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Little Women (Illustrated Junior Library)
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Little Women (Illustrated Junior Library) Hardback - 1947

by Louisa May Alcott


About this book

Little Women (or Meg, Jo, Beth, and Amy) is a novel by American author Louisa May Alcott (1832–1888). Written and set in the Alcott family home, Orchard House, in Concord, Massachusetts, it was published in two parts in 1868 and 1869. The novel follows the lives of four sisters—Meg, Jo, Beth, and Amy March—on their way into adulthood while their father serves as a chaplain in the American Civil War. 

Although it is not based on a true story, it is loosely inspired by the author's childhood experiences with her three sisters and her father’s educational philosophy. Amos Bronson Alcott, a pioneer of “progressive education,” was a notable intellectual at the time. 

The book was an assignment of Alcott’s editor Thomas Niles, who wanted a novel for young women for the Robert Brothers publishing catalog. Although she initially despised the idea of writing a "girls' story," once she started, her writing became feverish. The first volume was published in 1868 with illustrations by Louisa’s younger sister May - the inspiration for the character of ‘Amy’ in the novel. It became an immediate hit, and the initial printing of two thousand copies sold out in two weeks. Little Women's original book cover was maroon cloth with gilt lettering, and it has become one of the most iconic Little Women book covers. 

The second part of the novel was issued in 1869, under the title of Good Wives in the UK. The novel is still published separately in some instances, although starting in 1880 the two parts were published as one single volume under Little Women in the US.

Little Women has been adapted into a film on four different occasions. The first one was George Cukor’s 1933 version, which cast Katharine Hepburn as Jo, followed by the 1949 Mervyn LeRoy adaptation, and the 1994 film directed by Gilliam Armstrong, the first one directed, adapted, and produced by women. The most recent version was in 2019 by director Greta Gerwig and stars Emma Watson, Florence Pugh, Saoirse Ronan, and Eliza Scanlen. 

Alcott’s most successful work has had notable cultural relevance all over the world. The ambitious and free-spirited Jo March has inspired women writers since its publication. Her unpretentious depiction of the March sisters and their aims and frustrations distinguish the work from the pious and moral tales of the time. 

If you are looking for books like Little Women, the novel has two sequels that constitute an unofficial trilogy: Little Men: Life at Plumfield with Jo’s Boys (1871), which tells the story of Jo Bhaer (formerly March), Professor Bhaer, and the children at Plumfield Estate School; and the followup, Jo’s Boys and How They Turned Out (1886).

Summary

Timeless in its evocation of idealized family life and robustly enduring, Little Women is recognized as one of the best-loved classic children's stories of all time. Originally written as a "girls" story, its appeal transcends the boundaries of time and age, making it as popular with adults as it is with young readers. For this is a beguiling story of happiness and hope, of the joys of companionship, domestic harmony and infinite mother love, all seen through the life of the March family. But which of the four March sisters to love best? For every reader must have their favorite. Independent, tomboyish Jo; delicate, loving Beth; pretty, kind Meg, or precocious and beautiful Amy, the baby of the family? Little Women was an instant success when first published in 1868, and followed only a year later by the sequel, Little Wives.

From the publisher

Timeless in its evocation of idealized family life and robustly enduring, Little Women is recognized as one of the best-loved classic children's stories of all time. Originally written as a "girls" story, its appeal transcends the boundaries of time and age, making it as popular with adults as it is with young readers. For this is a beguiling story of happiness and hope, of the joys of companionship, domestic harmony and infinite mother love, all seen through the life of the March family. But which of the four March sisters to love best? For every reader must have their favorite. Independent, tomboyish Jo; delicate, loving Beth; pretty, kind Meg, or precocious and beautiful Amy, the baby of the family? Little Women was an instant success when first published in 1868, and followed only a year later by the sequel, Little Wives.

First line

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First Edition Identification

The first US edition of Little Women was published in 1868 by the Roberts Brothers, Boston and includes an advertisement in the back pricing Little Women at $1.25. The second part was published in 1869. Each volume is illustrated with a frontispiece and three plates; those in the first part of Little Women were created by the author’s sister, May. Originally bound in purple cloth with gold lettering. The first UK edition was published by Sampson Low in 1869.

Details

  • Title Little Women (Illustrated Junior Library)
  • Author Louisa May Alcott
  • Binding Hardback
  • Edition Reprint
  • Language EN
  • Publisher Grosset & Dunlap, New York
  • Date January 1, 1947
  • ISBN 9780448060194
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Little Women (Illustrated Junior Library)
Stock Photo: Cover May Be Different

Little Women (Illustrated Junior Library)

by Louisa May Alcott

  • Used
  • Acceptable
  • Hardcover
Condition
Used - Acceptable
Binding
Hardcover
ISBN 13
9780448060194
ISBN 10
0448060191
Quantity Available
1
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This seller has earned a 2 of 5 Stars rating from Biblio customers.
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Grosset & Dunlap, 1947-01-01. Hardcover. Acceptable. 2.0000 in x 9.0000 in x 6.6000 in. This is a used book. It may contain highlighting/underlining and/or the book may show heavier signs of wear . It may also be ex-library or without dustjacket.
Item Price
NZ$8.88
NZ$6.69 shipping to USA
Little Women (Illustrated Junior Library)
Stock Photo: Cover May Be Different

