Little Women (Barnes & Noble Classics Series)

By Louisa May Alcott and Camille Cauti

Little Women, by Louisa May Alcott, is part of the Barnes & Noble Classics series, which offers quality editions at affordable prices to the student and the general reader, including new scholarship, thoughtful design, and pages of carefully crafted extras. Here are some of the remarkable features of Barnes & Noble Classics:

• New introductions commissioned from today's top writers and scholars
• Biographies of the authors
• Chronologies of contemporary historical, biographical, and cultural events
• Footnotes and endnotes
• Selective discussions of imitations, parodies, poems, books, plays, paintings, operas, statuary, and films inspired by the work
• Comments by other famous authors
• Study questions to challenge the reader's viewpoints and expectations
• Bibliographies for further reading
• Indices & Glossaries, when appropriate

All editions are beautifully designed and are printed to superior specifications; some include illustrations of historical interest. Barnes & Noble Classics pulls together a constellation of influences—biographical, historical, and literary—to enrich each reader's understanding of these enduring works.

 

Generations of readers young and old, male and female, have fallen in love with the March sisters of Louisa May Alcott’s most popular and enduring novel, Little Women. Here are talented tomboy and author-to-be Jo, tragically frail Beth, beautiful Meg, and romantic, spoiled Amy, united in their devotion to each other and their struggles to survive in New England during the Civil War.

 

It is no secret that Alcott based Little Women on her own early life. While her father, the freethinking reformer and abolitionist Bronson Alcott, hobnobbed with such eminent male authors as Emerson, Thoreau, and Hawthorne, Louisa supported herself and her sisters with “woman’s work,” including sewing, doing laundry, and acting as a domestic servant. But she soon discovered she could make more money writing. Little Women brought her lasting fame and fortune, and far from being the “girl’s book” her publisher requested, it explores such timeless themes as love and death, war and peace, the conflict between personal ambition and family responsibilities, and the clash of cultures between Europe and America.   Camille Cauti, Ph.D., is an editor and literary critic who l

• Language: English
• Publisher: Barnes & Noble Classics
• Release date: Jun 1, 2009
• ISBN: 9781411432574

Louisa May Alcott

Louisa May Alcott (1832-1888) is the author of the beloved Little Women, which was based on her own experiences growing up in New England with her parents and three sisters. More than a century after her death, Louisa May Alcott's stories continue to delight readers of all ages.

Reviews for Little Women (Barnes & Noble Classics Series)

[danielstj · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Although this was a novel primarily intended for a female audience, I still found this incredibly likable and appealing. There is much here: sorrow, friendship, family, yearnings, disillusionment, and closure. The characters are vivid and the setting serves as a ready placard to explore their innermost feelings, desires, and emotions. The plot does not waver, it stays concentrated and focused on the intrigues of its principal characters and I feel that it managed to accomplish all that was intended. Overall, a great book. 4 stars.

[jemima79_1 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

This is one of the classics that was a favorite in my younger years. It is a book that I will encourage my own children to read ASAP in order to counteract the nonsense of 'Captain Underpants and the Talking Toilet' and other such contemporary fare. I loved the way that each of the March sisters had their own personality traits and their own struggles to overcome. It is important for youngsters to be encouraged in an effort to develop good character and the example provided by the March family is an excellent one. They are not perfect, but are making an effort to get there. Most of all I loved the setting. New England seemed so magical with the different seasons and activities.

[callie1983 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

One of my absolute fav classics... love this book

[vtkatiesue · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

This is one of my favorite books of all time. The love that the March sisters have for each other continues to astound me every time I read it. The first time I read it (actually it was read to my sister and I by my mother) I was not quite as enamored by Alcott's charm as I am now. I grew up with this novel, reading it every few years and each time I read it, I saw the story from a completely different prospective. Reading it in high school, I was furious at Jo when she turned down Laurie's marriage proposal, but now I understand her reasoning behind it and applaud her. A truly remarkable work of art that has touched my heart throughout my entire life.

[theboylatham_1 · Rating: 1 out of 5 stars]

Four out of ten. eBook.

The story of four sisters growing up and coming of age. It follows the girls from a young age into marriage and beyond. The first half of the book was reasonably entertaining but becomes dull and predictable. Obviously meant for young women and in the style of older books is slow moving and patronising at times.

[fuzzi_1 · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

Somewhat entertaining read. I did get a little weary of the repeated moral preaching by adults.

[aprilkennedyahp · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

While it is a charming coming of age tale, I found it a tad slow and a bit dry, I really like the movie though.

[mhanover10 · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

It's interesting to listen to a book written in the 1800's. The dialog isn't that great and some of the phrases mean something totally different in 2016. For example snowballing. I didn't know what it meant in 2016 until I typed it in during my bing rewards searches. Of course Louisa May Alcott was talking about an innocent snow ball fight. I think with classics like this, I might stick with the movie.

