Transcendentalist and genteel proverty
Posted by Cath W on June 04, 1998 at 12:57:06:
In response to Little Women and P&P, written by Linden on June 02, 1998 at 18:51:11
] I would. Bear in mind that LW was written in the middle of the Victorian "Bash 'em over the head with morality" viewpoint, and also that LMA was a good rather than a great writer, but there are several things in common:
It's been a long time, but...The Alcott family were progressives. The Alcotts were friends with some of the most famous intellectuals and 'free thinkers' of the time, Emerson, Parker and Thoreau. I think that LMA was a reformer in later life. LMA was born in 1830's and died in her 50's, unmarried. She had lots siblings. Her father ran a school. Her mother worked outside the home! She became a nurse during the civil war. She started writing to help implement their families income. LMA wrote hundreds of published pieces from magazine articles to mystery stories.
Although JA and LMA were born over 50 years apart, they had quite a bit in common and a world of differences. LMA had more exposure to a wider view because she worked as a nurse, seamstress, domestic, teacher, governess and companion. LMA's family was poor and had to work very hard for a living. JA earned some money from her work, but her family had just enough money to maintain her. IMHO, I don't think JA would have considered herself well off, but they were not poor. I wonder if she knew what real proverty was like as LMA did.
Posting followups to old messages is disabled; instead go to the main index and post a new message which mentions this one.