Little Women (Illustrated Junior Library)

by Louisa May Alcott

  • Used
  • Hardcover
Condition
UsedGood
Binding
Hardcover
ISBN 13
9780448060194
ISBN 10
0448060191
Quantity Available
1
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UsedGood. 1947, Illustrated Junior Library Edition. Hardcover, Green cloth w/ red illustration on board. Brown cloth on spine w/ red lettering. Light edgewear. No Dust Jacket. Faded red edge on top block of pages. Page edges have tanned from age. Gift inscription on flyleaf. Pages/Illustrations are clean, crisp and unmarked w/ no writing or highlighting. Strong binding. Good copy! \r\n\r\n546 Pages
Item Price
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Little Women

Little Women

by Alcott, Louisa May

  • Used
  • Acceptable
  • Hardcover
Condition
Used - Acceptable
Binding
Hardcover
ISBN 13
9780448060194
ISBN 10
0448060191
Quantity Available
4
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This seller has earned a 4 of 5 Stars rating from Biblio customers.
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Grosset & Dunlap, 1947. Hardcover. Acceptable. Readable copy. Pages may have considerable notes/highlighting. ~ ThriftBooks: Read More, Spend Less.Dust jacket quality is not guaranteed.
Item Price
NZ$14.44
FREE shipping to USA
Little Women

Little Women

by Alcott, Louisa May

  • Used
  • good
  • Hardcover
Condition
Used - Good
Binding
Hardcover
ISBN 13
9780448060194
ISBN 10
0448060191
Quantity Available
2
Seller
Seattle, Washington, United States
Seller rating:
This seller has earned a 4 of 5 Stars rating from Biblio customers.
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Description:
Grosset & Dunlap, 1947. Hardcover. Good. Missing dust jacket; Pages can have notes/highlighting. Spine may show signs of wear. ~ ThriftBooks: Read More, Spend Less.Dust jacket quality is not guaranteed.
Item Price
NZ$14.44
FREE shipping to USA
Little Women

Little Women

by Alcott, Louisa May

  • Used
  • Acceptable
  • Hardcover
Condition
Used - Acceptable
Binding
Hardcover
ISBN 13
9780448060194
ISBN 10
0448060191
Quantity Available
1
Seller
Seattle, Washington, United States
Seller rating:
This seller has earned a 4 of 5 Stars rating from Biblio customers.
Item Price
NZ$14.44
FREE shipping to USA

Show Details

Description:
Grosset & Dunlap, 1947. Hardcover. Acceptable. Former library book; Readable copy. Pages may have considerable notes/highlighting. ~ ThriftBooks: Read More, Spend Less.Dust jacket quality is not guaranteed.
Item Price
NZ$14.44
FREE shipping to USA
Little Women

Little Women

by Alcott, Louisa May

  • Used
  • good
  • Hardcover
Condition
Used - Good
Binding
Hardcover
ISBN 13
9780448060194
ISBN 10
0448060191
Quantity Available
2
Seller
Seattle, Washington, United States
Seller rating:
This seller has earned a 4 of 5 Stars rating from Biblio customers.
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Show Details

Description:
Grosset & Dunlap, 1947. Hardcover. Good. Pages can have notes/highlighting. Spine may show signs of wear. ~ ThriftBooks: Read More, Spend Less.Dust jacket quality is not guaranteed.
Item Price
NZ$14.44
FREE shipping to USA
Little Women

Little Women

by Louisa May Alcott

  • Used
  • good
  • Hardcover
Condition
Used - Good
Binding
Hardcover
ISBN 13
9780448060194
ISBN 10
0448060191
Quantity Available
1
Seller
Seattle, Washington, United States
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This seller has earned a 4 of 5 Stars rating from Biblio customers.
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Description:
Penguin Publishing Group, 1947. Hardcover. Good. Former library book; Pages can have notes/highlighting. Spine may show signs of wear. ~ ThriftBooks: Read More, Spend Less.Dust jacket quality is not guaranteed.
Item Price
NZ$14.44
FREE shipping to USA
Little Women

Little Women

by Louisa May Alcott

  • Used
  • Hardcover
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Like New
Binding
Hardcover
ISBN 13
9780448060194
ISBN 10
0448060191
Quantity Available
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Penguin Publishing Group, 1947. Hardcover. Like New. Pages are clean and are not marred by notes or folds of any kind. ~ ThriftBooks: Read More, Spend Less.Dust jacket quality is not guaranteed.
Item Price
NZ$14.44
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Little Women

Little Women

by Alcott, Louisa May

  • Used
  • Acceptable
  • Hardcover
Condition
Used - Acceptable
Binding
Hardcover
ISBN 13
9780448060194
ISBN 10
0448060191
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Description:
Grosset & Dunlap, 1947. Hardcover. Acceptable. Missing dust jacket; Readable copy. Pages may have considerable notes/highlighting. ~ ThriftBooks: Read More, Spend Less.Dust jacket quality is not guaranteed.
Item Price
NZ$14.52
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Little Women
Stock Photo: Cover May Be Different

Little Women

by Alcott, Louisa

  • Used
Condition
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ISBN 13
9780448060194
ISBN 10
0448060191
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Penguin Publishing Group. Used - Very Good. Used book that is in excellent condition. May show signs of wear or have minor defects.
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