Louisa May Alcott
Louisa May Alcott was born November 29, 1832, and died
March 6, 1888. She lived to be 55 years
of age. Louisa's poems, stories, and
novels helped to support the Alcott family.
Louisa's parents names were named Abigail May, and
Bronson Alcott. Abigail and Bronson met
when Abigail was visiting her brother Samuel J. May. Abigail and Bronson were married May 23, 1830
at Kings Chapel in Boston.
The Alcott's then moved to Philadelphia,
Pennsylvania. Abigail and Bronson had
their first child Anna. They were living
in Germantown, Pennsylvania when Louisa arrived, ( their second child). Almost two years later the family moved to
Boston, Massachusetts. Then, their third
child Elizabeth was born in June 1835. Finally, Abby May was born in 1840. By that time the family was living in Concord,
Massachusetts.
Louisa and her sisters were mostly educated at home. Louisa wrote of her education, "I never went to school except to my
father or such governesses as from time to time came into the family... I never liked arithmetic nor grammar, but reading, writing, composition, history, and geography I enjoyed,
as well as the stories read to us with a skill peculiarly his (her father) own."
When Louisa was ten years old her family moved to
Harvard, Massachusetts. Louisa's mom,
Abigail, and her daughters struggled to keep the house and farm going while her
dad and a group of men were out traveling.
So, the family moved back to Concord Massachusetts. The house they lived in they called
Hillside. It was a happy time as written
in Little Women. The Emerson
family lived across the road from Louisa's family at that time. Flower Fables was written for Ellen
Emerson.
Over the next couple of years Louisa read many types of
books and poetry. Including Shakespeare,
Plutarch, Milton, Margaret Fuller, George Stand, and many others.
A few years later Louisa's family finally had a permanent
home in Concord. The Alcott's first year
in their home had good things happen, and bad things happen. The death of their third child Elizabeth, and
their first child Anna's marriage to John Pratt.
Louisa's book Pauline's Passion and Punishment,
made her one hundred dollars. Louisa
sent most of the money she earned home to her family.
The Civil War had
started, and Louisa wanted to do her part.
Louisa became an Abolitionist at an early age.
One of the reasons why was because she was saved from drowning in a frog
pond by a "colored boy."
In September, 1867 Thomas Niles (a publisher) asked
Louisa to write a book for girls. In the
middle of July, Louisa finished part one of Little Women. Part Two was
published the following spring.
The fourth daughter, May got married to Ernest
Nieriker. May died after giving birth
to her child Lulu. Louisa was asked to look after Lulu. Louisa told Lulu
stories, and published them as Lulu's Library.
On March 1, 1888 Louisa visited her father for the last
time. Bronson Alcott (her dad) died
March 4, 1888, and two days later Louisa May Alcott died. She was buried in Concord, Massachusetts at
Sleepy Hallow Cemetery.
Louisa May Alcott wrote many great books in her
time. She wrote over twenty- five great
books that all have good, life stories, and good morals. Louisa May Alcott was a great writer.
Done by Ella
