Little Women by Louisa May Alcott, Fiction, Family, Classics

The girl sits up, puts her hands nonchalantly in her pockets, and begins to whistle. "Oh, don't, Jo," says Amy. "It's so boyish!" "Well, that's why I do it," says Jo. "I detest rude, unladylike girls!" "And I hate affected, niminy-piminy chits!" Even though the March girls Jo, Amy, Beth and Meg disagree about plenty of matters, on plenty of occasions, the four make up the core of a cheerful, happy household . . . at least as happy as can be expected, given the fact that father is far away from home, fighting in the war -- perhaps never to return! -- while mother is saying they should not have the pleasure of Christmas presents . . . not this year, when so many are suffering and so many are in danger of losing their lives!

Louisa May Alcott (1832-1888) was an American author born in Philadelphia, USA. She began her career writing short stories under pen names, including A. M. Barnard. Alcott is best known for her children's novel Little Women, 1868, and its subsequent sequels: Good Wives, 1869, Little Men, 1871, and Jo's Boys, 1886. She received great critical acclaim during her lifetime and was able to support herself and her family through her writing career. Alcott was also a determined activist and was heavily involved in abolitionism and feminist movements.