The Short Stories Of Louisa May Alcott

By Louisa May Alcott

The short story is often viewed as an inferior relation to the Novel. But it is an art in itself. To take a story and distil its essence into fewer pages while keeping character and plot rounded and driven is not an easy task. Many try and many fail. In this series we look at short stories from many of our most accomplished writers. Miniature masterpieces with a lot to say. In this volume we examine some of the short stories of Louisa May Alcott. Many great writers are defined and remembered by one piece of work; one novel or poem that embeds itself in Society. For Louisa May Alcott it was Little Women - enjoyed by every generation since its publication. Born in 1832 in Germantown Pennsylvania into a poor family she received part of her education from family friends such as Henry David Thoreau, Ralph Waldo Emerson and Nathaniel Hawthorne. These early influences on the young Louisa together with her early life provided much of the material for her later novels. She was also a poet and a short story writer. Here we have gathered together some of those stories which present her in a very different light. This is a chance to explore her take on other subjects in a different discipline. All of these stories are also available as an audiobook from our sister company Word Of Mouth. Many samples are at our youtube channel http://www.youtube.com/user/PortablePoetry?feature=mhee The full volume can be purchased from iTunes, Amazon and other digital stores. They are read for you by Patricia Rodriguez, Richard Mitchley & Ghizela Rowe

• Language: English
• Publisher: Copyright Group
• Release date: Sep 24, 2013
• ISBN: 9781780005805

Louisa May Alcott

Louisa May Alcott (1832-1888) was an American novelist, poet, and short story writer. Born in Philadelphia to a family of transcendentalists—her parents were friends with Ralph Waldo Emerson, Nathaniel Hawthorne, and Henry David Thoreau—Alcott was raised in Massachusetts. She worked from a young age as a teacher, seamstress, and domestic worker in order to alleviate her family’s difficult financial situation. These experiences helped to guide her as a professional writer, just as her family’s background in education reform, social work, and abolition—their home was a safe house for escaped slaves on the Underground Railroad—aided her development as an early feminist and staunch abolitionist. Her career began as a writer for the Atlantic Monthly in 1860, took a brief pause while she served as a nurse in a Georgetown Hospital for wounded Union soldiers during the Civil War, and truly flourished with the 1868 and 1869 publications of parts one and two of Little Women. The first installment of her acclaimed and immensely popular “March Family Saga” has since become a classic of American literature and has been adapted countless times for the theater, film, and television. Alcott was a prolific writer throughout her lifetime, with dozens of novels, short stories, and novelettes published under her name, as the pseudonym A.M. Barnard, and anonymously.

Book preview

The Short Stories Of Louisa May Alcott

The short story is often viewed as an inferior relation to the Novel.  But it is an art in itself.  To take a story and distil its essence into fewer pages while keeping character and plot rounded and driven is not an easy task.  Many try and many fail. 

In this series we look at short stories from many of our most accomplished writers.  Miniature masterpieces with a lot to say.  In this volume we examine some of the short stories of Louisa May Alcott.

Many great writers are defined and remembered by one piece of work; one novel or poem that embeds itself in Society. For Louisa May Alcott it was Little Women - enjoyed by every generation since its publication. Born in 1832 in Germantown Pennsylvania into a poor family she received part of her education from family friends such as Henry David Thoreau, Ralph Waldo Emerson and Nathaniel Hawthorne. These early influences on the young Louisa together with her early life provided much of the material for her later novels. She was also a poet and a short story writer. Here we have gathered together some of those stories which present her in a very different light. This is a chance to explore her take on other subjects in a different discipline.

All of these stories are also available as an audiobook from our sister company Word Of Mouth and can be purchased from iTunes, Amazon and other digital stores.  They are read for you by Patricia Rodriguez, Richard Mitchley & Ghizela Rowe

Index Of Stories

What The Bells Saw And Said

On Picket Duty

A Country Christmas

Psyche’s Art

What The Bells Saw And Said

Bells ring others to church, but go not in themselves.

No one saw the spirits of the bells up there in the old steeple at midnight on Christmas Eve. Six quaint figures, each wrapped in a shadowy cloak and wearing a bell-shaped cap. All were gray-headed, for they were among the oldest bell-spirits of the city, and the light of other days shone in their thoughtful eyes. Silently they sat, looking down on the snow-covered roofs glittering in the moonlight, and the quiet streets deserted by all but the watchmen on their chilly rounds, and such poor souls as wandered shelterless in the winter night. Presently one of the spirits said, in a tone, which, low as it was, filled the belfry with reverberating echoes,

Well, brothers, are your reports ready of the year that now lies dying?

