Little Women is a coming-of-age novel first published in 1868 that is still beloved by children and adults alike all over the world. It’s especially beloved by New Englanders as it was written by American novelist Louisa May Alcott and based loosely on the lives of herself and her three sisters growing up in Concord, Massachusetts.
It’s a story of hardships and triumphs, learning what it means to be an adult and what you want in life. The story takes place in the heart of Merrimack Valley written by an author who lived here, so anyone visiting should take time to experience the Little Women life.
Louisa May Alcott
Alcott is one of Merrimack Valley’s most celebrated women for the success of Little Women, as well as being an abolitionist and feminist. Born on November 29, 1832, she began working at a young age to help her family through financial hardship. However, her greatest joy was writing. She worked as a governess, teacher, seamstress, and domestic helper while writing on the side, often anonymously or under a pseudonym.
While Alcott spent years writing poems, plays, and short stories, most of her literary success did not come until the 1860s. After serving as a nurse during the Civil War, she wrote letters home about her experience, which were published in the Boston anti-slavery paper Commonwealth and collected as Hospital Sketches, which were published in 1863.
Not long after that, Alcott’s publisher, Thomas Niles, recommended that she write a book about girls that would have more widespread appeal. Alcott initially resisted, having little experience with girls apart from her own sisters, but eventually agreed. She based the main character, Jo March, off of herself, and Jo’s three sisters – Meg, Beth, and Amy – off of her own sisters.
When Alcott presented the first twelve chapters to Niles, they both believed them to be rather dull, but Niles’ niece read them and loved them. When Alcott completed the manuscript, they showed it to several other young girls, who also loved it. Alcott wrote of these girls, “They are the best critics, so I should definitely be satisfied.”
Little Women achieved immediate success, to Alcott’s surprise, and she went on to write two sequels; Little Men (1871) and Jo’s Boys (1886). She passed away on March 6, 1888, but her books continue to delight readers around the world.
The Story
Little Women is the story of the four March sisters – Meg, Jo, Beth, and Amy as they grow up in a quiet Massachusetts town. Set during the American Civil War, they are cared for by their loving mother while their father is away serving as an army chaplain. However, the family has fallen on hard times but attempts to keep the appearance of having a high-class lifestyle.
The primary protagonist is Jo March, who is an intelligent and tomboyish young woman who longs to be a writer. Throughout the story, she and her sisters navigate what it means to be a woman in early American life, love, friendship, tragedy, and finding what they want out of life.
Since it first came out, Little Women has been published in multiple languages and adapted into a stage musical and several movies.
Places for Little Women Lovers to Visit
The Wayside (Author’s House)
The Wayside, also known as the Author’s House, was home to several notable literary figures, such as Margaret Sidney, Nathaniel Hawthorne, and Louisa May Alcott. Alcott lived here from April 1845 to November 1848. She and her family called the house “Hillside” and the barn “Wayside.”
Today, the Wayside barn serves as a Visitor Center and exhibit area. It was used by Alcott and her sisters to stage the plays that they created when they lived at Hillside, including “Roderigo” from Little Women. The Wayside exhibit and tour showcase the many events from the story that took place at the house and barn. It also gives a look at other formative moments for the Alcotts. A notable example is their sheltering of a fugitive slave in early 1847.
Louisa May Alcott’s Orchard House
Anyone who loves Little Women cannot pass up the opportunity to visit Louisa May Alcott’s Orchard House. Alcott and her family lived in this house for twenty years. Furthermore, it served as the primary setting for the story. Through guided tours and informative exhibitions, visitors will feel like they’re walking through the book. This lets them gain deeper insight into the characters and feel like they’re part of the story.
The house is preserved in time, with few structural changes made since the days when the Alcotts lived there. Approximately 80% of the furnishings on display were owned by the family. This means that the rooms look almost exactly like they did in the 1800s. In fact, you can even see the very shelf desk Louisa May Alcott’s father made her, and where she began her writing career.
Author’s Ridge
If you wish to pay your respects to Alcott and her family, Author’s Ridge in Sleepy Hollow Cemetery is worth a pilgrimage, as it’s where they are buried. Alcott herself, her mother and father, and two of her sisters are buried in the family lot. They rest among other famous local authors like Ralph Waldo Emerson and Nathaniel Hawthorne.
2019 Movie Filming Locations
Little Women has been adapted to the silver screen many times, but the 2019 version is the only one to have been filmed on location in Merrimack Valley. This includes the Orchard House, the Old Manse, Minuteman National Park, and various spots throughout Concord, Massachusetts. Whether you’re a film buff or simply love the book, any Little Women fan should check out the brochure of all the places the 2019 movie was filmed.
Little Women is one of the premier coming-of-age stories for many young men and women growing up. If you’re someone who has held onto your love of this heartwarming novel, a pilgrimage to Merrimack Valley should be on your bucket list. Whether you’re looking to learn more about Alcott and her family or simply feel like you’re in the book, there’s something for you to enjoy.