[thornton37814 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

The classic tale of the March sisters--Meg, Jo, Beth, and Amy. It's a coming-of-age tale in many ways as the girls grow up and most find love. Marmee imparts wisdom when her daughters seek it. The neighboring Laurance family, particularly Laurie, plays an important role in the book. Jo begins her career as a writer. This classic never fails to make me cry. Even though I know it is coming, I never want Beth to die.

[rosenstern · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

I liked the writing style of the book. It was fun to read, and terribly sad at times. Yes I cried a little. The story follows the lives of the for March women, their ups and downs and general merriment making. I was unsure of the ending; I do not know if I approved. But it was worth the read.

[katied1_1 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

This is a great classic book about a poor family with four girls. The girls must learn certain lessons to become succesful young ladies. The book holds countless timeless morals which are easy to take into your own life.

[t1bclasslibrary · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

This is an edited and abridged version of the original. Little Women is of course Louisa May Alcott's story of four sisters who each live according to their personalities. Meg wants to be the ideal, typical housewife, Jo has dreams of being a famous author, Beth wants only to help others, and Amy is a little vain and very artistic. All of them love one another despite their feuds. This version especially focuses on Jo and how she grows.

[kronos999_1 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

A fun read about family and a group of sisters during their father's absence do to the American civil war. It probably would have been more enjoyable had I read this as a child, but brought back quite a few nostalgic feelings of similar novels that I read when I was that age. Perhaps I will be tempted into reading the sequels.

[nikki_havey · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

(300/759) This book is about 4 girls who live with there mother and a slave. There father went off to be a soldier for the war. There family is middle class, so they can buy new things but they aren't rich like they use to be because their father was helping a friend and ended up losing a lot of their money. Later they found out there father is sick so their mother went to washington because their father was in one of the hospitals, then one of the sisters name Beth got scarlet fever. The main characters are Meg who is the oldest sister, she is discribed as beautiful and gets more beautiful with each passing day, she also loves elegant rich things. Joe the next oldest sister acts like a tome boy. Her one beauty was her hair until she cut it off to help her family get money for her mother to go to washington to help their father. Beth, the second to youngest is one of the kindest shyest people you would ever meet. Then the youngest is named Amy who loves to drawn and beautiful things. There mother Mrs. March is one of those mothers who you think is the greatest mother in the world. Then Hannah their slave is kind and an amazing nurse. I think Meg likes the material things of life too much, Joe has a short temper but I'm glad she is working to fix it. Beth has nothing wrong with her or that I think she should change about herself. if anything i think she should be more outgoing. Amy, I think she should be less selfish. I don't think i can relate to any of the things in this book, I mean so many things have changed since then, nothing is really the same. I think if anything I'm like Beth in shyness and Meg in liking elegant beautiful things. Actually so far I pretty much like everything, actually ya so far I like everything I have read. I would recommend this book to anyone who likes old victorian things, or old type of stories. For a movie I think all these parts would be hard to cast, I mean a beautiful elegant young lady, a tome boy, a shy kind girl, and one that is selfish yet loves drawing. I don't think anyone I could pick would be the right one to play the roles.

[jiraiya_5 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

I thought the first book, or part, merited 5 stars. The second segment was not as good. It could have been just as, but even so would have to make do with being as good in a wholly new and different way. Being groundbreaking, imaginative, incredibly adventuresome, of precise timing in terms of not outstaying the welcome, of never putting a foot wrong, all of this, together could have happened only once. This oeuvre is the product of an inspired writer punching above her weight. That's only an assumption, and I will put it to test one day when I'll begin reading Little Men. But yeah, book 2's MO was simply to move one step ahead and move one, sometimes two steps backward. The major death in Little Women was done in such a way as to satisfy most readers, but disappoint people like me, because what followed thence cheapened the major event. I would have cherished the character that died. Maybe, who knows, on my own deathbed I would have remembered Little Women, and known that death happens in many ways and not only to me. The urge to wrench any atom of happiness from sad occurrences was the letdown of this part. It's more distracting than the preaching. The resolution between Jo and Laurie and it's aftermath beggared belief. I thought my jaw would drop with Amy's love life. The penny certainly did. It looks like, from my current, alive eyes, that the writer didn't fully know her characters. I think that she doesn't know how true love is kindled and how it's kept alive. Her characters fall in love in the most burlesque ways. But enough of the negatives. Little Women is everything that I wanted to find in other classics. The words which Louisa May Alcott wrought made her name famous forever. She reached out from her historical times and touched our hearts, we who live in a world and read and listen to music in ways not guessable by her. I think she is an author who put pieces of herself in her books. And whenever the Little Women sang and dance and listened to the piano, I think how the author herself liked to do this.