All bowed their heads, and one of the oldest answered in a sonorous voice:—

"My report isn't all I could wish. You know I look down on the commercial part of our city and have fine opportunities for seeing what goes on there. It's my business to watch the business men, and upon my word I'm heartily ashamed of them sometimes. During the war they did nobly, giving their time and money, their sons and selves to the good cause, and I was proud of them. But now too many of them have fallen back into the old ways, and their motto seems to be, 'Every one for himself, and the devil take the hindmost.' Cheating, lying and stealing are hard words, and I don't mean to apply them to all who swarm about below there like ants on an ant-hill they have other names for these things, but I'm old-fashioned and use plain words. There's a deal too much dishonesty in the world, and business seems to have become a game of hazard in which luck, not labor, wins the prize. When I was young, men were years making moderate fortunes, and were satisfied with them. They built them on sure foundations, knew how to enjoy them while they lived, and to leave a good name behind them when they died.

"Now it's anything for money; health, happiness, honor, life itself, are flung down on that great gaming-table, and they forget everything else in the excitement of success or the desperation of defeat. Nobody seems satisfied either, for those who win have little time or taste to enjoy their prosperity, and those who lose have little courage or patience to support them in adversity. They don't even fail as they used to. In my day when a merchant found himself embarrassed he didn't ruin others in order to save himself, but honestly confessed the truth, gave up everything, and began again. But now-a-days after all manner of dishonorable shifts there comes a grand crash; many suffer, but by some hocus-pocus the merchant saves enough to retire upon and live comfortably here or abroad. It's very evident that honor and honesty don't mean now what they used to mean in the days of old May, Higginson and Lawrence.

They preach below here, and very well too sometimes, for I often slide down the rope to peep and listen during service. But, bless you! they don't seem to lay either sermon, psalm or prayer to heart, for while the minister is doing his best, the congregation, tired with the breathless hurry of the week, sleep peacefully, calculate their chances for the morrow, or wonder which of their neighbors will lose or win in the great game. Don't tell me! I've seen them do it, and if I dared I'd have startled every soul of them with a rousing peal. Ah, they don't dream whose eye is on them, they never guess what secrets the telegraph wires tell as the messages fly by, and little know what a report I give to the winds of heaven as I ring out above them morning, noon, and night. And the old spirit shook his head till the tassel on his cap jangled like a little bell.

There are some, however, whom I love and honor, he said, in a benignant tone, "who honestly earn their bread, who deserve all the success that comes to them, and always keep a warm corner in their noble hearts for those less blest than they. These are the men who serve the city in times of peace, save it in times of war, deserve the highest honors in its gift, and leave behind them a record that keeps their memories green. For such an one we lately tolled a knell, my brothers; and as our united voices pealed over the city, in all grateful hearts, sweeter and more solemn than any chime, rung the words that made him so beloved,

'Treat our dead boys tenderly, and send them home to me.'

He ceased, and all the spirits reverently uncovered their gray heads as a strain of music floated up from the sleeping city and died among the stars.

Like yours, my report is not satisfactory in all respects, began the second spirit, who wore a very pointed cap and a finely ornamented cloak. But, though his dress was fresh and youthful, his face was old, and he had nodded several times during his brother's speech. "My greatest affliction during the past year has been the terrible extravagance which prevails. My post, as you know, is at the court end of the city, and I see all the fashionable vices and follies. It is a marvel to me how so many of these immortal creatures, with such opportunities for usefulness, self-improvement and genuine happiness can be content to go round and round in one narrow circle of unprofitable and unsatisfactory pursuits. I do my best to warn them; Sunday after Sunday I chime in their ears the beautiful old hymns that sweetly chide or cheer the hearts that truly listen and believe; Sunday after Sunday I look down on them as they pass in, hoping to see that my words have not fallen upon deaf ears; and Sunday after Sunday they listen to words that should teach them much, yet seem to go by them like the wind. They are told to love their neighbor, yet too many hate him because he possesses more of this world's goods or honors than they: they are told that a rich man cannot enter the kingdom of heaven, yet they go on laying up perishable wealth, and though often warned that moth and rust will corrupt, they fail to believe it till the worm that destroys enters and mars their own chapel of ease. Being a spirit, I see below external splendor and find much poverty of heart and soul under the velvet and the ermine which should cover rich and royal natures. Our city saints walk abroad in threadbare suits, and under quiet bonnets shine the eyes that make sunshine in the shady places. Often as I watch the glittering procession passing to and fro below me. I wonder if, with all our progress, there is to-day as much real piety as in the times when our fathers, poorly clad, with weapon in one hand and Bible in the other, came weary distances to worship in the wilderness with fervent faith unquenched by danger, suffering and solitude.

