Louisa May Alcotts Little Women was a critically acclaimed bestseller upon its publication in 1868. It tells the story of sisters Meg, Jo, Beth, and Amy March each a young woman with a distinctive and relatable personality, a rare feature for a childrens novel at the time. The novel continues to resonate with readers as a timeless tale of growing up. This is the first modern edition of Little Women to feature the complete illustrations of Clara Miller Burd, originally executed in 1926. Burds brilliant colour plates and detailed drawings bring the world of the March family to life. An introduction by Alice A. Carter, an expert on Golden Age illustration, explores Burds life and the work of early 20th-century women illustrators. This new edition, handsomely bound in cloth, will be the perfect gift for all devotees of Little Women.
In troduction: Picturing Little Women
By Alice A. Carter . . . . . . . . . . 9
Part I
I. Playing Pilgrims . . . . . . . . . .
. 25
II . A Merry Christmas . . . . . . . . . . 35
III . The Laurence Boy . . . . . . . . . . 45
IV. Burdens . . . . . . . . . . . . . 55
V. Being Neighborly . . . . . . . . . . 66
VI. Beth Finds the Palace Beautiful. . . . . . . 78
VII . Amys Valley of Humiliation . . . . . . . 85
VIII . Jo Meets Apollyon . . . . . . . . . . 92
IX . Meg Goes to Vanity Fair. . . . . . . .
103
X . The P. C. and P. O.. . . . . . . . . . 118
XI. Experiments. . . . . . . . . . . . 127
XII . Camp Laurence . . . . . . . . . . . 137
XIII . Castles in the Air. . . . . . . . .
. . 155
XIV. Secrets. . . . . . . . . . . . . 165
XV. A Telegram . . . . . . . . . . . . 174
XVI. Letters . . . . . . . . . . . . . 183
XVII . Little Faithful. . . . . . . . . .
. . 191
XVIII . Dark Days . . . . . . . . . . . . 198
XIX . Amys Will . . . . . . . . . . . . 206
XX . Confidential. . . . . . . . . . . . 214
XXI. Laurie Makes Mischief, and Jo Makes Peace. . . 222
XXII . Pleasant Meadows . . . . . . . . . . 233
XXIII . Aunt March Settles the Question. . . . . . 240
Part II
I. Gossip . . . . . . . . . . . . . 253
II . The First Wedding . . . . . . . . . . 264
III . Artistic Attempts . . . . . . . . . . 270
IV. Literary Lessons . . . . . . . . . .
280
V. Domestic Experiences . . . . . . . . . 287
VI. Calls. . . . . . . . . . . . . . 301
VII . Consequences . . . . . . . . . . . 313
VIII . Our Foreign Correspondent . . . . . . . 323
IX . Tender Troubles . . . . . . . . . .
332
X . Jos Journal. . . . . . . . . . . . 343
XI. A Friend . . . . . . . . . . . . . 355
XII . Heartache . . . . . . . . . . . . 369
XIII . Beths Secret . . . . . . . . . .
. 379
XIV. New Impressions . . . . . . . . . . 385
XV. On the Shelf. . . . . . . . . . . . 396
XVI. Lazy Laurence . . . . . . . . . . . 408
XVII . The Valley of the Shadow . . . . . . . . 421
XVIII . Learning to Forget. . . . . . . . . . 427
XIX . All Alone. . . . . . . . . . .
. 438
XX . Surprises . . . . . . . . . . .
. 446
XXI. My Lord and Lady. . . . . . . . . . 462
XXII . Daisy and Demi . . . . . . . . . . . 467
XXIII . Under the Umbrella. . . . . . . . .
473
XXIV. Harvest Time . . . . . . . . . . . 487
ILLUSTRATIONS
Beth had a way of softly touching the yellow key. . . .
. Frontispiece
The old gentleman turned up her face. . . . . . . . . 73
Jo leaned over her sister . . . . . . . . . . . 99
Jo threw open the door of the closet and displayed Laurie . . . . . 125
The sisters sat together in the shady nook . . . . .
. . . 157
Jo assumed an indifferent air as she rumpled up the brown bush . . . . 181
Amy told Marmee all her trials. . . . . .
. . . . 217
Aunt March came hobbling in at the interesting minute. . . . . . 245
Jo appeared, proudly bearing a small flannel bundle. . . . . . 299
The Professor caught Tina up with a laugh . . . . . . . . 347
Beth lay on the warm rocks with her head in Jos lap. . . . . . 383
Jo laid her head down and cried. . . . . . . . . . 443
There stood a stout, bearded gentleman . . . . . . . . 457
Louisa May Alcott (18321888) was a beloved author of childrens literature. Clara M. Burd (18731933) was a stained-glass designer and illustrator. Her work appeared in numerous magazines and childrens books, including Alcotts Little Men and Jos Boys. Alice A. Carter is professor emeritus of animation and illustration at San Jose State University, and former co-director of education at the Walt Disney Family Museum in San Francisco. Her illustrations have been exhibited in galleries and museums throughout the country, and her publications include The Art of National Geographic: One Hundred Years of Illustration and Cecilia Beaux: A Modern Painter in the Gilded Age.
