Louisa May Alcott

Louisa May Alcott was born on November 29, 1832, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. She lived together with her three sisters Anna, Elizabeth, and May in Concord and Boston, Massachusetts. Their mother, Abigail May, taught them the values of practical Christianity, while their father, A. Bronson Alcott, a teacher, and philosopher, had a considerable impact on their education.

Louisa had an active and imaginative childhood, spending time in Ralph Waldo Emerson's library, exploring nature with Henry David Thoreau, and staging plays with her sisters in the barn. She was a tomboy and enjoyed competing with boys and engaging in adventurous activities.

Louisa made a promise to help her family out when she was 15 years old because she felt concerned about their financial troubles. She was determined to find work and become successful and happy. Louisa had the desire to break through social boundaries and carve out a career for herself despite the limited opportunities available open to women at the time.

When Louisa was just eight years old, she had her first short stories and poems published in magazines, and so her writing career began. She published her first book, Flower Fables, when she was 22 years old in 1854. A significant milestone in her writing journey was Hospital Sketches (1863), which was based on her experiences as a Civil War nurse in Washington, DC.

In her personal life, Louisa May Alcott never married and remained single throughout her life. She was committed to her writing career and focused on supporting her family financially. Later, Louisa published more than 30 books and story collections. She passed away at the age of 56 in Boston, Massachusetts.

Readers still admire Louisa May Alcott's writings, and her books stay at the top bestseller lists around the globe.