"Yet in spite of my fault-finding I love my children, as I call them, for all are not butterflies. Many find wealth no temptation to forgetfulness of duty or hardness of heart. Many give freely of their abundance, pity the poor, comfort the afflicted, and make our city loved and honored in other lands as in our own. They have their cares, losses, and heartaches as well as the poor; it isn't all sunshine with them, and they learn, poor souls, that

"'Into each life some rain must fall,

Some days must be dark and dreary.'

"But I've hopes of them, and lately they have had a teacher so genial, so gifted, so well-beloved that all who listen to him must be better for the lessons of charity, good-will and cheerfulness which he brings home to them by the magic of tears and smiles.

Reviews for The Short Stories Of Louisa May Alcott

[nx74defiant · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

Rose is just so unrelentingly good. It came across as rather preacher. I wonder how she would deal with Rose and Charlie's relationship. I didn't see how it could end well.

[daisy_may-1 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Having waited more than three years after reading Eight Cousins before getting to this one, I found the beginning a little confusing as it took me a while to remember who everyone was and so on. But that was more a fault of mine than of the book, and once I got going, I began to really enjoy it.I thought it was a sweet story. The main question of the story of course is who Rose (and Phebe) will marry but there are other things going on too, as Rose and her cousins mature and try to find their paths and vocations in life. I definitely enjoyed getting to know these characters more and, although I liked some of them a lot more than others, they were all well-drawn and interesting characters. There were one or two pretty sad parts, but the ending was happy and satisfying.Despite the author's preface claiming that there was no moral to the story, there did seem to be a fair amount of moralising in it, but this was generally coming from the characters rather than the author (at least explicitly), and a certain amount is of course to be expected given the time it was written. I didn't find it detracted from the story for me, though I suppose it might bother some people.Overall, a good read, though not quite up there with Little Women or An Old-Fashioned Girl.

[jjmcgaffey · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Another good story...not quite as good, for me, as Eight Cousins, partly because it is so strongly focused on romance(s). The moral messages are still character-driven, though, and the characters develop well and reasonably. It is again extremely predictable - I haven't read this one nearly as often as I did Eight Cousins, and didn't remember any of what happened, but who Rose would end up with was pretty obvious from the start. Still a pleasant read.

[ninieb-1 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Six years have passed since the end of [Eight Cousins]. Rose, Phebe, and Uncle Alec have been in Europe for the last two, but now they have returned home. Both Rose and Phebe are trying to find their place in the world. Rose's cousins have mostly grown up (Jamie is still a kid); Archie falls in love with Phebe, and Charlie with Rose. But Charlie encounters problems in his life, and Rose is unwilling to marry him. She does try to help him overcome his difficulties. Meanwhile, Mac is studying medicine under Uncle Alec's tutelage, but also dreaming of greatness in other endeavors. He introduces Rose to Emerson's essays.While [Eight Cousins] is a children's book, [Rose in Bloom] is more young adult in its themes. While Rose expresses her concerns about marriage to the wrong person in 19th century moralizing fashion, she does have a point.

[rainpebble_1 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Rose in Bloom by Louisa May Alcott; (3 1/2*)This book is a must read for all of you readers who enjoyed Eight Cousins. Some of you may have thought that Rose's story ended with Eight Cousins but it doesn't stop there. It continues on here in Rose in Bloom and we get to find out how Rose and these cousins grew up and what happened to them.This book has lost some of the innocence found in the first book as it is slowly lifted as Rose enters into the real world after her return from Europe. All but one of the characters from the first book return in this charming sequel.The cousins are older as well and have found love. The heartwarming challenges these young lovers go through are refreshing in their innocence. Even Jamie is not immune to the talk of love and his innocent candor on the matter is quite amusing.Rose In Bloom answers many questions this reader had the end of 'cousins'. Not everyone comes out of this novel unscathed but that is simply life, isn't it?This is a lovely little book for those readers who enjoyed Eight Cousins.

[jenj5 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Previously read - listened to the Recorded Books audio cassette edition. I had much the same reaction to this as I did to Eight Cousins - I know I loved it when I was younger, but parts of it just grated on me now. Alcott's so sincere and the characters all take themselves so seriously that it's cloying. However, I know I loved it for years so I'm rating it based on that rather than my current assessment.

