Marmee & Louisa: The Untold Story Of Louisa May Alcott And Her Mother (2012) - Plot & Excerpts
AudioBook Review:Stars: Overall: 5 Narration: 5 Story: 5 One element that always struck me when I read Little Women was the lack, or adjunct roles that the men play in the story. Sure, there is Lorrie, and the oft-absent father, but the sense that the men were little more than window dressing and diversions held with me throughout every reading. For it was Marmee who kept the story moving, the touchstone and steady forward moving element that the girls all looked to for comfort, approval and security. While other biographies of Alcott mention her mother, Abagail in passing, all see her as a mere stopgap: relegated to the obscurity that history and custom provided women, mentioning birthdate, marriage and death, with little filler in between. All mentions of her had noted the destruction of her personal papers and letters by her husband and children, as per her request. Eve LaPlante, a relation of Louisa May Alcott, found a long-forgotten trunk of papers that illuminate Abagail May Alcott, and shows her determination to ignore and rise above the societal constraints to become a stalwart supporter and encouragement for her daughters. Thought to be the superior intellect when contrasted with her husband, her lack of formal education may have contributed to her relegation, but LaPlante has given us an impeccably researched volume, intertwining relatives and history in the context of the day to present a life. Alcott uses many of the stories that were shared from and with her mother in her works: passages in Abagail’s hand show a clear and concise writing style, evocative and logical, while presenting her points with conviction and humor. Her unconditional support of her girls, and the refusal to allow them to ascribe to society’s notion of their place and the ‘correct’ amount of necessary education and interests they should have, her own intellectual curiosity was fueled by her brother Samuel, an early abolitionist and a strong believer in woman’s rights. Narration in this book is provided by Karen White, and I will admit that I am a fan of her narrative style. White treats the words with respect, using appropriate emotive emphasis to highlight passages from letters and journals that convey the emotion behind the words, without overly dramatizing the moments. Frustration, concern, elation and love are clearly apparent, yet do not overshadow or distract. LaPlante has created a story that will present all writing from Louisa May Alcott into a new perspective, and presented a life history that was previously lost to those who believe that strong women and the idea of feminism is a concept from the 1960’s.I received the AudioCD version of this title from Tantor Audio for purpose of honest review. I was not compensated for this review: all conclusions are my own responsibility. This is a gripping, thoughtful, readable account of a famous but misunderstood mother and daughter living in the 19th century, It reads like a novel and is hard to put down. The author, Eve LePlante, is certainly passionate about her subject and loyal to both Louisa and Marmee, who she is actually related to. The story of these two women gives readers an opportunity not just to glimpse life in 19th century America (mostly Boston and Concord) but also a glimpse into the harsh realities of life for women, even if part of a "free," "progressive," or utopian community. LePlante presents Bronson Alcott in a pretty harsh way and while I believe that this harshness is justified and probably accurate, its a pretty clear bias that makes me second guess some of the author's arguements as well as some of her use of sources. BUT, this is a minor complaint. I love this book and you will too.
What do You think about Marmee & Louisa: The Untold Story Of Louisa May Alcott And Her Mother (2012)?
A bit dry in some spots, but their life stories were consuming and illuminating.
—Flodi
I didn't really "finish" this book. Way too detailed for my taste.
—kiran
Heard a presentation by the author last week.
—yujia
