The Lost Summer of Louisa May Alcott

Kelly O’Connor McNees has written an engaging historical novel about the author of Little Women.  While the book stands solidly on it’s own, the reader can only appreciate the underlying themes in the book if he or she is familiar with Little Women. McNees based this portrait of Alcott on whatever historical documents she could find about the author. What a surprise to learn that being raised in a Transcendentalist  household is not as idealistic as portrayed in Little Women.  Mr Alcott was an extremist in his own way going so far as to subject his family to poverty because it would compromise his principles to work.  He once had the family living in a commune which failed. He even, for a time, avoided planting tubers for fear of disturbing earthworms.  Mrs. Alcott did not entirely support her husband’s beliefs, questioning the sacrifice behind them. She experienced periods of depression related to the choices she made in life.  The reader learns that Alcott was pressured by her publisher to give Little Women a happy ending with Jo marrying the German professor.  Alcott’s ending was not so happy yet it was her choice to remain unmarried and free.  This book is a wonderful companion to Little Women filling in the historical and emotional context of its author and her real life. I highly recommend it.