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| Little Women (Collector's library) | 
 enlarge | Author: Louisa M. Alcott
Creator: Anna South
Publisher: CRW Publishing Limited
Category: Book
List Price: £7.99
Buy New: £2.57
You Save: £5.42 (68%)
New (14) Collectible (2) from £2.57
Avg. Customer Rating:  4 reviews
Sales Rank: 79979
Media: Hardcover
Edition: New edition
Pages: 326
Shipping Weight (lbs): 0.4
Dimensions (in): 5.9 x 3.5 x 0.8
ISBN: 1904633277
Dewey Decimal Number: 813
EAN: 9781904633273
ASIN: 1904633277
Publication Date: February 1, 2004
Availability: Usually dispatched within 1-2 business days
Condition: brand new copy in stock for despatch from uk
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| Customer Reviews:
Little Women January 13, 2007
2 out of 2 found this review helpful
Little Women -----> A great representation of women of the 19th century, showing how important money and respectability seemed. The novel uses brilliant imagery and fun characters, who really lift your heart. The story focuses on a family, namely 4 grils: Meg, Amy, Beth and Jo, who had money, yet lost it and despite all soon realise that money is not everything, as the rich seem up able to enjoy themselves and are still unable to buy one thing - they cannot buy love.
The Language is hard at first, but once you get used to it the narrative soon comes alive and you find yourself unable to stop reading! The characters are truely superb, as your find yourself reflected in them all and become attached to each, wanting the best for them.
Love, Friendship and Ambition all roled into one. - Possibly one of the best novels you'll ever read!
 A Timeless Work Teaches Important Lessons for Today August 19, 2006
9 out of 9 found this review helpful
Having not read Little Women in many decades, I was drawn back to the book by my love of visiting the Alcott family home, Orchard House, in Concord, Massachusetts. I plan to re-visit that wonderful home and want to refresh my recollections of Little Women before doing so. By the way, if you have a chance to visit Orchard House, I strongly recommend that you do. Your sense of Little Women will expand.
As I re-read these delightful pages, I found myself comparing Little Women to Pride and Prejudice, that outstanding work that captures human psychology so well. The comparison made me see new depths in Little Women that convince me that Little Women is by far the stronger work.
But my biggest reaction was how modern the views in the book are. Women should have education, access to opportunities to develop their interests and marriage to men who will complement them. People should be concerned about each other and help one another, lest any person's life be harmed or feelings hurt in the process.
I also noticed how complete a community of loving women can be within the same family.
The writing style is beautifully spare. The key point of a chapter may turn on two or three words. And then, everything changes in the twinkling of an eye.
Being a long book, Ms. Alcott has plenty of chances to develop her characters and she does so beautifully . . . allowing Meg, Jo, Beth, Amy and Laurie to grow and change as they age.
I also came to appreciate more the scope of the book, taking the young women from teenage years through the first few years of marriage. It's a time period that few books consider. Usually, it's all over when the marriage happens. I like this approach better.
Should you read Little Women? Does the sun rise in the East?
If you haven't read Little Women, you've missed great role models for how to be a parent, spouse and child.
Here's the story in a nutshell: During the Civil War, Mr. March is away serving as a chaplain in the Union army. Mrs. March (Marmee) and her four daughters are at home in the cold north making do on small income with the help of one servant, Hannah. As the story opens, the March family is facing a frugal Christmas. But events soon take an unexpected turn and their hearts are filled with gladness. Jo makes an unexpected and most humorous acquaintance of the Laurence boy (Theodore, known as Laurie) who lives next door with old Mr. Laurance, his grandfather. The two families draw upon one another for strength and friendships grow. Illness intercedes making the two families even more dependent on one another. One by one, the children move into adulthood, deal with their romantic feelings and form their alliances.
The characters of each child are quite different, allowing Ms. Alcott to explore the contrasts by putting them together in various private and social occasions. Meg is beautiful and much admired. She should attract many suitors. Jo is energetic, self-absorbed and talented in writing (the character closest to Ms. Alcott herself). Beth is very kind and yet fragile. Amy is the social climber in the family . . . and the pet. Laurie has an artistic temperament, but finds himself expected to play an heir's role.
You'll long remember with delight the stories of their thespian performances, games, dances and social visits. Although the book makes up a wonderfully detailed novel, the chapters are written almost as stand-alone short stories that pack a powerful punch in their modeling of good behavior.
What a joy!
A Treat For All! March 24, 2006
2 out of 2 found this review helpful
As the father of a teenage daughter who was about to see the screen play based on this book, I am probably an atypical reader of "Little Women", but I enjoyed it none the less. "Little Women" tells the charming story of the March family as the girls grow over several years. Presenting an idealized view of life beginning in Civil War era New England, it gives a glimpse into the world of their class and time. Occasionally it is refreshing to read a book which is just plain enjoyable, without devious characters and subliminal agendas. This book is a delight, even for those who are not, and never were, Little Women.
Tough read but GOOD April 28, 2005
3 out of 12 found this review helpful
argh me head! If you have read 'His Dark Materials' then this is like 10 times harder, mainly coz of the language. Ignoring that, it's quite a good book. It's set in America and focuses on the 4 March sisters, Meg(the oldest), Jo(2nd oldest, has a temper and is a tomboy. Also an aspiring writer), Beth(2nd youngest and housewifey) and Amy, the youngest. This is a great book and most people would find it hard not to relate to one of the characters. Sets a good example that you don't have to be rich to be happy. I also think it's good because there's nothing special about them, they're ordinary people like you and me.
It was originally published in 1868 but i think there's another version where Alcott made a few corrections just to satisfy her publishers.
This book would've got 5 stars but the language wasn't what I'm used to so I gave it 4.
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