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Proverb Stories
Louisa May Alcott (November 29, 1832 – March 6, 1888) was an American novelist. She is best known for the novel Little Women, set in the Alcott family home, Orchard House in Concord, Massachusetts, and published in 1868. This novel is loosely based on her childhood experiences with her three sisters. Alcott was the daughter of noted transcendentalist and educator Amos Bronson Alcott and Abigail May Alcott. Alcott's early education included lessons from the naturalist Henry David Thoreau. She received the majority of her schooling from her father. She received some instruction also from writers and educators such as Ralph Waldo Emerson, Nathaniel Hawthorne, and Margaret Fuller, who were all family friends. She later described these early years in a newspaper sketch entitled "Transcendental Wild Oats." The sketch was reprinted in the volume Silver Pitchers (1876), which relates the family's experiment in "plain living and high thinking" at Fruitlands. As an adult, Alcott was an abolitionist and a feminist. In 1847, the family housed a fugitive slave for one week. In 1848, Alcott read and admired the "Declaration of Sentiments" published by the Seneca Falls Convention on women's rights. Poverty made it necessary for Alcott to go to work at an early age as an occasional teacher, seamstress, governess, domestic helper, and writer. Her first book was Flower Fables (1849), a selection of tales originally written for Ellen Emerson, daughter of Ralph Waldo Emerson. In 1860, Alcott began writing for the Atlantic Monthly. When the American Civil War broke out, she served as a nurse in the Union Hospital at Georgetown, D.C., for six weeks in 1862-1863. Her letters home – revised and published in the Commonwealth and collected as Hospital Sketches (1863, republished with additions in 1869) – garnered her first critical recognition for her observations and humor. Her novel Moods (1864), based on her own experience, was also promising. She also wrote passionate, fiery novels and sensational stories under the nom de plume A. M. Barnard. Among these are A Long Fatal Love Chase and Pauline's Passion and Punishment. Her protagonists for these tales are willful and relentless in their pursuit of their own aims, which often include revenge on those who have humiliated or thwarted them. Written in a style which was wildly popular at the time, these works achieved immediate commercial success. (Wikipedia.org)
178 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 1882
17 people are currently reading
256 people want to read
About the author
Louisa May Alcott
4,167 books10.8k followersLouisa 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.
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.
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Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews
January 3, 2020
I liked some of these stories better than others, but alas, I can't say I loved any of them. They are highly moral but only a little interesting. My favorites were "A Country Christmas" and "My Red Cap."
The last story, a New Year story, "What the Bells Saw and Said," is less a story and more a moral extemporizing on society's failings in 1867. It's always interesting to me that many of the same problems we worry about now were also lamented 150 years ago.
The last story, a New Year story, "What the Bells Saw and Said," is less a story and more a moral extemporizing on society's failings in 1867. It's always interesting to me that many of the same problems we worry about now were also lamented 150 years ago.
March 23, 2014
“Kitty’s Class Day” as a title sounds like a story about a young child going to school, but it is in fact about a 17-year-old obsessed with looking her best, making use of what materials she’s got to look fashionable and make men’s heads turn with admiration and women look with envy.
This light-hearted and amusing tale is my favourite of this collection.
4 stars.
“Aunt Kipp” is the name of a 70-something rich woman who is something of a Scrooge. She does little to help her niece, grandniece, or grandnephew, but succeeds in annoying and upsetting them. Only 11-year-old Toady has any impact on her hard old heart but he tends to rub her up the wrong way quite often, as he tends to tell the truth without ever considering tact.
I found this to be an upbeat, amusing tale.
4 stars.
“Psyche’s Art” is about a female sculptor who wants to be the best she can in her art. After a chat with a man much more talented than she, Psyche (strange name for a lady!) comes to see that caring for others is the best way to ‘feed her soul’ and ultimately excel with her passion.
A sombre moralistic tale, this one, and one of Ms Alcott’s least appealing for me, so only 2 stars.
