Graphic Classics: Louisa May Alcott features "Little Women", adapted for comics by Trina Robbins and illustrated by Anne Timmons. Plus lesser-known gothic mysteries and horror stories including "A Whisper in the Dark" by Antonella Caputo and Arnold Arre, "The Rival Prima Donnas" by Rod Lott and Molly Crabapple, and "Lost in a Pyramid" by Alex Burrows and Pedro Lopez. Also two poems and two strange children's stories, "Buzz" and "The Piggy Girl", illustrated by Mary Fleener, Shary Flenniken, Toni Pawlowsky and Lisa K. Weber.
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Editorial Reviews
From Publishers Weekly
To give readers a broader understanding of classic writers, books in this ongoing series include adaptations of several varied stories. In this case, a highly abridged version of Alcott's most famous work, Little Women, shares the volume with her lesser known tales of bizarre passion and revenge. The March sisters in Little Women enjoy play-acting melodramas, and the stories Jo March begins writing are over-the-top gothics; however, generations of readers have loved the novel for its picture of a warm, supportive family, and that's largely lost in this rushed condensation. Other stories focus on the consequences of frustrated isolation. A lonely girl gushes love for her pet fly. An aging operatic diva takes ghastly revenge on the rival who's supplanted her while also stealing her lover. And in what the atmospheric art by Arnold Arre makes the most impressive of all, in Whisper in the Dark a young heiress is locked away in an insane asylum so that her dastardly guardian can steal her fortune after she is driven mad. Despite uneven quality in scripts and art—contributors include Trina Robbins, Anne Timmons, Molly Crabapple, and Shary Flenniken—the collection succeeds in giving a wider view of Alcott's output. (Nov.)
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
From School Library Journal
Grade 7 Up—An abridged novel, poetry, and a handful of Alcott's short stories are interpreted by various adapters and illustrators. The most interesting elements of the collection introduce readers to some of Alcott's less-familiar works: melodramatic, gothic horror written primarily for adults. "The Rival Prima Donnas" tells of revenge and betrayal between an opera diva and her understudy as both vie for the romantic attentions of a fickle portrait artist. The illustrator uses a palette of gold, brown, and black with lurid touches of red roses and blood for excellent dramatic effect. In contrast, the illustrator of "Lost in the Pyramid," also known as "The Mummy's Curse," uses heavily blackened shadows to impose an eerie atmosphere and create a heightened sense of the impending doom awaiting the tomb-robbers. One luckless adventurer's decision to pocket a memento will bring a curse to his future wedding day. "The Piggy Girl" and "Buzz" were obviously written for younger readers and provide a refreshing change of pace. Little Women has been significantly abridged to 46 comic pages. Major characters and plotlines are only briefly sketched. Individuals appear one-dimensional with the delightful stories and personalities of the original work eliminated. Devotees of this classic will probably be disappointed, and those who would like an overview of Little Women might be better served by viewing a film adaptation. Like Alcott's Aunt Jo's Scrapbag, this "bundle" of "odds and ends" offers a mixed bag of "stories, old and new."—Barbara M. Moon, Suffolk Cooperative Library System, Bellport, NY
(c) Copyright 2010. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
(c) Copyright 2010. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
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1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
A nicely updated version of a classic,
By Alice Berger "Bergers Book Reviews" (Pennsylvania, USA) - See all my reviews
This review is from: Graphic Classics: Louisa May Alcott (Graphic Classics (Graphic Novels)) (Graphic Classics (Eureka)) (Paperback)
Okay, I'll admit it. I never read Little Women as a girl, and I'm sure there are quite a few other ladies who might say the same thing. So if you've come to realize you missed out on a classic others simply adore, there's hope for you now. Graphic Classics has compiled the best of Louisa May Alcott's writings in this volume.
Although Little Women is Louisa May Alcott's best-known work, most of us are unaware she wrote some other rather unique tales. The Piggy Girl, The Rival Prima Donnas, A Whisper in the Dark, and Lost in a Pyramid may come as quite a surprise to those who expect domestic tranquility in her writing. These dramatic stories are accompanied by detailed graphic artistry, enhancing the reader's pleasure. If you already love Louisa May Alcott, you'll want to include this volume in your collection, putting pictures to the words you enjoy. And if you haven't read her work, Graphic Classics: Louisa May Alcott gives you the perfect opportunity to become acquainted with this talented author. Reviewer: Alice Berger
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Louisa May Alcott is not just a Little Woman,
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This review is from: Graphic Classics: Louisa May Alcott (Graphic Classics (Graphic Novels)) (Graphic Classics (Eureka)) (Paperback)
Reason for Reading: I love this series and will eventually read them all.
Comments: I'll start with my immediate response to finishing this volume, "Fantastic!". This is the second full colour offering in the Graphic Classics series and it is a beautiful book. The artwork is absolutely stunning and each artist has worked in a style and palette perfectly suited for each individual story. Usually, in these collection there will be at least one illustrator's rendition I'm not too fond of but I loved them all. The book includes 2 poems, an adaptation of the novel Little Women and 5 short stories. It's been ages since I've read Little Women and, of course, this is a quick run through of the story but the essence of the story is there; the individual personalities of the girls shine through and this graphic adaption pays homage to the novel well, especially with the wonderful artwork by Anne Timmons. The highlight of this volume, though, is the short stories. I have not read any of Louisa May Alcott's stories before and was wondrously surprised at this ghastly Gothic collection. Four of them are fabulous 19th century sensationalist stories full of corpses, murder and madness while the other is a strange, yet delightful, morality tale for children. My favourite story out of the whole book was the last one, A Whisper in the Dark, which at a full 41 pages is a perfect example of the era's Gothic story with romance, long dark corridors, strange noises in the night and madness, all wonderfully illustrated by Arnold Arre using a palette mostly of browns, going to greys and black to suit the mood. Yet another fine volume in the series and a must read for fans of the series or Louisa May Alcott. And further research tells me we don't have long to wait for Vol. 19 which is shooting for a May release date entitled "Western Classics". I can hardly wait!
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Will help make the great and beloved author accessible to a wider audience of children (and adults) age 12 and up,
By Midwest Book Review (Oregon, WI USA) - See all my reviews
This review is from: Graphic Classics: Louisa May Alcott (Graphic Classics (Graphic Novels)) (Graphic Classics (Eureka)) (Paperback)
"Graphic Classics: Louisa May Alcott, Stories of Mummies, Geese, Pigs, Flies, Prima Donnas & Little Women" is the eighteenth volume in the Graphic Classics series of comics adaptations of great literature. Printed in full color, it features a new adaptation of "Little Women" scripted by Trina Robbins and illustrated by Anne Timmons. As much of the original language and intent of the author as possible is used in the sensitive scripting adaptation. Also included in this edition are comic illustrated adaptations of five other stories by Lousia may Alcott, including "A Whisper in the Dark," "The Rival Prima Donnas," Lost in a Pyramid," "Buzz," and "The Piggy Girl." These less familiar gothic mysteries and horror stories as well as two poems and two unusual children's stories, are scripted and illustrated by a talented string of writers and illustrators, including, Antonella Caputo and Arnold Arre, Rod Lott and Molly Crabapple, Alex Burrows and Pedro Lopez, and others. "Graphic Classics: Louisa May Alcott" is an edition that will help make the great and beloved author accessible to a wider audience of children (and adults) age 12 and up.
Nancy Lorraine Senior Reviewer
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