Louisa may alcott served during the civil war as a nurse in a military hospital in georgetown so she wrote hospital sketches and other short stories using her experience to produce this great literature. But as it was, the only direct way women could serve was to volunteer as nurses, and thats just what she did. Begun in 2010, this blog offers analysis and reflection by susan bailey on the life, works and legacy of louisa may alcott and her family. The civil war remained a major theme even in the tales that she wrote during the reconstruction era. Among her other notable works are little men, hospital sketches, an oldfashioned girl, aunt jos scrap bag, and jos boys. Hospital sketcheslouisa may alcottfree downloadpdf. The fancy seemed to tickle him mightily, for he laughed blithely, and so did i.
A merican novelist louisa may alcott wrote about her experiences as a sanitary commission nurse in a series of letters for the abolitionist boston commonwealth. Entered, according to act of congress, in the year 1863, by. How louisa may alcotts reallife family inspired little. Even though many people dont know it, she has also published a number of poems, thrillers, short stories and a number of juvenile tales. Louisa may alcott wrote to her friend alf whitman that it was a sight to behold. She had volunteered as a union nurse at union hotel.
Louisa may alcott biography, childhood, family, books. Divided loyalties in alcotts hospital sketches openedition books. Hospital sketches was enormously popular, and her work was now in demand. Since a childrens biography the story of louisa may alcott by joan howard introduced me to louisa, i have a special fondness for childrens books on the subject. Louisa may alcott wrote this collection of sketches at the request of her friends and encouraged by her father.
Louisa may alcott began the year 1863 in as strange a place as shed ever been. She did not stay long, catching typhoid fever and having to go home to recover. Louisa may alcott as civil war nurse literaryladiesguide. The pages that follow are excerpts from hospital sketches, in essence a journal of her time during the civil war. Louisa may alcotts literary career started with a humorous account of her nursing experience in the union army. During the civil war, louisa may alcott became a nurse. So i wrote the letter which he dictated, finding it better than any i had sent.
Louisa may alcott was an american author who wrote the classic novel. Though she is best known for her semiautobiographical novel little women, louisa may alcott was a prolific writer and social activist throughout her life. I want something to do, louisa may alcott wrote of her desire to contribute to the union armys effort in the civil war. Lulu was born in 1879, and louisa cared for her until her death in 1888. Those harrowing and sometimes humorous letters compiled make up hospital sketches. Louisa may alcott was an american author who wrote the classic novel little women, as well as various works under pseudonyms. November 29, 1832 march 6, 1888 was an american novelist, short story writer and poet best known as the author of the novel little women 1868 and its sequels little men 1871 and jos boys 1886.
Learn more about alcotts life and literary career in this article. Louisa may alcotts courageous career as a civil war nurse. A day in the life of louisa may alcott, civil war nurse. Louisa may alcott began writing when she was very young and she began to receive critical success in the 1860s for her writing. In 1868, louisa may alcott wrote a book about four sisters, published in september as little women, based on an idealized version of her own family. Louisa may alcotts third published work, hospital sketches 1863, is based on her experiences as a nurse at a hospital near washington d.
The first of the four was initially published on may 22, 1863 in the magazine boston. Louisa may alcott had an ability to tolerate chaos and laugh at herself, which lends a charm to her writing, even though it is the sometimes wordy prose that was common in the 1860s. Louisa may alcott was an american novelist, widely appreciated for the timeless classic novel little women. Before the publication of little women in 1868, alcott wrote and. The letters, published as hosptial sketches in 1863, earned alcott her first public attention as an author and praise for her sensitivity and wit. Hospital sketches by louisa may alcott free at loyal books. Hospital sketches 1863 is a compilation of four sketches based on letters louisa may alcott.
Louisa may alcott the character of jo march american. Louisa may alcott was the first civil war army nurse to publish an account of her service. I examine, like hospital sketches and little women, have received significant critical. Hospital sketches by louisa may alcott part 1 out of 2. She was a free spirited girl in her childhood who wanted to become a successful actress and travel the world but her family responsibilities kept her engaged throughout her life. During a recent trip to the worcester public library, i discovered louisa may alcott her girlhood diary, edited by cary ryan with illustrations by mark graham. Hospital sketches by louisa may alcott, paperback barnes. During the american civil war, alcott served as a nurse for six weeks until she contracted a. Heath anthology of american literaturelouisa may alcott. Decided to go to washington as a nurse if i could find a place, she wrote in her journal for november. Louisa may alcott 18321888 alcott in 1862 served as a nurse in georgetown, d. Alcott is also remembered for her book hospital sketches, which she penned in 1863 based on letters she had written home while serving as a nurse in washington, d. Hospital sketches by louisa may alcott full text free. Hospital sketches by louisa may alcott, a free text and ebook for easy online reading, study, and reference.
Louisa may alcott hospital sketches louisa may alcott hospital sketches is a compilation of four sketches based on letters louisa may alcott sent home during the six weeks she spent as a volunteer nurse for the union army in georgetown. Hospital sketches 1863 wikisource, the free online library. Learn more about alcott s life and literary career in this article. Throughout her life, her family went through financial problems, so louisa began working at a young age to support her family. An excerpt from hospital sketches by nurse louisa may. Hospital sketches by louisa may alcott these sketches are respectuflly dedicated to her friend miss hannah stevenson by l. Alcott was the daughter of noted transcendentalist amos bronson alcott and abigail may iii, and though of new england parentage and residence, she was born in germantown, now part. A model hospital was erected, and each member had accepted an honorable post.