[akh3966_1 · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

Went to this for a "comfort read" in place of my usual P&P... had not remembered/realized how sanctimonious this book is

[ashpoe · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

1.) The story focuses on four loving but very different sisters and what they all go through in their lives while their father is off to war. Jo, Meg, Beth, and Amy are all experiencing different things in life but are still trying to keep the untity in their family. Jo is the tomboy of the family, Meg is the classic beauty, Amy is the hopeless romantic and Beth is the most fragile out of all the sisters. It follows them through their trials and tribulations and of their love interest as well.2.). I read this book at a very young age because I was huge reader, I am still big on reading and love to reread books because to me it's like watching a movie again. As a kid i liked this book because it gave me a glimpse of a story from a different time and place and adult like situations I had never experienced. Due to getting older I appreciated the book so much more now that I understand things more and had my own life experiences and fell in love with the book more. 3.) Classroom. Ideas would be for older students because of the style of the book and they eiykd have more appreciation for the book more. I would have them get into groups to act out a short selection from the book and follow up with a short essay of which sister is their favorite and why. Do you think you have some of the same personality traits? Is she the opposite of you which is what has drawn you to her? And so on...

[audacity88_1 · Rating: 1 out of 5 stars]

Just completely uninteresting for me as an adult male reader.

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

Alcott, Louisa May. Little Women. 16 CDs. 19.25 hrs. Dreamscape Media LLC. 2014. ISBN 9781633793828. One of the most beloved American classics of all time is beautifully and eloquently brought to life in this lively recording filled with passion and spirit. Four sisters in nineteenth century New England grow from little girls to respectable young women. Each sister carries unique hopes for their futures, but Meg, Jo, Beth, and Amy learn that life often has other plans in store for them. Their coming of age stories are filled with hilarity, humility, friendship, heartbreak, and duty. Characters come alive with their own unique voices and mannerisms, flawlessly narrated the by talented voice actress, Susie Berneis. A classic that has easily stood the test of time and is once again brought to life. A must for young women and fans of American literature. - Erin Cataldi, Johnson Co. Public Library, Franklin, IN

[daizylee · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Every copy should include Part II, which is often excluded.

[magst_2 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

This is one of my all time favorite books!!!!

[nicolehc_1 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

It's impossible to pinpoint the year I first read this. Probably the year I learned to read in sentences. Classic, indeed. A book I'd recommend to all little girls.

[lunza_1 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

What can you say about this? It's a classic, for bleep's sake. The version I have has an afterword by Nina Auerbach, who wrote a biograph I own called "Ellen Terry: Player in her Time," which is a psychological view of the 19th-century Shakespearean actress. But that's another review. Let's just say that Auerbach does to Alcott what she did to Ellen Terry's life.

[rainbowdarling · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

A true classic, truly timeless, Little Women is a must have for any bookshelf. This story of a family of young women, dealing with the very real traumas of the Civil War is charming in that it gives pictures into the lives of the daughters, the things that concern them, please them, the trials they must face and the choices they are forced to make. The main character is endearing as are her three sisters and by the end I found myself rooting for the ultimate well-being of everyone involved, not simply the main character. I can't imagine not having this book around.

[wanderlust_lost · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

The stirring, moving, sometimes tragic tale of life for 4 young daughters while their father is at war.

[arelenriel · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

This is one of the best books I have ever read.I loved it. It remins me of me and my sisters. Yes there are 4 of us.

[hoosgracie · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

As a non-reading child, I had tried to get through Little Women and failed, although I always loved the movie (the June Allyson version specifically). So, I finally decided to "read" it by listening to the audio. While I thoroughly enjoyed this classic story, aspects of it are very dated - thus the 1/2 star off my rating. Beth's tragedy is still striking, and I found Jo and Laurie as likeable as ever. I actually liked Amy a bit better than I thought I might and disliked Meg more.

[atomicpunk_1 · Rating: 1 out of 5 stars]

A few months ago when I was in the mall and had to wait for some people there, I saw Little Women in the bookstore and decided to buy it to start reading it while I was waiting for them. I remembered reading it when I was a child, but I remembered absolutely nothing about it. The fact that I couldn't remember it should have told me something.As I started reading it, the characters struck me as very one-dimensional. But I kept reading, waiting for the plot to get going to see if that would be interesting. Most of the book seemed focused on the girls' quest to be the best Christian women they could be, but they never faced any significant moral dilemmas or any conflicts that really seemed to challenge them.Finally, toward the end of what was originally published as the first volume of the book, a little bit of a plot centered on Meg's romance caught my attention, but by that point it wasn't enough to keep me reading much farther. I very rarely find myself so disinterested in a book that I quit reading it, but after 249 pages of Little Women, I finally just could not bring myself to pick it up again.

[4sarad_1 · Rating: 2 out of 5 stars]

This book isn't written poorly, and the stories aren't bad, but I still find it really annoying and hard to read. The characters are just very unbelievable. You can tell it's a children's story because all the girls always burst out in unison "Yes Mother!!" and things like that. They're just way too goody-goody to be interesting.

[nandelh · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

I remember when I was teaching in the 2nd grade. I would tell my students that this was my favorite books and my students would reply that I had a lot of favorite books. Well this one is one of my favorits because of the independent spirits of the girls. Well writen and a joy to read.