy called The journals of Louisa May Alcott.

[Jodie]

Your description of Alcott's father definately reminds me of the father described in 'March' (apart from the mental illness, so an idealised version of him). Great review, it's always nice to learn new things about an author you think of in a very particular way, who would have pegged Alcott as a pulp fiction writer.

[Danielle]

Kristina--Thanks for the heads up, I will have to see if my library has it. It's really nice when an author keeps journals and to see a different perspective of them--especially when LMA drew so heavily on her own life for her fiction,
Jodie--I think her pulp fiction just went out of print. A lot of it was either published anonymously or under pen names, so for a long time she was simply known as a writer of children's books. I think it was a fluke that a researcher discovered her pen name! I must get out my copy of March now!

[Tara]

This sounds great. Thanks for the great review and for bringing this book to my attention.

[Danielle]

Tara--I really enjoyed this--she was an interesting (though flawed person). I plan to read more about her and this period!