Little Women (Unabridged Classics) [UNABRIDGED] (Hardcover)

~ (Author), Scott McKowen (Illustrator)

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Product Description

The illustrations for this series were created by Scott McKowen, who, with his wife Christina Poddubiuk, operates Punch & Judy Inc., a company specializing in design and illustration for theater and performing arts. Their projects often involve research into the visual aspects of historical settings and characters. Christina is a theater set and costume designer and contributed advice on the period clothing for the illustrations.

Scott created these drawings in scratchboard ­ an engraving medium which evokes the look of popular art from the period of these stories. Scratchboard is an illustration board with a specifically prepared surface of hard white chalk. A thin layer of black ink is rolled over the surface, and lines are drawn by hand with a sharp knife by scraping through the ink layer to expose the white surface underneath. The finished drawings are then scanned and the color is added digitally.

The beautiful Meg, artistic tomboy Jo, doomed Beth, and selfish Amy: since the publication of Little Women in 1869, these four sisters have become America’s most beloved literary siblings. Louisa May Alcott’s rich and realistic portrait has inspired three movies and stirred the emotions of countless young girls. Set in New England during the Civil War, the novel follows the adventures of the March sisters as they struggle to pursue their dreams.

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Product Details Reading level: Ages 9-12 Hardcover: 526 pages Publisher: Sterling; Unabridged edition (October 1, 2004) Language: English ISBN-10: 1402714580 ISBN-13: 978-1402714580 Product Dimensions: 8.1 x 6.2 x 1.8 inches Shipping Weight: 2.2 pounds (View shipping rates and policies) Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (17 customer reviews) Amazon.com Sales Rank: #20,377 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books) Popular in these categories: (What's this?) #3 in  Books > Literature & Fiction > Authors, A-Z > ( A ) > Alcott, Louisa May #87 in  Books > Literature & Fiction > Genre Fiction > Family Saga

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What Do Customers Ultimately Buy After Viewing This Item?

	70% buy the item featured on this page: Little Women (Unabridged Classics) 4.2 out of 5 stars (17) $9.95
	14% buy Little Women (Signet Classics) 4.3 out of 5 stars (86) $3.95
	7% buy Little Women (Illustrated Junior Library) 4.6 out of 5 stars (272) $14.95
	4% buy Little Women (Barnes & Noble Classics) 5.0 out of 5 stars (3) $6.95

