Pauline's Passion and Punishment

by Louisa May Alcott

Louisa May Alcott was an American novelist best known as author of the novel Little Women. In the mid-1860s, Alcott wrote passionate, fiery novels and sensational stories. She also produced wholesome stories for children, and after their positive reception, she did not generally return to creating works for adults. Alcott continued to write until her death.

Genres: Classics, Fiction, Short Stories, American, Audiobook, Romance

52 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1862

About the author

Louisa May Alcott was an American novelist, short story writer, and poet best known for writing the novel Little Women (1868) and its sequels Good Wives (1869), Little Men (1871) and Jo's Boys (1886). Raised in New England by her transcendentalist parents, Abigail May Alcott and Amos Bronson Alcott, she grew up among many well-known intellectuals of the day, including Margaret Fuller, Ralph Waldo Emerson, Nathaniel Hawthorne, Henry David Thoreau, and Henry Wadsworth Longfellow.
Alcott's family suffered from financial difficulties, and while she worked to help support the family from an early age, she also sought an outlet in writing. She began to receive critical success for her writing in the 1860s. Early in her career, she sometimes used pen names such as A.M. Barnard, under which she wrote lurid short stories and sensation novels for adults that focused on passion and revenge.
Published in 1868, Little Women is set in the Alcott family home, Orchard House, in Concord, Massachusetts, and is loosely based on Alcott's childhood experiences with her three sisters, Abigail May Alcott Nieriker, Elizabeth Sewall Alcott, and Anna Bronson Alcott Pratt. The novel was well-received at the time and is still popular today among both children and adults. It has been adapted for stage plays, films, and television many times.
Alcott was an abolitionist and a feminist and remained unmarried throughout her life. She also spent her life active in reform movements such as temperance and women's suffrage. She died from a stroke in Boston on March 6, 1888, just two days after her father's death.

Reviews

[Roman Clodia · Rating 3 out of 5]

So different from Little Women, this is a short melodramatic tale of the kind we remember Jo writing. That said, it's unusual in that it takes issue with all those rakish men in nineteenth century literature who spurn the woman they love for an advantageous marriage (Willoughby, Grandcourt, just for starters) - this time the abandoned woman takes her revenge. It's a shame, then, that conventional morality takes over and it's Pauline who suffers a double punishment. Still, for a moment, she almost has it all. A short read but interestingly subversive.

[catherine ♡ · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not my favorite Alcott short story by far but I will never say no to a spicy revenge plot.

[Phil Syphe · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is one of Louisa May Alcott's darkest works, again showing how talented she was at writing in different genres; a mark of a great author.

This is a tale of a scorned woman's revenge on a man who informed her - via letter - that he'd dropped her to marry someone with more money.

Thus the passion in the story is about Pauline's desire to get even, which involves her using a man who's besotted with her, and a former female school friend, without accounting for how her (Pauline's) actions against her betrayer will affect those two who are innocent.

The punishment comes at the end of the tale and I can't mention anymore here without giving things away.

[Stacey · Rating 4 out of 5]

Whoa. Alcott went dark with this one. It actually haunted me for a couple days. Usually her gothic novellas end with everyone happy and reformed.
The plot is that Pauline has fallen in love with a man who leaves to get permission to marry her and she finds out he married a rich heiress instead. Total Willoughby.
Instead of grieving and moving on, Pauline chooses to use a local young man who loves her to get revenge.
Girl, just let the loser go!
She does not and tragedy results.
It's well written and that ending is brilliant! It takes you a second to figure out what happened. But still, so dark!

[Renee M · Rating 2 out of 5]

Well written little melodrama for days when you feel like that sort of thing. Pauline has been duped, but is far too passionate to suffer and wilt away. Instead, she begins to plan her revenge with the young and handsome Manuel. No one goes unscathed.

[Julia · Rating 4 out of 5]

Quite a strong story of betrayal, revenge, romance, and riches by the author of “Little Women.”

[Cindy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Revenge is the main storyline. This is a short story from LMA that was written for a magazine.
The author's writing is intelligent & she tells a good story. Just don't expect a happy ending.

[Kayla Randolph · Rating 5 out of 5]

Pauline’s girl-bossing rivals that of fellow Alcott baddie Jean Muir from Behind a Mask, or a Woman’s Power, but what Jean lacks in the emotional devastation that Pauline can inflict she makes up for in execution. Such a great find.

[Stacey · Rating 3 out of 5]

A quick little tale of revenge, a morality play where the innocent are despoiled by the malevolent compulsions of the impure. Alcott wrote several of these "pulps," which she referred to as "blood and thunder tales," for the National Enquirer-esque newspapers of her day. They were melodramatic psychothrillers, although in keeping with mid-19th century sensibilities seem somewhat tame by today's standards.

You can find this one for free through Project Gutenberg.

[Rebecca · Rating 3 out of 5]

An emotional tale of Revenge and the havoc it wrecks on all the people involved especially the instigator. Not bad but I think I enjoyed it mostly because of the reader and her expressive voice more than the plot. Listened to from Librivox.

[William Thompson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fascinating that this was released by Louisa under the pseudonym A. M. Barnard, it reads in such a completely different way to 'Little women'. I found the usage of a pseudonym interesting whilst preparing for my book on names

[Marci · Rating 3 out of 5]

In 19th-century Cuba, Pauline's boyfriend, Gilbert, jilts her to marry a girl with money. Pauline finds a younger, rich boyfriend who is willing to marry her and help her get revenge on Gilbert. Hoo boy, watch out what you ask for! Great "blood and thunder" tale by Louisa May Alcott.

[Jennifer · Rating 3 out of 5]

A little disturbing, considering it's written by the author of Little Women...But a classic thriller with a horrifying ending...Fun to read!

[Daniy ♠ · Rating 3 out of 5]

Book 22/30 Days Challenge (2)

I really enjoyed it, but hated the ending, feels kinda mean from the author part.

[#DÏ4B7Ø Chinnamasta-Bhairav]

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To SEE a WORLD in a Grain of Sand,
And a HEAVEN in a Wild Flower,
Hold INFINITY in the palm of your hand
And ETERNITY in an Hour"
~ William Blake ~

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“Wisdom tells me I am nothing. Love tells me I am everything. And between the two my life flows.” Nisargadatta Maharaj

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Form is Emptiness; Emptiness is form.
Form is not different than Emptiness;
Emptiness is not different than form
~ Heart Sutra ~

Like the ocean and its waves,
inseparable yet distinct

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" I and The Father are one,
I am The Truth,
The Life and The Path.”

Like a river flowing from its source,
connected and continuous

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Thy kingdom come.
Let the reign of divine
Truth, Life, and Love
be established in me,
and rule out of me all sin;
and may Thy Word
enrich the affections of all mankind

A mighty oak tree standing firm against the storm,
As sunlight scatters the shadows of night
A river nourishing the land it flows through

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[Sandy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Hard to believe this was written by Louisa May Alcott. The anger of a woman spurned. Quite a Vixen really, But in her plans for retribution, Pauline uses other people. Even the infatuation of a young man who would do anything for her. Makes you wonder how blinded by vengeance she was that she could not see the ripples her revenge was making, nor to look ahead at how they might be affected by it.
I really would have liked to see Pauline learn that it wasn’t all about her! But then the book is titled Pauline’s Passion and Punishment.

The reader was very good. Her reading manner did not disturb the understanding at all like some.

[Madeleine · Rating 4 out of 5]

"Pauline, this is a jest?"
"To me it is; to you—a bitter earnest."

Louisa May Alcott's pulp thriller short stories... Yeah, sure, overwrought at moments, and the ending was quite abrupt, but oh my godddd I wish this had been a full length novel?! It was actually really well-written, full of excellent lines, gothic vibes, sharp wit and sexy scheming vengeful characters. The Count of Monte Cristo in a nutshell. This actually had so much more life and flair and spirit than Little Women. If this is trash, it's trash I love. I'll probably read more.

[Texaswyldfyre · Rating 4 out of 5]

A bit overly dramatic for me, even a bit Shakespearean. However, it’s a quick read about a game of hearts: One of a stereotypical man who realizes he married the wrong girl and hurts both in the process. Another, I’m sure is not revealing his true orientation due to the times. One woman who is an innocent bystander and one who is hellbent on revenge. Let the games begin.

[Daniela Sorgente · Rating 3 out of 5]

Louisa May Alcott wrote this story when she was 31, before she wrote Little Women. What a terrible story and what an ending! It's a revenge story and you could tell it wouldn't end with everyone happily ever after but... Really powerful. I expected something more similar to what Josephine March wrote in her youth, a romantic and adventurous story rather than a tragic one.

[Esther N · Rating 3 out of 5]

This definitely feels like some of Jo March's earlier writing, lol. Lots of drama, revenge, and unhappiness. As short stories go, I feel she did a pretty good job of bringing it all full circle. I don't usually like short stories because they feel too quick to offer much character or storyline development, but Ms. Alcott pulled it off. Still, I prefer her children's literature.

[Laura · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 stars. This completely over-the-top sensation novella has a fabulously strong female character and the men in this story are pawns. Quite a departure from the domestic LMA from "Little Women." It reads more like an Agatha Christie novel.

[Merije · Rating 3 out of 5]

Another one of L.M.A.’s over the top dramatic works - not my cup of tea, but not terrible either. I liked that it’s about a strong woman, but I didn’t like said woman. All in all, not very believable for me, but it’s always fun to see how one of my favorite authors started out.

[Ana Sofia · Rating 4 out of 5]

Le doy un 8/10 por que me sorprendio tanto. Literalmente I was not expecting this AT ALL! Louisa DEVORASTEE amiga. Neta que pedo los female characters. Yo me esperaba algo mucho mas jane austenesque pero I was VERY pleasantly surprised!! Lowkey pobre Manuel pero ps que se hace

[Marcia · Rating 2 out of 5]

The abrupt ending has me reeling. I found I did not like Pauline at all, and she certainly deserves punishment.

[Darcia Douglass · Rating 3 out of 5]

Definitely not my favorite Alcott book. I couldn't stand to give her a two star rating, though.

[Sally Andrews · Rating 3 out of 5]

Just goes to show: when someone wrongs you, you'd better find a way to move ahead. Otherwise, if you trust to exact retribution, you may get bitten in the rear!

[Sarah · Rating 2 out of 5]

Quite Gothic and Victorian. The Audible version irritatingly says at the end of each chapter that it’s the end of the chapter in the book Pauline’s Passion by Alcott.

[Renita · Rating 5 out of 5]

Woowwaahhwhat.
But was it worth it Pauline?
Did you die tho?
What a life

[Debarati · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great plot, brilliant and realistic characters and full of passion.

[Debarati · Rating 5 out of 5]

Brilliant Story

Loved every one of the characters. Each one has a different kind of passion yet that of Pauline controls the whole story.