Little Women Mass Market Paperback – May 1, 2012 by Louisa May Alcott

Description

Author: Alcott Louisa May

Brand: Signet

Color: White

Edition: Reprint

Features:

• Signet Classics

Package Dimensions: 40x172x240

Number Of Pages: 528

Release Date: 01-05-2012

Details: Product Description Louisa May Alcott shares the innocence of girlhood in this classic coming of age story about four sisters—Meg, Jo, Beth, and Amy.   In picturesque nineteenth-century New England, tomboyish Jo, beautiful Meg, fragile Beth, and romantic Amy are responsible for keeping a home while their father is off to war. At the same time, they must come to terms with their individual personalities—and make the transition from girlhood to womanhood. It can all be quite a challenge. But the March sisters, however different, are nurtured by their wise and beloved Marmee, bound by their love for each other and the feminine strength they share. Readers of all ages have fallen instantly in love with these Little Women. Their story transcends time—making this novel endure as a classic piece of American literature that has captivated generations of readers with their charm, innocence, and wistful insights.This Signet Classics edition contains Little Women in its entirety, including Parts I and II.   With an Introduction by Regina Bareccaand an Afterword by Susan Straight About the Author Louisa May Alcott (1832-1888) was born in Germantown, Pennsylvania. The family later settled in Concord, Massachusetts, where Alcott was influenced by their neighbors Nathaniel Hawthorne, Ralph Waldo Emerson, and Henry David Thoreau. At a young age, Louisa took on some of the family’s financial burdens and worked as a domestic, a teacher, and a writer. In 1868 and 1869, fame and fortune came with the publication of Little Women. During her lifetime, Alcott wrote numerous novels and was an active campaigner for temperance and women’s suffrage. Excerpt. © Reprinted by permission. All rights reserved. Playing Pilgrims”Christmas won’t be Christmas without any presents,”grumbled Jo, lying on the rug.”It’s so dreadful to be poor!”sighed Meg, looking down at her old dress.”I don’t think it’s fair for some girls to have lots of pretty things, and other girls nothing at all,” added little Amy, with an injured sniff.”We’ve got father and mother, and each other, anyhow,”said Beth, contentedly, from her corner.The four young faces on which the firelight shone brightened at the cheerful words, but darkened again as Jo said sadly?”We haven’t got father, and shall not have him for a long time.” She didn’t say “perhaps never,”but each silently added it, thinking of father far away, where the fighting was.Nobody spoke for a minute; then Meg said in an altered tone, “You know the reason mother proposed not having any presents this Christmas, was because it’s going to be a hard winter for every one; and she thinks we ought not to spend money for pleasure, when our men are suffering so in the army. We can’t do much, but we can make our little sacrifices, and ought to do it gladly. But I am afraid I don’t;”and Megshook her head, as she thought regretfully of all the pretty things she wanted.”But I don’t think the little we should spend would do any good. We’ve each got a dollar, and the army wouldn’t be much helped by our giving that. I agree not to expect anything from mother or you, but I do want to buy Undine and Sintram for myself; I’ve wanted it so long,’said Jo, who was a bookworm.”I planned to spend mine in new music,”said Beth, with a little sigh, which no one heard but the hearth-brush and kettle-holder.”I shall get a nice box of Faber’s drawing pencils; I really need them,” said Amy, decidedly.”Mother didn’t say anything about our money, and she won’t wish us to give up everything. Let’s each buy what we want, and have a little fun; I’m sure we grub hard enough to earn it,”cried Jo, examining the heels of herboots in a gentlemanly manner.”I know I do, teaching those dreadful children nearly all day, when I’m longing to enjoy myself at home,” began Meg, in the complaining tone again.”You don’t have half such a hard time as I do,” said Jo. “How would you like to be shut up for hours with a nervous, fussy old lady, who keeps you trotti