A rediscovered Louisa May Alcott literary treasure is set to follow in the footsteps of The Quiet Little Woman. From Little Women to The Inheritance, Louisa May Alcott has charmed generations of fans for more than 150 years. Her unrivaled legacy includes this rediscovered gem that begins... "According to her father's wish, Kate was to live for a while with the families of each of her four uncles before she decided with which she would make her home. All were anxious to have her, one because of her money, another because her great-grandfather had been a lord, a third hoped to secure her hand for the son of a close friend, while the fourth and best family loved her for herself alone. "They were worthy people, as the world goes-busy, ambitious, and prosperous; and every one, old and young, was fond of bright, pretty, generous Kate. Each family was anxious to keep her, a little jealous of the rest, and very eager to know which she would choose. "But Kate surprised them all by saying." Kate's Choice has been updated for the modern reader by Stephen W. Hines, a writer and researcher who has discovered lost classics like Little House in the Ozarks by Laura Ingalls Wilder.
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About the Author
Louisa May Alcott is the beloved author of one of the world's great classics of literature, Little Women. First published in 1868, Little Women has captured the imaginations of countless young adults who thrill to read the seemingly real-life adventures of Meg, Jo, Beth, and Amy of the impoverished March family.
A groundbreaking work at the time, Miss Alcott's story is one of the first books to treat children as real people, with real feelings and varied motives, in a realistic setting. Miss Alcott's characters hope, sorrow, and strive in a way that makes readers care for and believe in them.
With the success of Little Women, Louisa May Alcott became established as one of the leading lights of American literature and one of the most successful authors of her time. Although her fame was sudden, it did not come easily.
Born in 1832, Louisa May Alcott's fairy tale life did not have a fairy tale beginning. Her father, Bronson Alcott, was an earnest, impractical man who, without much formal education decided to become a schoolteacher and educational reformer. He failed in the educational profession several times, and with each failure came further poverty for his family. It was left to Louisa's mother, Abba Alcott, to give the family some semblance of emotional and financial stability.
Abba Alcott had to demonstrate a practicality that did not seem to dwell in the deep philosophical and educational recesses of Bronson Alcott's mind. Most assuredly the model for the character Marmee in Little Women, Abba became one of Boston's first social workers, and with her meager income, kept the family supplied as best she could with material necessities.
Abba's example of self-sacrifice greatly affected her daughter. From a very early age, Lousia May began to act the role of an adult and took it upon herself to do what she could to pull her family out of genteel, and sometimes not so genteel, poverty. She took any menial job to help out and was very aware of the fact that friend and neighbor Ralph Waldo Emerson had made them gifts of money over the years.
From very early on. Louisa May Alcott was able to help the family by publishing short articles, poems, and stories in the various magazines that fed the voracious reading appetite of the Boston Public. While these efforts never paid great sums of money, they did provide a little relief for the family and a lot of experience for Louisa.
Ironically enough, it was the Civil War that gave Miss Alcott the freedom to step out of the family shadows and into her own limelight.
In 1862, Louisa May Alcott volunteered to become a nurse in a Union hospital. The experience, though short, changed her life. After the briefest of training, she found herself caring for desperately ill and dying men. She discovered new strength in herself as she fed her charges, helped alleviate their sufferings, and ministered words of comfort to those who would not see home nor sweetheart again.
The work was exhausting, the conditions for the nurses themselves apalling, and Louisa nearly died. Bronson Alcott himself had to come to Washington, D. C., to rescue her, and although she recovered rapidly, her health was never quite the same.
Out of this tragic experience came her war book, Hospital Sketches. In itself not a great success, the book did give evidence of a new maturity in Louisa's writing. This maturity was appreciated by her Boston publishers who became increasingly supportive of her work. Writing as much as thirty pages of copy a day, from this time forward, Miss Alcott never lacked an outlet for her writing.
Then, in 1868 came Little Women, instant fame, and the enormous sum of $8,000 in royalties. The family's financial worries were at an end. The very happy conclusion of Little Women really did mirror that of her own dear family except for one thing: Louisa May Alcott never married as Jo March did. That was a dream that was never to be.
Instead, Louisa May remained faithful to her family, nursing her mother through her last illness, and finally passing away herself in the same year her father died. From 1832 to 1888, it had been a short but eventful life.
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2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
3 Sweet And Wholesome Stories For Girls From Alcott...Enjoy With Your Own Sweetie Pie,
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This review is from: Kate's Choice (Hardcover)
Louisa May Alcott's three short stories are a nice old fashioned and sweet read for yonger girls.Each one conveys Alcott's wonderful way of depicting young girls as real people with fears and joys.
"Kate's Choice" is a beautiful tale of a teenage girl from England who comes to America to meet her family after both of her parents have passed away. She must be a choice of which of her four unlces family she will live with. Each want her to live with them for different reasons, the fortune she was left with not least of the reasons.It Christmas time and her decision will warm your heart. Next is "What Love Can Do"....and in this story it does wonders. Two young girls wonder aloud that they are poor and their family will have little at Christmas. When neighbors learn of their sadness, they pool together and make a wonderful surprise for the family. Charity and giving become contagious. Lastly in "Gwen's Adventure In The Snow", a group of children get snowbound and must make do with the little they have. Gwen the oldest girl, tries to put on a brave face for the younger ones. These stories take place in the 19th century and I would recommend this book as a beautiful gift for girls probably 8 through pre-teen(and maybe even young teens).They would also be appropiate to be read aloud with even younger then 8. You really can't go wrong with Louisa May Alcott. Wholesome stories with characters who inspire with their love, charity, courage and loyalty. Enjoy these sweet stories with your sweetie pie!....Laurie
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
CLASSIC BOOKS ARE GREAT,
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Amazon Verified Purchase(What's this?)
This review is from: Kate's Choice (Hardcover)
I loved reading Louisa May Alcott books as a young girl and was happy to give these books as a gift to my granddaughter. She says she really enjoys reading and loves these books as much as I did so many years ago.
5.0 out of 5 stars
Delightful Christmas Stories,
This review is from: Kate's Choice: What Love Can Do ; Gwen's Adventure in the Snow : Three Fire-Side Stories to Warm the Heart (Hardcover)
This book is actually a compilation of 3 short stories by Louisa May Alcott. The first story of the book is called "Kate's Choice", and it was my favorite story of the book. It is about a young girl from England who has come to stay with relatives in America. She has all her aunts & uncles on their toes as they wait to hear about a certain life-changing decision that she must make. Not only does she make a surprising choice, but she also plans a very merry Christmas secret.
"What Love Can Do" is the second story. It features 2 sisters who share their quaint Christmas wishes with each other. Each of them wish they had a bit more money to spend on gifts for their family. What awaits them on their doorstep on Christmas morning? The last story is entitled "Gwen's Adventure in the Snow". It shows the great courage of little boys & girls who get caught in a snowstorm during a fun sleigh ride. Each of these stories have their own unique personality. The characters within the pages of this book show excellent qualities and virtues, just like all of Louisa May Alcott's writings. I have a very high recommendation for this book.
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