I read “A Country Christmas” separately in December 2013, which is the best time for a simple, sweet, satisfying, seasonal short story such as this.
3 stars.
“On Picket Duty” is a short story comprised of four even shorter stories, one each told by the four characters who are, as the title suggests, on picket duty.
Better than the previous tale, but still not to my tastes, so 2 stars again.
“The Baron’s Gloves” is more to my liking than the previous two stories; however, Ms Alcott practically disowns this one in the preface. She states:
“I have added "The Baron's Gloves," as a sample of the romantic rubbish which paid so well once upon a time. If it shows what not to write it will not have been rescued from oblivion in vain.”
I disagree, as I enjoyed the light-hearted tone and upbeat mood of this tale.
Two young women – Helen and Amy – accompany their uncle during a trip through Germany. The women long for some adventure to add spice to the routine feel of the travels.
Sure enough, their hopes are realised, and this long short story – perhaps it qualifies as a novelette – is comprised of several individual incidents that are linked together.
3 stars, despite the author suggesting it isn’t even worthy of 1 star!
“My Red Cap” is about a nurse who meets a newly recruited soldier by chance before he departs on his new life.
Throughout the tale the pair meet again over time, the third occasion being after a 20-year gap, and upon every meeting the soldier is in a worse state than before. However much he suffers he manages to grin and bear it.
The nurse feels affection for him but this is not a tale of love but rather of platonic friendship.
Found this quite mundane and skipped a few paragraphs. Not Louisa at her best, in my opinion.
2 stars.
“What the Bells Saw and Said” is about a group of spirits who “dwell” in the bells. Set on Christmas Eve, the spirits discuss the year on the whole, mixing tales of happiness and woe. The amount of woe resulted in me skipping half of this.
Found this too preachy and lifeless.
1 star.
This light-hearted and amusing tale is my favourite of this collection.
4 stars.
“Aunt Kipp” is the name of a 70-something rich woman who is something of a Scrooge. She does little to help her niece, grandniece, or grandnephew, but succeeds in annoying and upsetting them. Only 11-year-old Toady has any impact on her hard old heart but he tends to rub her up the wrong way quite often, as he tends to tell the truth without ever considering tact.
I found this to be an upbeat, amusing tale.
4 stars.
“Psyche’s Art” is about a female sculptor who wants to be the best she can in her art. After a chat with a man much more talented than she, Psyche (strange name for a lady!) comes to see that caring for others is the best way to ‘feed her soul’ and ultimately excel with her passion.
A sombre moralistic tale, this one, and one of Ms Alcott’s least appealing for me, so only 2 stars.
I read “A Country Christmas” separately in December 2013, which is the best time for a simple, sweet, satisfying, seasonal short story such as this.
3 stars.
“On Picket Duty” is a short story comprised of four even shorter stories, one each told by the four characters who are, as the title suggests, on picket duty.
Better than the previous tale, but still not to my tastes, so 2 stars again.
“The Baron’s Gloves” is more to my liking than the previous two stories; however, Ms Alcott practically disowns this one in the preface. She states:
“I have added "The Baron's Gloves," as a sample of the romantic rubbish which paid so well once upon a time. If it shows what not to write it will not have been rescued from oblivion in vain.”
I disagree, as I enjoyed the light-hearted tone and upbeat mood of this tale.
Two young women – Helen and Amy – accompany their uncle during a trip through Germany. The women long for some adventure to add spice to the routine feel of the travels.
Sure enough, their hopes are realised, and this long short story – perhaps it qualifies as a novelette – is comprised of several individual incidents that are linked together.
3 stars, despite the author suggesting it isn’t even worthy of 1 star!
“My Red Cap” is about a nurse who meets a newly recruited soldier by chance before he departs on his new life.
Throughout the tale the pair meet again over time, the third occasion being after a 20-year gap, and upon every meeting the soldier is in a worse state than before. However much he suffers he manages to grin and bear it.
The nurse feels affection for him but this is not a tale of love but rather of platonic friendship.
