Title: Little Men
Author: Louisa May Alcott
First published January 1, 1871
329 pages, Paperback
ISBN: 9781406954364 (ISBN10: 1406954365)
Rating: 3.87
Overview
After raising her own family, Jo March (now Jo Bhaer) opens a school for boys at Plumfield. With twelve orphan boys under her care, Jo couldn’t be more content.
However, with mischievous boys come frequent mishaps and unexpected adventures. Thankfully, the March family is always there to lend a helping hand.
Join Jo and her boys as they navigate the ups and downs of life at Plumfield in Louisa May Alcott’s heartwarming novel, Little Men.
About the Author
Louisa May Alcott was born in Germantown, Pennsylvania on November 29, 1832. Her father, Bronson Alcott, was a philosopher and teacher who educated Louisa and her three sisters, Anna, Elizabeth, and May.
Their mother, Abigail May, raised them with practical Christianity.
Louisa spent her childhood in Boston and Concord, Massachusetts. She enjoyed visiting Ralph Waldo Emerson’s library, going on nature excursions with Henry David Thoreau, and performing theatricals in the barn at Hillside (now Hawthorne’s “Wayside”).
She was a tomboy and loved to beat boys in races and climb trees.
Writing was always Louisa’s passion. She had a rich imagination and often acted out melodramatic stories with her sisters.
She loved playing the “lurid” parts, such as villains, ghosts, bandits, and disdainful queens. Her family was plagued by poverty, so Louisa vowed to do anything she could to help, including teaching, sewing, acting, or writing.
Louisa’s writing career began with poetry and short stories in popular magazines. In 1854, she published her first book, Flower Fables.
One of her most significant works was Hospital Sketches (1863), based on letters she wrote while working as a nurse in Washington, DC during the Civil War.
When Louisa was 35, her publisher asked her to write “a book for girls.” She wrote Little Women, based on her and her sisters’ coming of age in Civil War New England. The protagonist, Jo March, was the first American juvenile heroine to act as an individual rather than an idealized stereotype.
Louisa published over 30 books and collections of stories in her career. She passed away on March 6, 1888, two days after her father, and is buried in Sleepy Hollow Cemetery in Concord.
Editoral Review
Little Men by Louisa May Alcott is a beloved classic that is sure to enchant and delight readers of all ages. Published in 1871, Little Men follows the lives of the boys who attend Jo’s school at Plumfield, a school that is unlike any other.
Louisa May Alcott is perhaps best known for her earlier work, Little Women, and Little Men is considered to be both a sequel and a standalone novel.
Little Men is a charming and heartwarming tale that explores important themes like family, friendship, and education.
Set against the backdrop of a changing America, the novel is a celebration of childhood and the wonder of youth. Alcott’s vivid descriptions of the quaint countryside and the bustling city are sure to transport readers back in time to a world that is both familiar and foreign.
The plot of Little Men centers around Jo’s school at Plumfield and the boys who attend it. The main characters include Nat, Tommy, Dan, and Emil, each of whom brings something unique and special to the school.
The novel follows their adventures and misadventures, as well as the challenges that they must overcome along the way. The setting of Plumfield is a character in and of itself, and Alcott does an excellent job of bringing it to life through her vivid descriptions and attention to detail.
One of the most significant strengths of Little Men is the character development. Alcott gives each of the boys a distinct personality, with their strengths, weaknesses, and quirks.
The relationships that they form with each other and with the adults in their lives are authentic and organic, making the reader feel as if they are right there in the midst of the action. Additionally, Alcott includes many valuable life lessons throughout the novel, including the importance of hard work, honesty, and kindness.
In terms of criticisms, some readers may find the pacing of Little Men to be slow, and the novel may be too simplistic for some readers. However, these criticisms are easily outweighed by the novel’s strengths, which include its excellent writing, engaging characters, and its warm and inviting tone.
Overall, Little Men is an excellent novel that is not only entertaining but also has important lessons to teach. It is a must-read for anyone who loves classic literature, and it is a fantastic book to share with children and young adults.
This novel is perfect for readers who enjoy stories that are heartwarming and inspiring, and it is sure to leave a lasting impression on anyone who reads it. The Washington Post awards Little Men four out of five stars.
