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The Brownie and the Princess & Other Stories
A poor farmer's daughter changes the life of a spoiled princess . . .A fearless young girl saves her town from British soldiers . . .From the author of the beloved classic little women come ten short stories to delight and charm. Throughout her life, Louisa May Alcott published many stories in children's magazines, and now ten of the best of these tales have been collected here. Filled with characters who have all the warmth, liveliness, and appeal of Jo March and her sisters, these stories will open up a whole new world for Alcott fans, and remain every bit as captivating as when they were first written, over a century ago.
Two elderly sisters come up with a plan to help a sickly child . . .
A country girl shows her city cousin that simple can be best . . .
256 pages, Hardcover
First published February 1, 2004
4 people are currently reading
272 people want to read
About the author
Louisa May Alcott
4,159 books10.7k 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 - 21 of 21 reviews
July 8, 2018
The Brownie and the Princess
This whole story collection starts out with an absolutely charming fairy tale, one that most little girls will adore. Betty is a little girl who lives in the countryside, and she adores all things that have to do with nature and her beloved animal friends. I simply adore the sentence that states that she “had fine frolics with them, for they knew and loved her dearly” . Awww!! I love the sentiment, as I too wish to be friends with my backyard wildlife. When the princess of the kingdom comes to visit Betty, both girls are each pleasantly surprised by the other, and a new friendship is soon blossoming...
Tabby's Tablecloth
An excellent specimen of Louisa trying her hand at a historical story (not a tale that happens in the “modern” times she was living in, nor even in a fantasy kingdom like the 1st story). Instead, Louisa has chosen an actual year, decades before she herself was born. This story is about a plucky Massachusetts girl in 1775, when the British army was marching through town, and the Revolutionary War was just on the brink of breaking out. An excellent story for any student who may be learning about that time period.
A Hole in the Wall
Herein we find a lame boy and his own “secret garden” to discover on the other side of the wall. This epistle provides laughter, healing in the heart, and perhaps will bring a tear to your eye. My heart went out to little Johnny, but he is such an innocent boy, full of hope and imagination... what's not to love about his story?
Lunch
This is a delightful tale, in which two spinsters take it upon themselves to finally do something about the young students across the street who have to eat from the scroungy bakery next door. This whole story is like a fun romp, combining the antics of two little old ladies, and a houseful of boys with hungry appetites. Very cute, overall.
Baa! Baa!
Here's my favorite story in the whole collection! Two sisters start out intending to pick berries to sell at the train station as a business venture. But when they see a train full of poor, dehydrated sheep roll in – their kind little hearts take over. There's a sweet cast of characters in this story – as other people take notice of the girls, and one kindness is rewarded for another, and another. I just loved reading this one!
The Silver Party
On Thanksgiving Day, young Tony is at home with a cold, while the rest of his family goes to church and enjoys the holiday celebrations. One may wonder if his health issues bring on hallucinations... because before you know it, the silverware is strutting across the table, talking, dancing, and all sorts of other human-ized type of actions. He may even learn some manners from these aforethought “dumb” objects.
How They Camped Out
Adventurous and sweet. A whole slew of kids are caught in a snowstorm on their way back from a sleighing party. They are able to make it into an empty, dusty house for shelter, and there's nothing to do but make the best of the situation. While waiting for help to come, they busy themselves with making a fire and scavenging for any edible bits in the house... It's a rather cozy survival story.
The Hare and the Tortoise
A moral lesson, based on the summary of one of Aesop's legendary fables. A modernized story (well, for Louisa's time) about a couple of brothers – the older boy who gets to parade around town atop his high bicycle, and the younger boy who yearns for his very own, since his stubborn brother won't share. Someone learns a lesson or two.
Jerseys, or the Girls' Ghost
Yep. I liked this story a lot too. Miss Orne promotes healthy habits to her six students, such as rousing exercise, and better diets, which are things that Louisa (probably) truly believed in. I would like to imagine that when Louisa taught in her early years, that maybe she was something like Miss Orne herself – that she was a good-natured teacher who wanted the absolute best for her students. And you know what? This story also kept reminding of the literary heroine Anne Shirley.
The Cooking Class
The comedic episodes of 6 girls who meet weekly to perfect, criticize, and enjoy their culinary skills (which may or may not exist). Plus, throw in some occasional boyish pranks in the mix, and you've really got some hilarious scenes cooking. It certainly set me to laughing a few times.
- - - - -
Overall? This is a beautiful story book, that every little girl should have on her shelf as she grows up. Also, these just make excellent little stories that a young child could read aloud to a parent. (Or of course, as a bedtime story that the parent can read aloud.)
My 5th book is complete for the Louisa May Alcott reading challenge on www.inthebookcase.blogspot.com.
