Louisa May Alcott, Little Women, or, Meg, Jo, Beth, and Amy (1868)
This first edition of Louisa May Alcott’s Little Women was published in 1868 when Louisa was thirty-five years old. Based on her own experiences growing up as a young woman with three sisters, and illustrated by her youngest sister, May, the novel was an instant success, selling more than 2,000 copies immediately. Several sequels were published, including Little Men (1871) and Jo’s Boys (1886). Although Little Women is set in a very particular place and time in American history, the characters and their relationships have touched generations of readers and still are beloved.
This first edition of Louisa May Alcott’s <em>Little Women</em> was published in 1868 when Louisa was thirty-five years old. Based on her own experiences growing up as a young woman with three sisters, and illustrated by her youngest sister, May, the novel was an instant success, selling more than 2,000 copies immediately. Several sequels were published, including <em>Little Men</em> (1871) and <em>Jo’s Boys</em> (1886). Although <em>Little Women</em> is set in a very particular place and time in American history, the characters and their relationships have touched generations of readers and still are beloved.