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Little Women — originally published in two parts, entitled Little Women and Good Wives — celebrated its 150th birthday in 2018.
Little Women — originally published in two parts, entitled Little Women and Good Wives — celebrated its 150th birthday in 2018.
Little Women is generally considered one of the great works of American literature.
Many people, us included, remember the book with a fondness that make it stand out as a timeless classic that connects the past to the present no matter if reading it, seeing it on screen, or performing it on stage.
So why, after so many years, is the story of four teenage girls growing up during the Civil War still relevant?
Read Along
If you're reading the novel for the first time (or rereading it for the umpteenth time) and you want a little something extra, check out this blog. Contributed by over 50 experts, professors, and Little Women aficionados this blog includes written entries to companion every chapter.
Each week from July 2018 through June 2019, our blog, which we are calling “Little Women 150”, will profile a new chapter of the novel in consecutive order from start to finish.
The authors of these weekly blog posts will be different each week, but each will be someone with an expertise, and a passion, and a distinctive perspective on Little Women. We have brought together an impressive group of scholars, fans, students, teachers and academics, librarians, editors, authors, and celebrities – all of whom will bring lively new insight to a novel that remains intensely loved even 150 years after its initial release.
The posts will reveal the significance of each chapter, but they will do so from various, individual perspectives that reflect the personalities, outlooks, and backgrounds of each author. Some entries will focus on the latent meanings or Alcott’s often surprising ideas, while others will detail the historical or cultural importance of the chapter and others its influence or legacy. All of them will be an opportunity to experience Alcott’s masterpiece with fresh eyes and to re-live its energy, sadness and joy, and liveliness in new ways.
Publication History
Publication History
Louisa May Alcott never intended to write Little Women. In fact, she once declared she didn’t enjoy writing for girls. But in 1868, her publisher asked her to write a story “for young ladies,” and reluctantly, she agreed. Working quickly—reportedly in just ten weeks—Alcott based the novel on her own family, drawing inspiration from her three sisters, her progressive parents, and her own experiences growing up in Concord, Massachusetts.
The first volume of Little Women was published in September 1868 and ended abruptly after Meg’s engagement. It was such a success that readers demanded more, and Alcott delivered a second volume, now often published as Part Two, just months later in April 1869. Together, the two volumes became the Little Women we know today: a groundbreaking, heartfelt portrait of girlhood, family, and independence that has never gone out of print.
The Sequels
The Sequels
Many fans are surprised to learn that Little Women is just the beginning of Louisa May Alcott’s beloved story of the March family. Alcott wrote two sequels that follow the characters into adulthood, exploring their growing families, ambitions, and ideals.
Little Men (1871)
Set several years after Little Women, this sequel centers on Jo March—now Jo Bhaer—as she runs a school for boys at Plumfield, the home she and her husband have built. The story introduces a new cast of lively children, along with familiar characters like Laurie, Amy, and Meg, and focuses on themes of education, kindness, and moral growth.
Jo’s Boys (1886)
In the final installment, Alcott revisits the now-grown children of Little Men as they face the challenges of adulthood. This novel explores ambition, love, loss, and identity, tying up the arcs of Jo, her family, and her former students. It’s a fitting farewell to the world Alcott created—a blend of idealism and realism, still anchored by Jo’s compassionate spirit.
Together, these sequels complete a heartfelt trilogy about growing up, giving back, and staying true to one’s values in an ever-changing world.
Suggested Reading
Suggested Reading
Interested in other Little Women-like books? We can help with that!
Sarah, Plain and Tall – Patricia MacLachlan
Set in the American Midwest, this quiet and touching story explores themes of family, resilience, and change, similar to those in Little Women.
Eight Cousins – Louisa May Alcott
Follows Rose Campbell as she goes to live with seven boy cousins and learns about independence, family, and growing up—written with Alcott's same warmth and wit.
Anne of Green Gables – L.M. Montgomery
Anne, like Jo March, is a spirited, imaginative young girl who dreams big and challenges expectations in a small community. Anne's growth from orphan, to beloved daughter and friend, to accomplished teacher, and to wife and mother captures the imagination of any creative soul who wonders where they fit into the rest of the world. Readers can grow up with Anne through out the entire series.
Little House on the Prairie series – Laura Ingalls Wilder
Another series of books that follows a family during hardships in America. The Ingalls family resiliently tackles pioneer life with a scrappiness and warmth like the Marches.
Behind a Mask: The Unknown Thrillers of Louisa May Alcott – Edited by Madeleine Stern
This collection of Alcott’s pseudonymously published stories reveals her interest in sensational fiction, showing a different side of her literary personality.
Non-Fiction:
Invincible Louisa – Cornelia Meigs
This Newbery Medal-winning biography follows Alcott’s life from childhood to her literary success, ideal for middle and early high school readers.
Eden’s Outcasts: The Story of Louisa May Alcott and Her Father – John Matteson
This Pulitzer Prize-winning biography explores the complex relationship between Louisa and her father Bronson Alcott, a radical thinker whose ideals deeply shaped her worldview.
Marmee & Louisa: The Untold Story of Louisa May Alcott and Her Mother – Eve LaPlant
An intimate dual biography showing how Abigail Alcott—Marmee in the novel—inspired and supported Louisa’s ambition, offering essential context for understanding Little Women.
Children and Youth During the Civil War Era – James Marten
This collection of essays provides insight into what life was like for young people in America during the time of the March sisters.
The Alcotts: Biography of a Family – Madelon Bedell
A detailed look at the entire Alcott family’s intellectual and emotional life, ideal for those interested in Transcendentalism, education reform, and women’s rights.
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