A Hopeful Heart, Deborah Noyes
A Hopeful Heart, Deborah Noyes
List: $18.00 | Sale: $12.60
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A Hopeful Heart
Louisa May Alcott Before Little Women

Author: Deborah Noyes

Narrator: Cassandra Campbell

Unabridged: 5 hr 59 min

Format: Digital Audiobook Download

Published: 10/06/2020


Synopsis

How did Little Women-- the beloved literary classic and inspiration for Greta Gerwig's acclaimed feature film adaptation--come to be? This stunning biography explores the unique family and unusual circumstances of literary icon Louisa May Alcott.

Meg, Jo, Beth, and Amy. How did these cherished characters come to be? Louisa May Alcott, the author of one of the most famous "girl" books of all time, was anything but a well-mannered young lady. A tomboy as well as a ravenous reader, Louisa took comfort in fictional characters that were as passionate and willful as she was--and whose wild imaginations were a match for her own. She was often found roaming the woods near her home in Concord, Massachusetts, or exploring the natural world in the company of the great Transcendentalist thinkers Ralph Waldo Emerson and Henry David Thoreau. Here is a beautiful portrait of Louisa May Alcott, a woman influenced by her father, a penniless philosopher, her mother, with whom she shared a great connection, and, of course, her three sisters. Deborah Noyes unveils how Louisa's natural spirit, loving family, and unconventional circumstances inspired the timeless masterpiece that is Little Women.

About The Author

DEBORAH NOYES is the author of nonfiction and fiction for young readers and adults, including The Magician and the Spirits, Ten Days a Madwoman, and Tooth & Claw, called "accessible history for younger readers" in a starred review from School Library Journal. She has also compiled and edited the short story anthologies Gothic!, The Restless Dead, and Sideshow. You can learn more at deborahnoyes.com and follow her on Twitter @DeborahNoyes.


Reviews

Goodreads review by Paige on September 26, 2020

Disclaimer: I received this book from the publisher. Thanks! All opinions are my own. Book: A Hopeful Heart: Louisa May Alcott Before Little Women Author: Deborah Noyes Book Series: Standalone Rating: 4/5 Recommended For...: biography, little women Publication Date: October 6, 2020 Genre: Biography Recommen......more

Goodreads review by Melanie on December 11, 2024

Louisa May Alcott wrote the most influential book in my life (other than the Bible). Jo March has always inspired me, and because Jo Is the fictional character of Louisa herself, reading about Louisa's life was like reading about a friend. I was so touched and inspired by Louisa's family and how the......more

Goodreads review by Sarah on April 04, 2024

First off, the book itself is very well-crafted. The hardback cover underneath the jacket is simple and beautiful, with Alcott’s writing all over it. I also loved the pictures at the beginning of each chapter and the accents around the page numbers, all in blue! I am so happy I have added it to my c......more

Goodreads review by Connie on June 24, 2024

Fascinating details of the Alcott family life, based on letters, journals, etc. I would recommend this to adults rather than only for children, as categorized in our library... not all children would be so interested in parental relationships, details of poverty, housing moves, and jobs, etc. On the......more

Goodreads review by Vonda on August 27, 2020

I thoroughly enjoyed reading about Louisa May Alcott and her family. I had no idea how eccentric and politically forward thinking they all were for the times. Louisa’s father, Bronson, was impetuous and a dreamer who’s life was oft marked by depressive episodes. He believed in unconventional educati......more