This whole story collection starts out with an absolutely charming fairy tale, one that most little girls will adore. Betty is a little girl who lives in the countryside, and she adores all things that have to do with nature and her beloved animal friends. I simply adore the sentence that states that she “had fine frolics with them, for they knew and loved her dearly” . Awww!! I love the sentiment, as I too wish to be friends with my backyard wildlife. When the princess of the kingdom comes to visit Betty, both girls are each pleasantly surprised by the other, and a new friendship is soon blossoming...
Tabby's Tablecloth
An excellent specimen of Louisa trying her hand at a historical story (not a tale that happens in the “modern” times she was living in, nor even in a fantasy kingdom like the 1st story). Instead, Louisa has chosen an actual year, decades before she herself was born. This story is about a plucky Massachusetts girl in 1775, when the British army was marching through town, and the Revolutionary War was just on the brink of breaking out. An excellent story for any student who may be learning about that time period.
A Hole in the Wall
Herein we find a lame boy and his own “secret garden” to discover on the other side of the wall. This epistle provides laughter, healing in the heart, and perhaps will bring a tear to your eye. My heart went out to little Johnny, but he is such an innocent boy, full of hope and imagination... what's not to love about his story?
Lunch
This is a delightful tale, in which two spinsters take it upon themselves to finally do something about the young students across the street who have to eat from the scroungy bakery next door. This whole story is like a fun romp, combining the antics of two little old ladies, and a houseful of boys with hungry appetites. Very cute, overall.
Baa! Baa!
Here's my favorite story in the whole collection! Two sisters start out intending to pick berries to sell at the train station as a business venture. But when they see a train full of poor, dehydrated sheep roll in – their kind little hearts take over. There's a sweet cast of characters in this story – as other people take notice of the girls, and one kindness is rewarded for another, and another. I just loved reading this one!
The Silver Party
On Thanksgiving Day, young Tony is at home with a cold, while the rest of his family goes to church and enjoys the holiday celebrations. One may wonder if his health issues bring on hallucinations... because before you know it, the silverware is strutting across the table, talking, dancing, and all sorts of other human-ized type of actions. He may even learn some manners from these aforethought “dumb” objects.
How They Camped Out
Adventurous and sweet. A whole slew of kids are caught in a snowstorm on their way back from a sleighing party. They are able to make it into an empty, dusty house for shelter, and there's nothing to do but make the best of the situation. While waiting for help to come, they busy themselves with making a fire and scavenging for any edible bits in the house... It's a rather cozy survival story.
The Hare and the Tortoise
A moral lesson, based on the summary of one of Aesop's legendary fables. A modernized story (well, for Louisa's time) about a couple of brothers – the older boy who gets to parade around town atop his high bicycle, and the younger boy who yearns for his very own, since his stubborn brother won't share. Someone learns a lesson or two.
Jerseys, or the Girls' Ghost
Yep. I liked this story a lot too. Miss Orne promotes healthy habits to her six students, such as rousing exercise, and better diets, which are things that Louisa (probably) truly believed in. I would like to imagine that when Louisa taught in her early years, that maybe she was something like Miss Orne herself – that she was a good-natured teacher who wanted the absolute best for her students. And you know what? This story also kept reminding of the literary heroine Anne Shirley.
The Cooking Class
The comedic episodes of 6 girls who meet weekly to perfect, criticize, and enjoy their culinary skills (which may or may not exist). Plus, throw in some occasional boyish pranks in the mix, and you've really got some hilarious scenes cooking. It certainly set me to laughing a few times.
- - - - -
Overall? This is a beautiful story book, that every little girl should have on her shelf as she grows up. Also, these just make excellent little stories that a young child could read aloud to a parent. (Or of course, as a bedtime story that the parent can read aloud.)
My 5th book is complete for the Louisa May Alcott reading challenge on www.inthebookcase.blogspot.com.
August 9, 2010
Charming collection of stories by Louisa May Alcott. She wrote about her favorite values that she puts in all her books, such as women's health, kindness in families, and the virtues of humilities and comeliness. It wasn't my favorite book by her, as some of the "short" stories seemed to drag a bit, but overall a sweet, charming read.
September 2, 2010
Since I've been reading up on Louisa May Alcott lately, I decided to check out some of her children's fiction. After all, Louisa spent a large portion of her time writing for and editing a children's magazine (she actually published these stories under her own name, unlike her sensational adult stories) and it was work like this that made her publisher talk her into writing Little Women, the enduringly classic children's novel.
While there is an old-fashioned quaintness to these stories, they hold up, and if I had kids I would want to read them these stories. While they follow a sort of form, spunky little girl heroines, patriotism, charitable acts, and especially Louisa's emphasis on honorable poverty and simplicity, these are qualities that children can benefit from.
