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“A Letter from Miss Alcott’s Sister about ‘Little Women’” (1871) Anna Alcott Pratt Born in 1830, Anna was the oldest of the four Alcott sisters. She had been educated primarily at home, though she did attend Bronson’s Temple School for a time in the late 1830s. She herself opened a small school with about twenty pupils in Boston in 1850. Later, in 1853, she accepted a teaching position in Syracuse, New York. In the spring of 1858, the Alcotts announced the engagement of Anna to John Bridge Pratt, son of Minot Pratt, a former participant at Brook Farm. The two were married in the Orchard House in Concord in May 1860. They had two sons, Frederick Alcott Pratt (1863–1910) and John Sewall Pratt (1865–1923). Unfortunately, John Bridge Pratt died unexpectedly in late 1870, while both Louisa and May were together on their grand European tour. After his death, Louisa did much to help her older sister, especially financially , as evidenced by the purchase of the large “Thoreau” house on Main Street in Concord, where Anna lived until her death in 1893. In turn, Anna provided Louisa with a loving family and often protected her sister from intrusions by admirers wishing to meet the author of Little Women. In this letter, Anna answers , less than two months after her husband’s death, what must have been a common fan letter while Louisa was abroad. As many writers in this volume attest, Alcott, although she disliked intrusions into her private life, always seemed to have time for her child admirers. Concord, January 20, 1871 Dear Julia and Alice: From your note to Miss Alcott I infer that you are not aware that she is at present in Italy, having gone abroad in April last, with the intention of remaining a year or more, trying to get well. But knowing how pleased she would be with your friendly note, I think perhaps a word from sister “Meg” will be better than leaving it unanswered, and far better than that any “little woman” should feel that “Jo” was unkind or ungrateful. Of course you know that neither “Meg” nor “Jo” are young and pretty girls [17] * now, but sober old women, nearly forty years of age, full of cares and troubles like other people; and that although nearly every event in the book is true, of course things did not happen exactly as they are there set down. You ask if “Amy” is not May Alcott, and I can truly say she is her very self, and she is the only one of the “Little Women” who would, I think, realize your ideal drawn from the story. She is, indeed, “Lady Amy,” and a fair and noble woman, full of graces and accomplishments, and, what is better far, a pure and generous heart. “Jo,” “Beth,” and “Amy” are all drawn from life, and are entirely truthful pictures of the three dear sisters who played and worked, loved and sorrowed together so many years ago. Dear “Beth”—or Lizzie, as we called her—died, after long suffering, twelve years since. She was a sweet and gentle creature, and her death was so great a sorrow to poor “Jo” that she has never been quite happy since her “conscience” was laid away under the pines of Sleepy Hollow. “Meg” was never the pretty vain little maiden, who coquetted and made herself so charming. But “Jo” always admired poor, plain “ Meg,” and when she came to put her into the story, she beautified her to suit the occasion, saying, “Dear me, girls, we must have one beauty in the book!” So “Meg,” with her big mouth and homely nose, shines forth quite a darling , and no doubt all the “little women” who read of her admire her just as loving old “Jo” does, and think her quite splendid. But, for all that, she is nothing but homely, busy, and, I hope, useful “Annie” who writes this letter to you. As for dear old “Jo” herself, she was just the romping, naughty, topsyturvy tomboy that all you little girls have learned to love; and even now, when care and sickness have made her early old, she is at heart the same loving, generous girl. In “Little Women” she has given a very truthful story of her haps and mishaps, her literary struggles and successes, and she is now enjoying her well-earned honors and regaining her health in travel with her sister Amy...

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