Found this quite mundane and skipped a few paragraphs. Not Louisa at her best, in my opinion.
2 stars.
“What the Bells Saw and Said” is about a group of spirits who “dwell” in the bells. Set on Christmas Eve, the spirits discuss the year on the whole, mixing tales of happiness and woe. The amount of woe resulted in me skipping half of this.
Found this too preachy and lifeless.
1 star.
January 16, 2018
I own the 1908 edition of this 1882 book by Louisa May Alcott. I've collected many of her old books in order to read her entire collection. I'm pretty close to being done. Why would I do such a thing? Obsessive Compulsive? Maybe. But her works, in general, are delightful. They range from Little Women, (semi autobiographical) to newly discovered potboilers, (which I have totally enjoyed). Not only are the stories entertaining, but the progress, and sometimes regression, of the author is an interesting account of a female writer struggling to make herself known in a man's world. We authors owe her. Kitty's Class Day is a compilation of short stories: some for children and some for adults. Many of her stories were written during wartime.
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July 1, 2011"How little it takes to make a young girl happy! A pretty dress, sunshine, and somebody opposite, and they are blest." Well, that about sums it up, folks.
September 26, 2020
5+ stars & 6/10 hearts. I really enjoyed this story collection. “Kitty’s Class Day” was sweet and old-fashioned and just lovely. Jack was a dear, and the story gave me “Little Women” vibes several times! “Aunt Kipp” was hilarious and sweet. “Psyche’s Art” was lovely and had an excellent message... “A Country Christmas” was full of good advice, romance, and old-fashioned happiness. “On Picket Duty” will not be pleasing to the sympathizer of the South (it’s set in the American Civil War/WBTS), but it was interesting enough. “My Red Cap” was sweet... “What the Bells Heard & Saw” would have been lovely, except it was about spirits so I will not be rereading it. Call me an incurable romantic, but “A Baron’s Gloves” was my favourite of all those lovely stories. I enjoyed it so, so much!!!
A Favourite Quote: “‘...I'd ... hunt up some homely, happy folks to write about; folks that don't borrer trouble and go lookin' for holes in their neighbors' coats, but take their lives brave and cheerful; and rememberin' we are all human, have pity on the weak, and try to be as full of mercy, patience and lovin' kindness as Him who made us. That sort of a book would do a heap of good; be real warmin' and strengthening and make them that read it love the man that wrote it, and remember him when he was dead and gone.’”
A Favourite Humorous Quote: “[T]he two young ladies ... sat apart, apparently absorbed in novels, while each was privately longing for somebody to come, and with the charming inconsistency of the fair sex, planning to fly if certain somebodies did appear.”
A Favourite Quote: “‘...I'd ... hunt up some homely, happy folks to write about; folks that don't borrer trouble and go lookin' for holes in their neighbors' coats, but take their lives brave and cheerful; and rememberin' we are all human, have pity on the weak, and try to be as full of mercy, patience and lovin' kindness as Him who made us. That sort of a book would do a heap of good; be real warmin' and strengthening and make them that read it love the man that wrote it, and remember him when he was dead and gone.’”
A Favourite Humorous Quote: “[T]he two young ladies ... sat apart, apparently absorbed in novels, while each was privately longing for somebody to come, and with the charming inconsistency of the fair sex, planning to fly if certain somebodies did appear.”
May 19, 2017
Such a lovely writing style...simple and sweet. No one writes like her.
June 19, 2018
A good little set of moral stories.
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March 3, 2021I love this book!
November 27, 2022
Letto per le sfide
1. Scaffali traboccanti 2022
2. Alphabet 2022
3. Babele 2022: modalità difficile
4. Sfida libera 2022
1. Scaffali traboccanti 2022
2. Alphabet 2022
3. Babele 2022: modalità difficile
4. Sfida libera 2022
January 26, 2014
I appreciate Alcott for her insight into the poverty of the time and also the Civil War. Otherwise, I find it maudlin and sentimental.
June 8, 2015
A collection of fun short stories with a few twists.
Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews