Examines the life of Louisa May Alcott, discussing her family, relationships, works, rejection of marriage, and other related topics.

Originally published: New York: Free Press, 2012.

Insightful, exciting, and deeply moving, Liz Rosenberg’s distinctive portrait of the author of Little Women reveals some of her life’s more complex and daring aspects. Moody and restless, teenage Louisa longed for freedom. Faced with the expectations of her loving but hapless family, the Alcotts, and of nineteenth-century New England society, Louisa struggled to find her place. On long meandering runs through the woods behind Orchard House, she thought about a future where she could write and think and dream. Undaunted by periods of abject poverty and enriched by friendships with some of the greatest minds of her time and place, she was determined to have this future, no matter the cost. Drawing on the surviving journals and letters of Louisa and her family and friends, author and poet Liz Rosenberg reunites Louisa May Alcott with her most ardent readers. In this warm and sometimes heartbreaking biography, Rosenberg delves deep into the oftentimes secretive life of a woman who was ahead of her time, imbued with social conscience, and always moving toward her future with a determination that would bring her fame, tragedy, and the realization of her biggest dreams.

Winner of the Pulitzer Prize for Biography Louisa May Alcott is known universally. Yet during Louisa's youth, the famous Alcott was her father, Bronson—an eminent teacher and a friend of Emerson and Thoreau. He desired perfection, for the world and from his family. Louisa challenged him with her mercurial moods and yearnings for money and fame. The other prize she deeply coveted—her father's understanding—seemed hardest to win. This story of Bronson and Louisa's tense yet loving relationship adds dimensions to Louisa's life, her work, and the relationships of fathers and daughters.

While these stories can make no claim to being great art, they are an important segment of Alcott's canon. They demonstrate that, while she was exploring new territory with some of her work, she was also working within the existing tradition of the didactic fairy tale.

Step into the enchanting world of Louisa May Alcott, one of America's most beloved authors, with this comprehensive collection of her timeless works. From the heartwarming tales of the March sisters in "Little Women" to the adventurous spirit of "Little Men" and "Jo's Boys", this anthology brings together Alcott's most cherished stories in one beautifully curated volume. Born in 1832, Alcott's life was a rich tapestry of experiences that deeply influenced her writing. Raised in the intellectually vibrant communities of Boston and Concord, Massachusetts, she was surrounded by literary luminaries such as Ralph Waldo Emerson and Henry David Thoreau. Despite facing financial hardships, Alcott's determination and passion for storytelling led her to create works that have captivated readers for generations. This collection not only includes her famous novels but also features lesser-known gems and her early writing under the pseudonym A. M. Barnard. Each piece showcases Alcott's unique ability to weave compelling narratives with strong, independent characters and themes of family, love, and resilience. Celebrate the enduring legacy of Louisa May Alcott with this definitive collection. Whether you're a lifelong fan or discovering her work for the first time, these stories will inspire, entertain, and leave a lasting impression: Little Women - Little Men - Little Women; Or, Meg, Jo, Beth, and Amy - An Old-Fashioned Girl - Jo's Boys - Eight Cousins - Rose in Bloom: Her Life, Letters, and Journals - Jack and Jill - Flower Fables - A Modern Cinderella; Or, The Little Old Shoe, and Other Stories - Hospital Sketches - Behind a Mask; or, a Woman's Power - The Mysterious Key and What It Opened - A Garland for Girls - Under the Lilacs - The Abbot's Ghost, or Maurice Treherne's Temptation: A Christmas Story - Work: A Story of Experience - Aunt Jo's Scrap-Bag - - Kitty's Class Day and Other Stories - Comic Tragedies - The Louisa Alcott Reader: a Supplementary Reader for the Fourth Year of School - Pauline's Passion and Punishment - Spinning-Wheel Stories - Moods - Eight Cousins - Marjorie's Three Gifts - Lulu's Library - The Candy Country - Rose in Bloom - Silver Pitchers: and Independence, a Centennial Love Story - Mountain-Laurel and Maidenhair - May Flowers - On Picket Duty, and Other Tales . etc.