Transcriber's Note:
Obvious typographical errors have been corrected.Inconsistent spelling and hyphenation in the originaldocument have been preserved.
Louisa May Alcott
HER
Life, Letters, and Journals.
EDITED BY
EDNAH D. CHENEY
BOSTON
LITTLE, BROWN, AND COMPANY
1898
Copyright, 1889,
By J. S. P. Alcott.
University Press:
John Wilson and Son, Cambridge.
TO
MRS. ANNA B. PRATT,
THE SOLE SURVIVING SISTER OF LOUISA M. ALCOTT, AND HER
NEVER-FAILING HELP, COMFORTER, AND FRIEND
FROM BIRTH TO DEATH,
This Memoir
IS RESPECTFULLY AND TENDERLY DEDICATED,
BY
EDNAH D. CHENEY.
Jamaica Plain,
June, 1889.
INTRODUCTION.
LOUISA MAY ALCOTT is universally recognizedas the greatest and most popularstory-teller for children in her generation. Shehas known the way to the hearts of young people,not only in her own class, or even country, but inevery condition of life, and in many foreign lands.Plato says, "Beware of those who teach fables tochildren;" and it is impossible to estimate the influencewhich the popular writer of fiction hasover the audience he wins to listen to his tales.The preacher, the teacher, the didactic writer findtheir audience in hours of strength, with criticalfaculties all alive, to question their propositions andrefute their arguments. The novelist comes to usin the intervals of recreation and relaxation, and byhis seductive powers of imagination and sentimenttakes possession of the fancy and the heart beforejudgment and reason are aroused to defend thecitadel. It well becomes us, then, who wouldivguard young minds from subtle temptations, tostudy the character of those works which charmand delight the children.
Of no author can it be more truly said thanof Louisa Alcott that her works are a revelationof herself. She rarely sought for the material ofher stories in old chronicles, or foreign adventures.Her capital was her own life and experiencesand those of others directly about her; andher own well-remembered girlish frolics and fancieswere sure to find responsive enjoyment in theminds of other girls.
It is therefore impossible to understand MissAlcott's works fully without a knowledge of herown life and experiences. By inheritance andeducation she had rich and peculiar gifts; and herlife was one of rare advantages, as well as of tryingdifficulties. Herself of the most true and franknature, she has given us the opportunity of knowingher without disguise; and it is thus that I shalltry to portray her, showing what influences actedupon her through life, and how faithfully and fullyshe performed whatever duties circumstances laidupon her. Fortunately I can let her speak mainlyfor herself.<