Anne of Green Gables & Little Women

Story-book places to visit with kids

continued from p. 1., Anne of Green Gables

Little Women

The classic book, Little Women,  by Louisa May Alcott, tells the story of four sisters growing up in a New England town during the mid 1800s: Beth, Amy, Meg, and Jo (who was played by Katherine Hepburn in a classic film.)

Louisa May Alcott's home: Orchard House
In 1857, Louisa May Alcott's father bought land near Concord, Massachusetts. On the property were two old 18th century houses; Alcott joined them together, and the house became home to a most extraordinary family, and the setting for a most famous book.

Orchard House is still furnished with many of the Alcott family's possessions. The house can be seen by guided tour, and its website notes special "Hand-in-Hand tours" for adults and young kids. Tours aim to highlight the atmosphere and activities of the whole Alcott household: who were a most remarkable bunch.

A Remarkable Family
The Alcott family was real-life proof of what we often tell our kids: everyone has a special gift.

Louisa May Alcott was the best-known family member, but the others were no slouches. Anna participated in amateur theatre; May was an artist, and teacher of a noted local sculptor. Amos Bronson Alcott was a philosopher, writer and educator who, along with Emerson, Thoreau and Hawthorne, belonged to the Concord literary circle. Mother Abigail was not only a homemaker but also often a breadwinner, and took part in the great social movements of the day (such as abolition and women's rights.)

Another sister, Elizabeth, died young, which was surely the seed for the saddest event in Little Women, Beth's death.

Louisa May Alcott
Louisa May Alcott was eight when the family moved to Orchard House, and had a happy childhood though money was scarce. She played with the children of Hawthorne and Emerson, and wrote plays performed in a nearby barn. Later she became a school teacher in Boston; and published her first book at the age of 22. She lived from 1832 to 1888, and like Lucy Maud Montgomery was a success in her own time.

Over a century after her death, she still had books on the bestseller list. She's even had a crater on Venus named for her!

Once again, you can get the whole text of her best-loved book delivered to you with a click of the mouse.