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4.04 AVERAGE
4.04 AVERAGE
challenging
informative
inspiring
slow-paced
Fascinating, insightful account of two American literary heroes.
Definitely more of a biography than I expected with equal attention given to Bronson and Louisa. If you have a historical curiosity about the literary Capitol of the U.S., you want to learn about Louisa’s inspirations, or you want to place yourself in the middle of a rapidly changing country, you will enjoy this.
This book is super up my alley. It is hard for me to imagine other people enjoying this, but I find both of them to be such interesting and (Lord help me) very relatable figures.
informative
medium-paced
This was excellent. A double biography of Bronson and Louisa May Alcott, father and daughter. I knew Bronson was a little wacky, but believe me, I had NO IDEA of the extent. And as Louisa grows up, she is equally fascinating as well. Really interesting perspective on the time period and some of the most important American thinkers of the 19th century.
slow-paced
I have never read a biography as in depth as this. After visiting Orchard House in Concord, Mass, I came home with this book which was highly recommended by the museum staff. As one who loves the story of Little Women, I was fascinated to learn in what ways Louisa May Alcott's writing was inspired from her family life. It was also intriguing to hear how Louisa's father was a very complex man: a head in the clouds philosopher with radical ideas that ruffled quite a few feathers.
Overall, there was so much detail here that I could only read Eden's Outcasts in small doses and I was definitely more interested in Louisa's story than her father's, especially in the latter part of the book. Invest the time in this book if you want to become an expert on the Allcotts!
Overall, there was so much detail here that I could only read Eden's Outcasts in small doses and I was definitely more interested in Louisa's story than her father's, especially in the latter part of the book. Invest the time in this book if you want to become an expert on the Allcotts!
A family biography is really the only way to properly capture Louisa May Alcott.
Changing my review from 4 to 5 stars because of the way the book lingered with me after I finished it. Lots to think about.
I enjoyed this more than Little Women at times. It's a beautiful love letter to father-daughter relationships that deserves every ounce of acclaim and attention it received, and Matteson is truly masterful at revealing the art in nonfiction writing that is so often overlooked by other biographers who merely regurgitate and recycle. I'm not sure I'd read this again because it's kind of a "one-and-done" if you know what I mean, but it certainly kept me entertained and informed while deepening my understanding of the Alcott family and their rich contribution to American literature. Fruitlands—what a trip!