On august 28, 1863, hospital sketches was reprinted in book form. Louisa may alcott was the only female author included in the 1893 parker. Louisa may alcott books biography and list of works. Louisa may alcott 18321888 louisa may alcott is best known for her childrens novel little women 1868, but there are almost three hundred works in the alcott canon. By 1862, as she approached her thirtieth birthday louisa was restless, and hungry for adventure before it was too late. An excerpt from hospital sketches by nurse louisa may alcott, 1863. These sketches taken from letters hastily written in the leisure moments of a very busy life make no pretension to literary merit, but are simply a brief record of one persons hospital experience. On march 6, 1888, louisa may alcott died after suffering a stroke at the age of fiftyfive. James redpath, publisher, 221 washington street, 1863.
Civil war hospital sketches from louisa may alcott the. Short stories is a small collection of short stories were written by louisa may alcott 18321888. On november 29, 1832, louisa may alcott 18321888 was born the second daughter of amos bronson alcott and abigail abba may in germantown, pennsylvania. Louisa may alcott wrote many works in every genre conservatively, more than two hundred, over a career that spanned almost forty years. Although she never had children, she did raise her sister, abigail mays daughter after she died from what was termed, childbed fever. She was the daughter of transcendentalist and educator amos bronson alcott and social worker abby may and the second of four daughters. But even in the swiss alps, the author couldnt escape the thing that had exhausted her in the first place. The pages that follow are excerpts from hospital sketches, in. Hospital sketches 1863 is a compilation of four sketches based on letters louisa may alcott sent home during the six weeks she spent as a volunteer nurse for the union army during the american civil war in georgetown.
Elizabeth sewall alcott and abigail may alcott were the two youngest. Louisa may alcott is known for her famous classic little women, published in 1868. Susan is an active member and supporter of the louisa may alcott society. Louisa may alcott successfully wrote childrens stories, but she is perhaps best. They celebrate the professional achievements of sturdy deaconesses like dorothea dix, who rapidly turned the dilapidated sanitary system of a divided nation into a domestic. Not yet famous at the author of little women, the appearence of hospital sketches in the summer of 1863 was the also the first of her works to win her widespread attention. The nursing was a labor of love while the writing of the sketches was not. Pdf louisa may alcotts literary career started with a humorous account of her nursing. Doctor franck came in as i sat sewing up the rents in. Free kindle book and epub digitized and proofread by project gutenberg. Louisa may alcott biography childhood, life achievements. Louisa may alcott, journal, september 1859 in december 1862, louisa may alcott. But the public was very interested in anything war related and so louisa wrote hospital sketches which was fiction, but very based on her experiences.
My greatest pride, alcott wrote of her role in the civil war, is that i lived to know the brave men and women who did so much for the cause and that i had a very small share in the war which put an end to a great wrong. An excerpt from a catalog for the philadelphia sanitary fair, edited by thomas izod, circa 1864. Librivox recording of hospital sketches by louisa may alcott, read by aaron elliott. Louisa may alcott was born on november 29, 1832, in germantown, which is now part of philadelphia, pennsylvania, on her fathers 33rd birthday. The book was successful quickly, and louisa followed it a few months later with a sequel, good wives, published as. As she tells her father, who has suggested that she write a book to occupy.
In much of this writing alcott, who never married, ostensibly proposes that womens true work is found in marriage and family, yet her journals and letters illustrate the dichotomy between her own life and her fictional world. Download louisa may alcotts hospital sketches for your kindle, tablet, ipad, pc or mobile. Louisa may alcotts brief service as a civil war nurse inspired her to write hospital sketches which appeared in the boston commonwealth as a series and as a book in 1863. The civil war remained a major theme even in the tales that she wrote during the. Hospital life and medical care the creation of hospital sketches alcotts literary style claiming a place for women in the war effort the social landscape of the hospital hospital sketches and the meaning of the civil war notes. Louisa may alcott 1832 1888 work2272 louisa may alcott was an american novelist, best known for the novel little women, which she wrote in 1868 she was born on november 29, 1832, and died on march 6, 1888. Louisa may alcott, american author known for her childrens books, especially the classic little women. Hospital sketches, louisa may alcotts book about her nursing experiences provides an exemplary description of the constant routine of a union army nurse. Waking at six oclock, louisa quickly dressed and despite soldiers objections, opened any available windows to. How louisa may alcott went from poverty to beloved author. Her father, bronson alcott was a teacher that believed children should enjoy learning, a controversial notion for the time and he moved the family to boston, massachusetts in 1844 where he. Certainly, nothing was set down in malice, and to the seriousminded party who objected to a tone of levity in some portions of the sketches, i can only say that it is a part of my religion to look well after the cheerfulnesses of life, and let.
899 1091 1227 1578 911 286 14 557 937 947 942 392 221 599 317 631 888 1226 346 738 49 711 1242 891 393 432 340 1112 1350 611 440 496 981 1441 1489 1455 337 1005