Louisa May Alcott



A fellow New Englander, Alcott is most famous for her classic work Little Women. Like Jackson some of her writing was written under a nom de plume. She was not as widely traveled as Helen, living most of her life in Massachusetts. She was a staunch abolitionist (like her father) and later became a supporter of women's suffrage.

Something else she had in common with Jackson was her health problems and dying in her mid 50s. Her death was probably the result of an autoimmune disease (possibly lupus), in contrast to Jackson who died of cancer. Both women were remarkable individuals who were able to forge careers as writers at a time when women were not even able to vote.

Her masterpiece, Little Women, has inspired several films and has had lasting appeal for readers. The main character, Jo, was a career woman before women of the era had careers. She also gave up an advantageous marriage in order to pursue her dreams of success as a writer. Ultimately she chooses a husband who is not the most suitable individual, but who shares her values and goals. It is not surprising then that Alcott was a proponent of women's suffrage.

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