Harriet Reisen

Louisa May Alcott: The Woman Behind Little Women is a lovingly crafted, meticulously researched biography by Harriett Reisen. I received my copy from a GoodReads First Reads drawing. As a Little Women fan from childhood, I was thrilled to receive the book and was not disappointed. I learned a great deal about Louisa and was surprised to find that much of Little Women was taken from people and experiences in her own life, although highly idealized. My only complaint with this book is that it dwelt on her shiftless father and delusional mother entirely too much. I realize that a backstory is necessary to understanding the personality and motivations of the main character, but, to me, Ms. Reisen went overboard. In the first several chapters, covering Louisa's early years, she is mentioned only briefly, while much is made of her father's grandiose ideals and failed business ventures. Despite this, the book is a must-read for any true Louisa fan. Have your copy of Little Women handy- you'll want to re-read it immediately!… (meer)