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Christmas won't be Christmas without any presents.

WRITER HERO:
LOUSIA MAY ALCOTT
by Camille from Laguna Beach

Louisa May Alcott

Lousia May Alcott is remembered as a famous author. She is probably best remembered for writing the classic story "Little Women,” but she wrote many other books too. Lousia was born and was the second daughter of her family. She was born in Germantown, PA on November 29,1832.Lousia had three sisters; Anna, Lizzie, and Abbie May. Lousia and her sisters loved putting on plays for their aunts, uncles, parents, and anyone who would watch.

Lousia's family life was full of love, but not much money. When debit charges came around, the family boat began to sink. Louisa wanted to help. She took in odd jobs like mending and washing laundry and teaching small children. It was at this time Lousia got her first written piece published. It was a poem titled " Sunlight. " This was the beginning of a memorable writing career in her very sad, short life. Three years later Lousia had her first book "Flower Fables." It was published when she got older, and then she went to Washington, DC to become a Civil War nurse.

Louisa at her desk
It was there that she contracted typhoid fever. Although she recovered, the poison from the mercury in the drugs that cured her stayed in her system for the rest of her life. It was then that she wrote, " Hospital Sketches " followed by "Moods." The next year she wrote her most famous book called " Little Women " in two months time. She wrote this book about the experiences she and her sisters had growing up.

In 1876 Louisa became active in the Women's Suffrage Movement. This was the movement to allow women to vote. Louisa went door to door to get them to vote. In 1879, Louisa was the first woman to register to vote in her local town of Concord's school committee election. She was also a writer for the "Women's Journal".

Louisa had a lot of accomplishments, but the greatest one of all was her gift of humanity. Louisa volunteered as a nurse in the Civil War, and she did everything she could to help her family. She was a good person who had a good heart.

Louisa
When Lousia was little she loved to take nature walks with her sisters. Lousia and Anna used to write plays when her and her sisters would act out in front of her family and friends. One of her family friends was named Ralph Waldo Emerson. He was a famous author and poet. Louisa said, "If I ever got married I would marry someone just like him". I'm very happy that I chose Louisa May Alcott for my report. Even though her family moved a lot and her life was often rough and upsetting, she still thought about other people first. She shared her life and books and she shared everything she could. She really had a big heart.

Written by Camille from Laguna Beach


RELATED LINKS

Lousia May Alcott Biography from the Literature Network


 
RECOMMENDED READING

Louisa May Alcott: A Biography
by Madeleine B. Stern
Louisa May Alcott: Young Novelist
by Beatrice Gormley

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Last changed on:10/23/2006 3:25:58 PM