Louisa May Alcott - Two Stories

Louisa May Alcott, known best for her book Little Women, was the daughter of Bronson Alcott, a close associate and friend of Ralph Waldo Emerson and a central figure in the Transcendentalist movement. In Little Women this Transcendentalist philosophy is an underlying theme. Two little-known stories summarize some of Louisa May Alcott's thoughts about Transcendentalist ideas and leaders based on her close association and observation.

Louisa May Alcott wrote bitingly of the experience of her own family at a 19th century Utopian community, exaggerated and fictionalized in "Transcendental Wild Oats." In this story, the men are more interested in "being, not doing," and mostly sit around and talk about their ideals. In contrast, the wife ends up the caretaker of physical needs like food and shelter. "Mrs. Lamb led her flock to a temporary fold, leaving the founders of the 'Consociate Family' to build castles in the air till the fire went out and the symposium ended in smoke."

But it would be a mistake to read into this story a complete disdain for Transcendentalism, its ideas, or its proponents. In "Reminiscences of Ralph Waldo Emerson by Louisa May Alcott," Louisa May Alcott wrote, shortly after the death of Ralph Waldo Emerson, about her friend and neighbor. Her admiration and respect for him shine clearly through as she attempts to portray a side of him that the public rarely saw, but which she, as a child growing up in the neighborhood and as daughter of one of Emerson's closest associates, was privy to.

Two Stories by Louisa May Alcott

• Transcendental Wild Oats by Louisa May Alcott - 1973
• Reminiscences of Ralph Waldo Emerson by Louisa May Alcott - 1882

More on Louisa May Alcott:

• Louisa May Alcott's Books
• Louisa May Alcott - biography
• Louisa May Alcott Quotes
• Louisa May Alcott - index to all Louisa May Alcott articles and resources on this site, plus key links on the Net