from Fruitlands to Little Women

It all began back in April, when Anna ended up in Massachusetts and went to Fruitlands.  I'd never heard of the place, or really known very much about Louisa May Alcott. So, like anyone who has discovered a new interest, I forgot all about it, almost immediately. (ahem)

For only a couple of days, because what should cross my path the next time I was working in the children's department at the library, but a book about Fruitlands?  A semi-fictional children's book which includes what remains of Louisa May's diary about her stay there, in addition to which the author wrote a made-up diary to "supplement" the real one, with the idea that since Louisa's parents were going to read her diary, she would also write a secret one, with a bit more honesty to it. It seemed plausible to me, and was the only book at the library about the subject. I made a request for a book from another library and passed the time in between by reading American Bloomsbury by Susan Cheever. So good - fascinating!  I really knew nothing about Emerson, Thoreau, Hawthorne, Alcott, Melville, or that they were connected.

Now I have to read Little Women, of course, even though I did read it many years ago. This edition has appealing sketches and informational tidbits on the period, hopefully of interest to young readers.

They always looked back before turning the corner, for their mother was always at the window, to nod and smile, and wave her hand to them. Somehow it seemed as if they couldn't have got through the day without that, for whatever their mood might be, the last glimpse of that motherly face was sure to affect them like sunshine.

I suppose I'll have to watch all the film versions after this, in order to compare them. Such drudgery!