Women Over Fifty—One Amazing Woman Who Touched Our Lives
If you’re a baby boomer and a woman over fifty, you most likely treasured the book, Little Women, as a young reader. The story of the March sisters is one that inspired many of us to let our imagination fill with images of life in New England in the mid nineteenth century. Meg, Jo, Beth, and Amy came to life as they laughed together, shared secrets, fought and made up, and mounted their unforgettable theatrical productions. Many of us especially related to the spunky Jo March, who was rebel, a tomboy, and just the type of spirited female a young boomer could relate to.
But the life of the creator of Little Women was even more fascinating than her famous alter ego, Jo. Louisa May Alcott actually disliked writing children’s fiction and was far more into penning pulp fiction thrillers. In fact, Alcott had a yen for the darker side of life and preferred murderers, transvestites, and other “out of the norm” characters to the cheery home life of the March sisters.
Alcott’s personal life was also complicated: she experimented with hashish and opiates and may have suffered from bipolar disorder. Aside from her writing and drug experimentation, she was an abolitionist, a Civil War nurse, and a strong proponent of woman’s suffrage.
Harriet Reisen spent twenty years researching the life and times of this amazing woman, and wrote a documentary that will air on PBS on the American Masters series on December 28th. You won’t want to miss that very special holiday treat. But, for an even more in-depth look at a true feminist trailblazer, you’ll want to pick up Reisen’s remarkable biography. She captured the struggles and the spirit of this New England spinster who influenced our generation and many others with her unforgettable characters.
Take a listen to our short, fifteen-minute interview and you, too, will fall in love with “The Woman Behind Little Women.”
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November 19th, 2009 at 4:37 am
Yet again, Eileen, you’ve kept us informed in such a remarkable way! I need to be hooked up to your interviews and posts like an IV!
Diana
http://www.dianablack.net
http://www.woofersclub.blogspot.com
November 14th, 2009 at 5:27 pm
Far-out Eileen, listened to that VERY interesting interview and really enjoyed every second!
“Little women” is a part of my childhood, and growing up my mother would share her own admiration for the writer/author; Louisa May Alcott…but I wonder. Did mum ever know about LMA’s darker side????
Just goes to show you that every person has their OWN story, and I cannot wait to grab a copy of Harriet’s book! Meanwhile, my next trip to local library is going to be this afternoon so I can see if they stock any of LMA’s ‘other’ books?!
If NOT, will see if they can order them in! Thanks so much Eileen, this article/interview made my day
November 14th, 2009 at 11:40 am
Wow, this is insightful. I hope you remind us of the broadcast. Or boomer me, I will just put it on my calender.
I have not listened to the interview yet but sure look forward to it.
I love her politics(I wonder why?)
November 14th, 2009 at 10:53 am
I have marked the date for the documentary on my calendar, I want to see that show! I had no idea the woman who wrote “Little Women” was actually an author who probably would have been happy in our day of celebrity vampires, Goth and true crime stories!
I have to pop over and listen to your interview now – looking forward to that 15 minutes!
November 14th, 2009 at 8:24 am
I listened to your interview and was surprised to learn about Louisa’s “dark side.” Also, it was interesting to hear about the clothing they weren’t permitted to wear and the reasons behind them. Being that she was an abolitionist, I can understand the cotten theory. You know, ever since the Exxon oil spill in Alaska, I have never pruchased gas from them. Gotta be committed to something–even with a “dark side.” What intrigued me the most was her athleticism–20 miles!
November 14th, 2009 at 7:24 am
How interesting! I look forward to the airing and reading the book myself as well. What a talented writer and fascinating individual.