Great American Authors | Louisa May Alcott: The Breadwinner | 2
Nov 29, 2023
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Louisa May Alcott, beloved author of Little Women, defied societal norms by exploring the aspirations and challenges faced by young women. The podcast delves into Alcott's early life, her determination to continue writing despite rejection, and the creation and impact of her beloved novel.
Louisa May Alcott's upbringing in a progressive community of writers and reformers shapes her literary ambitions and independent spirit.
Through her novel 'Little Women', Louisa May Alcott defies societal expectations and expands possibilities for American women.
Deep dives
Louisa May Alcott's Determination to Prove Critics Wrong
In April 1854, publisher James T. Fields rejects Louisa May Alcott's essay, telling her to stick to teaching instead. Undeterred, Alcott is determined to prove him wrong and continues to pursue her writing career.
Alcott's Upbringing and Literary Ambitions
Raised in a progressive community of writers and reformers, Louisa May Alcott turns to writing as an escape from her family's financial struggles. Over her life, she writes hundreds of stories, poems, and essays, but it is her beloved novel 'Little Women' that brings her fame.
The Influence of Transcendentalism on Alcott's Life
Louisa May Alcott's father, Bronson Alcott, is a member of the Transcendentalist Club and a close friend of renowned thinkers Ralph Waldo Emerson and Henry David Thoreau. Louisa's upbringing in this intellectual community shapes her literary ambitions and independent spirit.
Overcoming Personal Challenges and Achieving Literary Success
Despite facing personal challenges such as illness, family tragedies, and financial struggles, Louisa May Alcott's determination and talent propel her to become a successful author. Through her writing, she defies societal expectations and expands possibilities for American women.
In 1840, eight-year-old Louisa May Alcott moved to the small town of Concord, Massachusetts with her family. There, she spent her days wandering through the woods, putting on plays with her sisters, and learning from famed writers and philosophers such as Henry David Thoreau and Ralph Waldo Emerson.
For years, Alcott struggled to achieve success as a writer. Then in 1868, she drew inspiration from her youth to write her beloved coming-of-age novel Little Women. By exploring the aspirations and challenges faced by young women, she defied 19th century norms that sought to confine women in both life and literature.