[countrylife_1 · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

Sweet Rose is much reviewed; I add my own here simply as a reminder to myself. Rose is still sweet when she returns home at twenty-one after several years abroad with her uncle and friend. All the aunts would like to plant this Rose in their own home gardens and look with fondness on any perceived attraction between their various sons and their much-loved niece. Rose knows exactly what she is looking for, though, for she’s had an example since childhood from her guardian, Uncle Alec – ”…to me, love isn’t all. I must look up, not down, trust and honor with my whole heart, and find strength and integrity to lean on.” Ms. Alcott’s characters have grown into their own, much as you’d expect to see them after reading [Eight Cousins]. All in all, I think I prefer the first book over this one. But both are nice examples of didactic fiction from the mid-19th century.

[deltaqueen50 · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

After spending two years travelling around Europe, Rose, her companion Phoebe and her Uncle Alex come home. Coming out in society, suddenly Rose has many admirers, but feeling unsure as to who really cares for her and who just sees the heiress, she decides that she must make her own way in the world before she can decide on marriage. Deciding to put her money to good use she turns to charitable works.Of course her seven male cousins are on hand to escort her and Phoebe to dances, parties and social events, and the various aunts have high hopes that Rose will fall in love with one of these cousins. Charlie, or Prince as he is called appears to be the one who has stolen Rose’s heart. Unfortunately Charlie has a weakness for alcohol and would rather spend his time in play than in any serious undertaking. Another of Rose’s cousins, Mac, waits and watches patiently as he too is in love with her.Rose In Bloom by Louisa May Alcott is overly sentimental and more than a little preachy. I never fully connected to Rose, as I found she never quite reached the depths that is found in the March girls of Little Women, but this story paints a clear picture of the manners and mores of the times, and what was expected of young people of a certain class. This is a book that totally charmed and captivated me when I was young, but reading it with my jaded eyes today, I mostly found it moralistic and rather dated.

[francescadefreitas · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

While I reread this many times as a child, and loved it dearly, a recent reread left me a little cold. Rose's morals seem impossibly high to meet, and while the spirit behind them is still sweet, I now find her annoying and preachy. Only nostalgia stops me from changing my rating from five stars to three.I'd only give the first books to a die hard Little Woman fan.

[faun_song · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

Does anyone else think that Louisa May Alcott seems to write the most sentimental love scenes ever written? That's one of the only things that I don't like about her books - otherwise, they're good stories. Rose In Bloom, however, was disappointing. The idea of cousins marrying one another is .... strange! (To me, at least. ) I guess I was expecting a different ending for Charlie, and the last chapter made me roll my eyes and shake my head. The first book (Eight Couins) is much happier and less serious.

[mcintoshcollege · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

A favorite of mine. Rose in Bloom examines society expectations and the "fate" of nineteenth century gentle women in both the upper and working class. The high moral expectations from both family and society, the prejudices, customs and the lack of opportunity for even educated women is evident on every page. Drawing from personal experience, Louisa creates a bittersweet picture of life in New England in the mid eighteen hundreds.

[rainbowdarling · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Generally I am torn by sequels. I both love and hate them because they can often take a good story and mar it by having been written for the sole purpose of serving fans or publishers. This one, however, is as charming as its precursor, Eight Cousins. Rose is grown and is then thrown into the world of adulthood where love and drama takes over the fancies and imaginings of childhood. It is a thrilling (if sometimes heartbreaking) story and is a very good read.

[merrymary_1 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

A slice of life from another era - yes. Hopelessly romantic and idealized - yes. Old fashioned and out of date - yes. I don't care. I love this book, and its prequel Eight Cousins. Rich beautiful Rose must decide how she will spend her life so that it means something. And she must also decide who she will spend it with. (Or rather, with whom she will spend it!)Inscribed: "Mary Alice Burns" (my mother)

[arelenriel · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

I really loved this book. It was an excellent read. It should also serve as a lesson to teenaged girls that come from wealthier families. The most important things in life cannot be bought and paid for. I would reccomend this book to anyone.

[xiguli · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Somehow I missed Eight Cousins when I received this as a Christmas gift one year. And I warn you--it's overly sentimental, filled with Pollyanna characters who moralize to an astonishing degree.But I loved it as a child. And I continue to periodically re-read it to this day, and still love it. Definitely my favorite of Alcott's novels. Go figure.