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Customer Reviews

17 Reviews 5 star:  (12) 4 star:  (1) 3 star:  (1) 2 star:  (2) 1 star:  (1)           Average Customer Review 4.2 out of 5 stars (17 customer reviews)		Share your thoughts with other customers:
Most Helpful Customer Reviews 33 of 37 people found the following review helpful: 1.0 out of 5 stars No Illustrations!!!! Advertising misleading, December 1, 2005 By  Dennis G. Pratt "jnkpratt" (Westwood, MA USA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)    Sure the story is great (as it would be with any version) and this version does have the nice print and book mark, however, the advertising suggested to me, at least, that there would be several illustrations. There were none except silly chests with each little woman's name engraved on them at the start of each chapter. Do not select this book if you are looking for an *illustrated* version. The Illustrated Junior Library version is well illustrated and at least as high quality a printing. By the way, read the sales copy above to see how misleading it is. Just for that reason, consumers should eschew this version, and Amazon should have them change it. 24 of 27 people found the following review helpful: 5.0 out of 5 stars From "Little Women" to "Good Wives", March 29, 2005 By  E. A Solinas "ea_solinas" (MD USA) - See all my reviews (TOP 10 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)       Louisa May Alcott wrote many books, but "Little Women" retains a special place in the heart of American literature. Her warmly realistic stories, sense of comedy and tragedy, and insights into human nature make the romance, humor and sweet stories of "Little Women" come alive. The four March girls -- practical Meg, rambunctious Jo, sweet Beth and childish artist Amy -- live in genteel poverty with their mother Marmee; their father is away in the Civil War. Despite having little money, the girls keep their spirits up with writing, gardening, homemade plays, and the occasional romp with wealthier pals. Their pal, "poor little rich boy" Laurie, joins in and becomes their adoptive brother, as the girls deal with Meg's first romance, Beth's life-threatening illness, and fears for their father's safety. The second half of the book opens with Meg's wedding (if not to the man of her dreams, then to the man she loves). Things rapidly go awry after the wedding, when Laurie admits his true feelings to Jo -- only to be rejected. Distraught, he leaves; Amy also leaves on a trip to Europe with a picky old relative. Despite the deterioration of Beth's health, Jo makes her way into a job as a governess, seeking to put her treasured writing into print -- and finds her destiny as well. There's a clearly autobiographical tone to "Little Women." Not surprising -- the March girls really are like the girls next door. Alcott wrote them with flaws and strengths, and their misadventures -- like Amy's embarrassing problem with her huge lobster -- have the feeling of authenticity. How much of it is real? A passage late in the book portrays Alcott -- in the form of Jo -- "scribbling" down the book itself, and getting it published because it feels so real and true. Sure, usually classics are hard to read. But "Little Women" is mainly daunting because of its length; the actual stories flow nicely and smoothly. Don't think it's just a book for teenage girls, either -- adults and boys can appreciate it as well. There's something for everyone: drama, romance, humor, sad and happy endings alike. Alcott's writing itself is nicely detailed. While certain items are no longer in common use (what IS a charabanc anyway?), Alcott's stories themselves seem very fresh and could easily be seen in a modern home. And as nauseating as "heartwarming" stories sometimes are, these definitely qualify. Sometimes, especially in the beginning, Alcott is a bit too preachy and hamhanded. But her touch becomes defter as she writes on. Jo is the quintessential tomboy, and the best character in the book: rough, gawky, fun-loving, impulsive, with a love of literature and a mouth that is slightly too big. Meg's love of luxury adds a flaw to the "perfect little homemaker" image, and Beth just avoids being shown as too saintly. Amy is an annoying little brat throughout much of the first half of the book, but by her teens she's almost as good as Jo. "Little Women" is one of those rare classic novels that is still relevant, funny, fresh and heartbreaking today. Louisa May Alcott's best-known novel is a magnificent achievement. 6 of 6 people found the following review helpful: 5.0 out of 5 stars A readable classic that still makes girls cry, September 17, 2005 By  Libby Koponen "Lib" (www.ifyoulovetoread.com) - See all my reviews This was one of my favorite books as a child -- and even now, the chapter "Dark Days" (and other parts, too!) make me cry. I NOW find the character of the mother ("Marmee") and her constant moralizing annoying; but it's still a great book. And little girls still read it and weep over it (I volunteer in schools and meet a lot of kids). I think this is because the characters of the girls and Laurie are so real and the book has so much more heart than many things published now; but who knows? At different times in my life, I've liked each of the sisters (except Meg) the best and think this is quite common though most of us first like Jo. At any rate, I believe in the characters and find the book touching...even when I'm annoyed by Marmee! I just ignore her moralizing as I probably would have tried to do in real life if she had been my mother. Two facts: If you visit Boston, you can go to Concord and see one of the houses where Louisa May Alcott lived -- it's now a museum and furnished as it would have been in her day. And the conversation in my novel BLOW OUT THE MOON about Litle Women, Jo, and Amy is one of the things that happened in real life just as it does in the book.		Ad feedback   Most Recent Customer Reviews 5.0 out of 5 stars Revisiting a Great Book The last time I read "Little Women," I must have been somewhere between the ages of 10 and 12. I'm now almost 70. Read more Published 7 days ago by C. M. Brown 5.0 out of 5 stars VERY HAPPY WITH THIS PURCHASE... My mom has an old copy of Little Women at her home but since my husband is in the military and we move frequently, I wanted my own copy that I felt comfortable packing and... Read more Published 3 months ago by Classics Collector 5.0 out of 5 stars Five Strong Women (Including Marmee) Louisa May Alcott's LITTLE WOMEN is a classic novel about the four March daughters, Meg, Jo, Beth, and Amy, who live in New England at the time of the American Civil War. Read more Published 3 months ago by M. L. Asselin 5.0 out of 5 stars pms Little Women Louisa May Alcott, 2004, 520 pages. $9.95 Sterling Publishing ISBN 978-1-4027-1458-0 Have you... Read more Published 7 months ago 5.0 out of 5 stars Little Women Revisited A pleasure to have available to read again. First read over 60 years ago. Published 8 months ago by Carrol Greenwood 5.0 out of 5 stars Little Women A must for the young reader! Any girl who has a sister will absolutely love reading this classic book. I loved it and my granddaughters love it. Published 9 months ago by C. Yingling 5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent product! I was looking for an unabridged copy of Little Women, with only Louisa May Alcott's name as authoress. I purchased this book for my daughter-in-law for Christmas. Read more Published 10 months ago by Ann M. Parks 5.0 out of 5 stars A Beautiful Gift I just recieved this book in the mail. I had purchased it to give as a gift to my daughter, who is 17, as a gift for Christmas. I was so impressed when I opened the package. Read more Published 11 months ago by Tearose 2.0 out of 5 stars No longer relevant. Little Women is very like The Brady Bunch. In its time, everybody knew it was sugary-sweet and unrealistic. (Including, and especially, Alcott. Read more Published 18 months ago by Maria Beadnell 2.0 out of 5 stars Not the Best Copy of a Beautiful Story "Take care my skirt don't trip you up..." "Don't Meg pull fair?" "Oh, yes she tries to but she don't love Bethy as I do... Read more Published on August 14, 2006 by Michelle Llewellyn Search Customer Reviews Only search this product's reviews

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Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 9-12
  
• Hardcover: 526 pages
• Publisher: Sterling; Unabridged edition (October 1, 2004)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1402714580
• ISBN-13: 978-1402714580
• Product Dimensions: 8.1 x 6.2 x 1.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2.2 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (17 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #20,377 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

  Popular in these categories: (What's this?)

