Little Women (150th Anniversary Edition): 150th Anniversary Edition

This timeless children's classic is read and enjoyed by many adults as well as children. Unlike most classics considered children's works today, Little Women was intended for an audience of children. It takes place during the Civil War and the years following, and narrates the story of 4 girls as they grow up, including their friends and their family. Louisa May Alcott based this work in large part on her family, although many of the events are born totally of her imagination. Jo is based on Louisa May; Meg is based on her older sister Anna; Beth is based on her younger sister Elizabeth, or Lizzie; and Amy is based on her youngest sister May. Because the character Jo is based on the author herself, she is the most well defined character in the book and the one most children identify with. A tomboy, a writer, and quite determined, Jo is the central figure in the book and most events center around her growing up, but all of the other girls get special attention in stories particularly about them from time to time.There is a great sense of morality in the work, but it is never treated in a 'preachy' manner. Values and morals are taught and absorbed by the reader as the girls learn them through various trials, some funny, some sorrowful, some frustrating. There is likewise a very strong emphasis on God. Much of the first half of the book centers around concepts found in the Puritan work, Pilgrim's Progress, by John Bunyan. The girls are often pointed by their mother toward God and placing their trust in Him and seeking His aid in various situations. Louisa May Alcott was also a transcendentalist and her family was close friends with Emerson, Thoreau, and Hawthorne. Because of this, there is a sense of joy found in nature as well as respect. In addition, Louisa May was an avid feminist in her day, although not in the sense of feminist that many think of today. She believed that women should not be barred from admission in the workforce, or limited to work as seamstresses or governesses, nor should marriage be their only avenue of insuring a stable and secure future. She did not get married, but did raise her sister May's daughter after May died. Little Women is definitely not anti-marriage, but some of the characters dream of becoming well-known in their favorite fields; also, some of the characters speak about how the only way they can insure a positive, pleasant future is by marrying well, which is later rejected in a way that asserts that women should be able to choose marriage freely for love, not for position or money and likewise free to choose not to marry.This book is well loved by so many. It spurs many children on to become strong readers for life and the childhood copy of Little Women will become worn from much loved reading. This book will be loved by most girls, but boys will enjoy it as well. Jo's tomboyish behavior and the neighbor boy, Laurie's presence will attract the attention of boys. It makes a great choice for bedtime reading with chapters of perfect length to read one per night and short enough that if begged by the kids, you can read two. In addition to Little Women, it would also be beneficial to read a biography of Louisa May Alcott.I strongly recommend an unabridged version. Don't miss out on the well-known sequels Little Men and Jo's Boys.

Amazing Book! Everyone should read it! Only complaint was that it was not well packaged and the edges were rather damaged and there were some scuffs.

I enjoyed reading this wonderful book! This book has wonderful characters and a wonderful plot!

What a beautiful story of love and growth of a family. I loved it with every bit of my soul.

Great condition, very pleased, no complaints

There is nothing better to read than a classic. It is well written, and the storyline is spot on. The characters experience a roller coaster of emotions. The ending was beautiful.

This apparently is a print on demand situation by a company with their own publishing platform, as their name indicates. Interestingly there is no reference anywhere in the book to the name of the company, just on the last page that it was printed Dec. 30, 2019, soon after my order. No copyright page at all. The oddest part is there are no page numbers after page 99. The chapter headings are in 2 different size fonts and there are typos, like CHAPTER TWENTY-FOUR -FOUR Gossip. This chapter happens to be the demarcation between Parts 1 and 2, and there is a page inserted indicating that. But in the Table of Contents there is no such demarcation, which may be why some reviewers here think this version is only Part 1. I have not read this version yet, just got it, but can compare it to an 1899 publication I have (which was simply a little more difficult to read in small print). My 3 stars are for this version, not for the actual Alcott book... which, of course, is quite wonderful.

Such a great read! Always keeping you interested. I truly enjoyed this book! I highly recommend this book. Great job author!

¡Es una edición bastante buena!

EXCELENTE E-BOOK!

Not for me !

Una storia fantasticaEdizione in lingua originale, bella e raffinata, che include sia piccole donne che piccole donne crescono. Proprio quello che cercavo!!

Voor me ex gekocht als Cadeau, paar maanden later heeft ze het uit gemaakt.