That the newest film adaptation of Little Women got six 2020 Oscar nominations, including Best Picture and Best Actress, seems in keeping with this beloved story. Ever since it was published more than 150 years ago, Louisa May Alcott's classic novel about the four March sisters, Meg, Jo, Beth, and Amy, has been revered and adored for its portrait of American life, its depiction of growing from adolescence into maturity, its exploration of the bonds among the siblings at the heart of the story, and its groundbreaking implication that the lives of girls and women are rich, complex, and powerful. Now, this special edition chronicles the long and nuanced history of the novel and celebrates the remarkable spirit of Alcott herself, a woman whose radical approach to life and equality was years ahead of her time. Explore her biography and the "rebellious spirit" that pervades the book. Consider the story's many adaptations that have kept her legacy at the heart of popular culture over the years, including Katharine Hepburn in 1933 and the new movie directed by Greta Gerwig and starring Saoirse Ronan. Let this special edition help you celebrate one of the most important novels in American literature. This electronic message, including any attachments, may contain proprietary, confidential or privileged information for the sole use of the intended recipient(s). You are hereby notified that any unauthorized disclosure, copying, distribution, or use of this message is prohibited. If you have received this message in error, please immediately notify the sender by reply e-mail and delete it.
LIFE
LIFE Bookazines
Changing the Landscape Forever • TAPPING INTO THE INNER LIVES OF GIRLS, AND TREATING THOSE LIVES SERIOUSLY, LOUISA MAY ALCOTT TOLD A BOLD, BEAUTIFUL STORY THAT WAS BUILT TO LAST AND LAST
The Creator: Louisa May Alcott Opener • Living in New England through the heart of the 19th century—and the Civil War—the author of Little Women and its sequels created a milieu suited to its time, while also delivering a forward-thinking heroine (based on herself) who remains an inspiration today
A Literary Revolutionary • WITH HER FAMILY'S SUPPORT, AND HER OWN DETERMINATION, LOUISA MAY ALCOTT UNSPOOLED A CHARACTER-RICH NARRATIVE THAT MADE HER A SENSATION FOR THE REST OF HER LIFE
Transcendent Thoughts • That her father was a colleague of Emerson and Thoreau, and shared their transcendental philosophy, helped shape Alcott’s views
The Story of Little Women • HOW THE NOVEL CAME INTO BEING, WHAT IT CONTAINED, AND WHY IT UPENDED THE WORLD OF BOOKS, LITERATURE, AND SOCIETY
Reality Based • JO MARCH WAS PRACTICALLY AN ALTER EGO FOR LOUISA MAY ALCOTT. OTHER LITTLE WOMEN CHARACTERS BORE CLOSE RESEMBLANCES TO OTHER ALCOTTS.
Great Adaptations Opener • Of the many celluloid and theatrical interpretations of the story—among them PBS’s Masterpiece Theatre version at right— some have emerged as memorable classics. And as Greta Gerwig’s new movie emphatically shows, every generation deserves its own Little Women
1933: Pure Exuberance • A FILM STARRING YOUNG KATHARINE HEPBURN STAYED CLOSE TO THE BOOK WHILE ADDING ITS OWN MEASURE OF PLUCK, AND THEN WON AN OSCAR
1949: Color Becomes Them • YES, THAT WAS ELIZABETH TAYLOR, BLONDE WIG AND ALL, PLAYING THE ROLE OF AMY IN A BEAUTIFULLY COSTUMED TEARJERKER THAT ONCE AGAIN GENERATED ACADEMY AWARD HARDWARE
1994: Women in Charge • AN ALL-FEMALE CREATIVE TEAM AND AN EXTRAORDINARY CAST DELIVERED ON A BRAND-NEW SCRIPT THAT BROKE THE LITTLE WOMEN MOLD
2019: The New Generation • WITH DIRECTOR GRETA GERWIG LEADING THE WAY, THE NEWEST TELLING OF THE CLASSIC TALE EMBRACES A FRESH TAKE AND A HIGH SPIRIT
Lights, Cameras, and So Much Action • BEYOND THE DEFINITIVE VERSIONS, LITTLE WOMEN HAS BEEN TRANSLATED TO THE SCREEN TIME AND...
