What parts are biography? What parts fiction?

Jandybee · 03-10-2007, 04:22 AM

The Alcott family was a pretty interesting family. Louisa's father, Bronson, was a Transendentalist who formed a commune, was a peaceful vegetarian, a progressive educator, and he hung out with folks like Emerson, Hawthorne, and Thoreau. Little Women is BASED on the family but is not an exact biography.

I am curious to know which parts are true and which are not. Does the character Laurie have any basis in reality? Were the girls friendly with a neighbor boy?

I have been googling LM and Bronson to get a history. Apparently Amy is modeled after May (an anagram!) who met and married a wealthy European while she was abroad. And in real life Louisa never married. But the Alcotts had so many interesting friends, I just wonder who Laurie and his father actually were.

vin1391 · 03-10-2007, 07:38 AM

Come to think of it..I am curious too...I never thought of it that way...Maybe the characters were based on real life people but the situations were different.I don't know.

susuboz · 05-17-2007, 05:57 AM

Geraldine Brooks has written a book 'March' taking up the story of the father and Marmee, which I thought very well written. In her afterword Geraldine discusses her research into the Alcott family and this may address some of your queries.

Elyse Liesl · 06-16-2007, 03:59 AM

To my understanding, the character of Laurie was fictional, but the girls were all based on Alcott's sisters. Beth in particular was based on one of Alcott's sisters who died young.

03-10-2007, 04:22 AM	#1
Jandybee Registered User Join Date: Mar 2007 Posts: 2	What parts are biography? What parts fiction? The Alcott family was a pretty interesting family. Louisa's father, Bronson, was a Transendentalist who formed a commune, was a peaceful vegetarian, a progressive educator, and he hung out with folks like Emerson, Hawthorne, and Thoreau. Little Women is BASED on the family but is not an exact biography. I am curious to know which parts are true and which are not. Does the character Laurie have any basis in reality? Were the girls friendly with a neighbor boy? I have been googling LM and Bronson to get a history. Apparently Amy is modeled after May (an anagram!) who met and married a wealthy European while she was abroad. And in real life Louisa never married. But the Alcotts had so many interesting friends, I just wonder who Laurie and his father actually were. Last edited by Jandybee; 03-10-2007 at 04:35 AM. Reason: I forgot to add Hawthorne!

03-10-2007, 07:38 AM	#2
vin1391 Vintalite Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: In South Asia Posts: 238 Blog Entries: 8	Come to think of it..I am curious too...I never thought of it that way...Maybe the characters were based on real life people but the situations were different.I don't know. __________________ "When one door of happiness closes, another opens; but often we look so long at the closed door that we do not see the one which has been opened for us." --*Helen Keller*

05-17-2007, 05:57 AM	#3
susuboz Registered User Join Date: May 2007 Posts: 1	facts about the Alcott family Geraldine Brooks has written a book 'March' taking up the story of the father and Marmee, which I thought very well written. In her afterword Geraldine discusses her research into the Alcott family and this may address some of your queries.

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06-16-2007, 03:59 AM	#4
Elyse Liesl Elyse Join Date: Feb 2007 Posts: 5	To my understanding, the character of Laurie was fictional, but the girls were all based on Alcott's sisters. Beth in particular was based on one of Alcott's sisters who died young.