While there is an old-fashioned quaintness to these stories, they hold up, and if I had kids I would want to read them these stories. While they follow a sort of form, spunky little girl heroines, patriotism, charitable acts, and especially Louisa's emphasis on honorable poverty and simplicity, these are qualities that children can benefit from.
September 28, 2017
All 10 short stories were quaint and lovely and full of insight that a lot of contemporary literature unfortunately lacks. I was so impressed by these stories that I ended up purchasing a copy of this book myself. This was my first time reading anything by Alcott, and now I'm even more excited to read "Little Women" once I get the chance :)
April 25, 2012
A sweet collection of some of what I assume are Alcott's earlier stories. Nothing spectacular though. It's nice to see her work as a young author, but they really don't compare to her classic novels. C
April 19, 2010
Sweet stories, tho' a bit moralistic. Very like Little Women from that perspective, but the stories were entertaining for me and my 6 year old.
July 3, 2012
Old fashioned, but very good for younger kids (7-9). Enjoyable stories with good lessons.
December 28, 2023
This collection of children’s stories by Louisa May Alcott was just as charming as the first time I read it many years ago. I remember checking it out from the library over and over again—a comfort book if there ever was one. So it was lovely to receive this as a Christmas gift and know that I can reread it as much as I want and pass these stories down to others. It’s also quite interesting to look at these stories from a critical social/historical perspective, I’m tempted to delve into these aspects of the stories but I think I’d rather preserve the magic of these childhood stories of mine.
December 20, 2018
I was delighted by the untouchable Louisa May Alcott's collection of short stories. The first story in the book, the brownie in the princess was undoubtedly my favorite! However there were many that were wonderful. I found myself kind of skimming through a few. But overall it's a wonderful collection definitely worth the read.
November 29, 2018
This is a very fun collection of stories for children or young adults. Normally I would describe Louisa May Alcott's short stories as brain damaging antiquated propaganda, but this was actually really fun. Full of sweet, happy and exciting stories, it is just the thing for a rainy day.
July 12, 2022
Cute little stories from the wholesome author herself, just like Marmie would have told to educate her little girls in manners and how to behave in life. Morals and values.
February 21, 2008
This book of short stories for children was quite charming, with definite variety of plot and characters. Alcott has always been one of my favorite authors and this is a good representation of her work for children.
The only drawback, I felt, was how much time was spent moralizing. I know this is common for Alcott's short stories, and having a little bit in a whole novel is fine; In this instance, however, there were a few stories with not quite enough substance to carry the weight of the wholesome messages. It made some of the stories seem somewhat bogged down.
I think I would probably feel differently about it, had I read the tales separately (maybe as bedtime stories...), rather than straight through the whole book.
The only drawback, I felt, was how much time was spent moralizing. I know this is common for Alcott's short stories, and having a little bit in a whole novel is fine; In this instance, however, there were a few stories with not quite enough substance to carry the weight of the wholesome messages. It made some of the stories seem somewhat bogged down.
I think I would probably feel differently about it, had I read the tales separately (maybe as bedtime stories...), rather than straight through the whole book.
January 13, 2016
Quite charming. Definitely flavored with the time and place but not as easily identified as specifically LMA which is interesting. Not that I've read tons of her. I mean... I still have never managed to get back to finishing Little Women due to a serious upset at the age of seven...
April 8, 2022
I really enjoyed this collection of stories! I don't think I could ever dislike something written by Louisa May Alcott, and these stories definitely didn't veer from her lovely style and characters. I don't think I have a favorite story, they were all so nice in their own way!
July 2, 2008
I read this when I was little, so i can't really remember if it was good or not, but i think i liked it!
February 25, 2010
A quick, clean read. Her stories are sweet and teach the values of honesty, bravery, hard work, and love for all. I really enjoyed reading them!
October 19, 2012
Fun read. Some of the stories were a little slow, but most of them were great! I especially liked the title story.
March 6, 2013
Cute Children's stories that Alcott wrote before Little Women they ll teach lessons of how children should act and be. Sweet stories of friendship and love. There were 10 stories in all.
August 5, 2016
A nice change for Louisa May Alcott. Most of the stories were fun and enjoyable. A read for anyone who is an Alcott fan
September 19, 2016
Super cute. Super girl-powery for its time (obviously still like "a woman should be good at cooking!" but not in a "for her man" kind of way, yaknow?) and lovely little optimistic stories.
April 7, 2017
I can easily see a 2-3rd grade girl enjoying The Brownie and the Princess & Other Stories. Each story has a positive moral to it and many are "pro girl." Louisa May Alcott was a woman truly before her times.
Displaying 1 - 21 of 21 reviews