An Alcott Christmas Collection: A Christmas Dream, A Country Christmas, Excerpts from Little Women, & More

by Louisa May Alcott

Few writers have better captured the magic and beauty of Christmas than Louisa May Alcott . From her timeless masterpiece Little Women to numerous short stories, family and tradition are often at the center of her work, and the holidays provide the perfect stage for her literary mastery. Just like with her Little Women series, Louisa May Alcott's stories delight young and old alike. This beautifully laid-out, convenient volume -- an at once extremely readable and giftable edition -- contains the An Alcott Christmas Collection is an essential collection of holiday stories from the beloved author Louisa May Alcott. Featuring a selection of her most beloved stories, this festive collection is sure to bring joy and cheer to all readers. From heartwarming tales of family and friendship to adventures in the snow, this collection has something for everyone. With classic characters like Jo, Meg, and Beth, readers will be reminded of the magic of Christmas. Perfect for the holiday season, An Alcott Christmas Collection is a timeless gift for all.

Louisa May Alcott (November 29, 1832 – March 6, 1888) was an American novelist, poet, and short story writer, best known for her novel Little Women . Born in Germantown, Pennsylvania, Alcott wrote novels and short stories for both children and adults, and is remembered for her vivid descriptions of the lives of nineteenth-century American families. Alcott wrote her first novel, Flower Fables , at the age of 17. She then wrote a series of stories, including An Old-Fashioned Girl (1870), Little Women (1868), Little Men (1871), and Jo's Boys (1886). Her work was widely appreciated, and she was highly regarded for her vivid depictions of the everyday lives of ordinary people. She was also a committed feminist and a major influence on the women's suffrage movement. In addition to her novels and stories, Alcott wrote poems, plays, and essays. She was a prolific writer, and her works were highly influential in the late 19th century. She was a major force in advocating for the rights of women, including the right to vote, and her works continue to inspire readers today. Alcott died in Boston in 1888, leaving behind a legacy that has had a lasting impact on American literature and culture. Her works, including Little Women and An Old-Fashioned Girl , have been adapted for the stage and screen and continue to be popular with readers. Louisa May Alcott was a pioneering writer who inspired generations of readers and remains an important figure in American literature and culture.

Genres: Christmas

106 pages, Paperback

Published November 18, 2020

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

[Kristi · Rating 5 out of 5]

A variety of Christmas stories by Louisa May Alcott. The first story was a little weird so I wasn't sure I would enjoy the book but the other stories proved to be sweet and entertaining. Her references to the Civil War carried alot of feeling and pride in the men and women who sacrificed for it. The stories also reveal many of the similar sentiments of womanhood Alcott portrays in her book An Old Fashioned Girl. This probably puts a damper on the current trend to rework Alcott into a modern day feminist.
If you are familiar with Alcott's work this is a must!

[Rindy · Rating 5 out of 5]

A sweet collection of stories. My girls adored them.

[Karen · Rating 5 out of 5]

I didn’t realize she wrote a children’s version of the Christmas carol. A Christmas dream.

[Melanie]

I was genuinely surprised to learn that no one else has written a review for this on goodreads. If you are a fan of L.M. Montgomery, you will also enjoy this collection of Christmas stories from Louisa May Alcott. It is flowery at times but also positively atmospheric. I treasure the way more classical literature can be sentimental without altogether uncreative. Alcott's belief in the temperance movement shines through, which provides an interesting window into the movement. Because of the age of the writing, there are some unfortunately outdated depictions of race which put a sour taste in my mouth. Again, this is a window into a different time period with altogether different values. Worth a read, but not without its imperfections.