Ekletic Goodies

Little Men

by

Louisa May Alcott

Little Men (published 1871) is considered the second book of the Little Women trilogy written by Louisa May Alcott. (The book Good Wives (1869) was originally the sequel to the novel Little Women (1868), however those two novels are now usually published as a single volume.) The final book of the trilogy is Jo’s Boys (1886).

Little Men follows the life of Jo Bhaer and the students who live and learn at the Plumfield Estate School that she runs with her husband. The mischievous kids, whom she loves and cares for as her own, learn valuable lessons as they become proper gentlemen and ladies. We also get cameo appearances of almost all the characters found in the previous books, almost all of them happy and well. (Summary from Wikipedia)

Little Women is the classic story of the March family, which consists of Mr. and Mrs. March and their four girls. Practical, yet fashion conscious Meg, who longs for the nice things they used to have. Rambunctious, book worm Jo, who wants to become a writer and wishes she were born a boy. Shy, quiet, home loving Beth, who loves to play the piano and play with her kitties. And, finally, the youngest, artistic Amy, who longs for an aristocratic nose!

The story takes place during the American Civil War, and begins with Mr. March away from home as a chaplain to the Union army, while his wife and daughters remain at home to work and wait for his safe return. This book follows their joys and sorrows and scrapes along the path to the girl’s becoming grown up “little women”.

Many of the scrapes they get into include Laurie–their harum-scarum next door neighbor, who becomes their adopted brother. The two families, the March’s and the Laurence’s, strike up a lasting friendship, despite their differences in material possessions. Summary by Mary Anderson

1      Playing Pilgrims     20:25      Read by Elizabeth
2     A Merry Christmas     21:22     Read by Elizabeth
3     The Laurence Boy     19:33     Read by Elizabeth
4     Burdens     32:11     Read by Mary Anderson
5     Being Neighborly     23:34     Read by Elizabeth
6     Beth Finds the Palace Beautiful     15:04     Read by Elizabeth
7     Amy’s Valley of Humiliation     14:24     Read by Lee Ann Howlett
8     Jo Meets Apollyon     21:17     Read by Lee Ann Howlett
9     Meg Goes to Vanity Fair     36:32     Read by Elizabeth Klett
10     The P.C. and P.O.     24:05     Read by Mary Anderson
11     Experiments     22:11     Read by David Jaquay
12     Camp Laurence     47:04     Read by Mary Anderson
13     Castles in the Air     21:49     Read by Wina Hathaway
14     Secrets     21:12     Read by Wina Hathaway
15     A Telegram     20:12     Read by Wina Hathaway
16     Letters     20:17     Read by Mary Anderson
17     Little Faithful     17:56     Read by Mary Anderson
18     Dark Days     20:40     Read by Jennette Selig
19     Amy’s Will     18:51     Read by Claire Goget
20     Confidential     15:10     Read by Claire Goget
21     Laurie Makes Mischief, and Jo Makes Peace     25:05     Read by Graeme Jolliffe
22     Pleasant Meadows     17:37     Read by Jennette Selig
23     Aunt March Settles the Question     28:04     Read by Mary Anderson
24     Gossip     25:18     Read by katyleah
25     The First Wedding     16:46     Read by Mary Anderson
26     Artistic Attempts     26:18     Read by Mary Anderson
27     Literary Lessons     18:59     Read by Mary Anderson
28     Domestic Experiences     31:06     Read by katyleah
29     Calls     36:24     Read by Lucy Burgoyne
30     Consequences     29:25     Read by Mary Anderson
31     Our Foreign Correspondent     25:38     Read by Mary Anderson
32     Tender Troubles     22:49     Read by Sarah Jennings
33     Jo’s Journal     25:22     Read by J. M. Smallheer
34     A Friend     38:59     Read by Mary Anderson
35     Heartache     26:38     Read by Mary Anderson
36     Beth’s Secret     12:55     Read by Holly
37     New Impressions     25:56     Read by JemmaBlythe
38     On the Shelf     32:03     Read by Mary Anderson
39     Lazy Lawrence     35:26     Read by Mary Anderson
40     The Valley of the Shadow     14:41     Read by Mary Anderson
41     Learning to Forget     24:46     Read by Lee Ann Howlett
42     All Alone     20:19     Read by Riddleman
43     Surprises     40:30     Read by Mary Anderson
44     My Lord and Lady     11:08     Read by Lee Ann Howlett
45     Daisy and Demi     16:01     Read by Mary Anderson
46     Under the Umbrella     30:38     Read by JemmaBlythe
47     Harvest Time     26:59     Read by Mary Anderson