  #3 in	Books > Literature & Fiction > Authors, A-Z > ( A ) > Alcott, Louisa May
  #87 in	Books > Literature & Fiction > Genre Fiction > Family Saga

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

33 of 37 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars No Illustrations!!!! Advertising misleading, December 1, 2005

By	Dennis G. Pratt "jnkpratt" (Westwood, MA USA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

Sure the story is great (as it would be with any version) and this version does have the nice print and book mark, however, the advertising suggested to me, at least, that there would be several illustrations. There were none except silly chests with each little woman's name engraved on them at the start of each chapter.

Do not select this book if you are looking for an *illustrated* version. The Illustrated Junior Library version is well illustrated and at least as high quality a printing.

By the way, read the sales copy above to see how misleading it is. Just for that reason, consumers should eschew this version, and Amazon should have them change it.

24 of 27 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars From "Little Women" to "Good Wives", March 29, 2005

By	E. A Solinas "ea_solinas" (MD USA) - See all my reviews (TOP 10 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)

Louisa May Alcott wrote many books, but "Little Women" retains a special place in the heart of American literature. Her warmly realistic stories, sense of comedy and tragedy, and insights into human nature make the romance, humor and sweet stories of "Little Women" come alive.

The four March girls -- practical Meg, rambunctious Jo, sweet Beth and childish artist Amy -- live in genteel poverty with their mother Marmee; their father is away in the Civil War. Despite having little money, the girls keep their spirits up with writing, gardening, homemade plays, and the occasional romp with wealthier pals. Their pal, "poor little rich boy" Laurie, joins in and becomes their adoptive brother, as the girls deal with Meg's first romance, Beth's life-threatening illness, and fears for their father's safety.

The second half of the book opens with Meg's wedding (if not to the man of her dreams, then to the man she loves). Things rapidly go awry after the wedding, when Laurie admits his true feelings to Jo -- only to be rejected. Distraught, he leaves; Amy also leaves on a trip to Europe with a picky old relative. Despite the deterioration of Beth's health, Jo makes her way into a job as a governess, seeking to put her treasured writing into print -- and finds her destiny as well.

There's a clearly autobiographical tone to "Little Women." Not surprising -- the March girls really are like the girls next door. Alcott wrote them with flaws and strengths, and their misadventures -- like Amy's embarrassing problem with her huge lobster -- have the feeling of authenticity. How much of it is real? A passage late in the book portrays Alcott -- in the form of Jo -- "scribbling" down the book itself, and getting it published because it feels so real and true.

Sure, usually classics are hard to read. But "Little Women" is mainly daunting because of its length; the actual stories flow nicely and smoothly. Don't think it's just a book for teenage girls, either -- adults and boys can appreciate it as well. There's something for everyone: drama, romance, humor, sad and happy endings alike.

Alcott's writing itself is nicely detailed. While certain items are no longer in common use (what IS a charabanc anyway?), Alcott's stories themselves seem very fresh and could easily be seen in a modern home. And as nauseating as "heartwarming" stories sometimes are, these definitely qualify. Sometimes, especially in the beginning, Alcott is a bit too preachy and hamhanded. But her touch becomes defter as she writes on.

Jo is the quintessential tomboy, and the best character in the book: rough, gawky, fun-loving, impulsive, with a love of literature and a mouth that is slightly too big. Meg's love of luxury adds a flaw to the "perfect little homemaker" image, and Beth just avoids being shown as too saintly. Amy is an annoying little brat throughout much of the first half of the book, but by her teens she's almost as good as Jo.

"Little Women" is one of those rare classic novels that is still relevant, funny, fresh and heartbreaking today. Louisa May Alcott's best-known novel is a magnificent achievement.

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A readable classic that still makes girls cry, September 17, 2005

By	Libby Koponen "Lib" (www.ifyoulovetoread.com) - See all my reviews

This was one of my favorite books as a child -- and even now, the chapter "Dark Days" (and other parts, too!) make me cry. I NOW find the character of the mother ("Marmee") and her constant moralizing annoying; but it's still a great book. And little girls still read it and weep over it (I volunteer in schools and meet a lot of kids).

I think this is because the characters of the girls and Laurie are so real and the book has so much more heart than many things published now; but who knows? At different times in my life, I've liked each of the sisters (except Meg) the best and think this is quite common though most of us first like Jo. At any rate, I believe in the characters and find the book touching...even when I'm annoyed by Marmee! I just ignore her moralizing as I probably would have tried to do in real life if she had been my mother.

Two facts: If you visit Boston, you can go to Concord and see one of the houses where Louisa May Alcott lived -- it's now a museum and furnished as it would have been in her day. And the conversation in my novel BLOW OUT THE MOON about Litle Women, Jo, and Amy is one of the things that happened in real life just as it does in the book.