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Little Women; or, Meg, Jo, Beth, and Amy

Louisa May Alcott

The story follows four sisters—Meg, Jo, Beth, and Amy March—as they navigate the passage from childhood to womanhood in Civil War-era Massachusetts.

"Little Women; Or, Meg, Jo, Beth, and Amy" by Louisa May Alcott is a coming-of-age novel. The story follows four sisters—Meg, Jo, Beth, and Amy March—as they navigate the passage from childhood to womanhood in Civil War-era Massachusetts.

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Read a passage

"Christmas won't be Christmas without any presents," grumbled Jo, lying on the rug.

"It's so dreadful to be poor!" sighed Meg, looking down at her old dress.

"I don't think it's fair for some girls to have plenty of pretty things, and other girls nothing at all," added little Amy, with an injured sniff.

"We've got father and mother and each other," said Beth contentedly, from her corner.

The four young faces on which the firelight shone brightened at the cheerful words, but darkened again as Jo said sadly,—

"We haven't got father, and shall not have him for a long time." She didn't say "perhaps never," but each silently added it, thinking of father far away, where the fighting was.

Nobody spoke for a minute; then Meg said in an altered tone,—

"You know the reason mother proposed not having any presents this Christmas was because it is going to be a hard winter for every one; and she thinks we ought not to spend money for pleasure, when our men are suffering so in the army. We can't do much, but we can make our little sacrifices, and ought to do it gladly. But I am afraid I don't;" and Meg shook her head, as she thought regretfully of all the pretty things she wanted.

"But I don't think the little we should spend would do any good. We've each got a dollar, and the army wouldn't be much helped by our giving that. I agree not to expect anything from mother or you, but I do want to buy Undine and Sintram for myself; I've wanted it so long," said Jo, who was a bookworm.

Contents

  1. 01Playing Pilgrims
  2. 02Beth put a pair of slippers down to warm
  3. 03I used to be so frightened when it was my turn to sit in the big chair
  4. 04Do it this way, clasp your hands so
  5. 05It was a cheerful, hopeful letter
  6. 06How you used to play Pilgrim's Progress
  7. 07No one but Beth could get much music out of the old piano
  8. 08At nine they stopped work and sung as usual
  9. 09Merry Christmas
  10. 10A Merry Christmas
  11. 11The procession set out
  12. 12Out came Meg with gray horse-hair hanging about her face
  13. 13A little figure in cloudy white
  14. 14The lovers kneeling to receive Don Pedro's blessing
  15. 15We talked over the fence
  16. 16Tail-piece
  17. 17Eating apples and crying over the "Heir of Redclyffe"
  18. 18The Laurence Boy
  19. 19Jo undertook to pinch the papered locks
  20. 20Mrs. Gardiner greeted them
  21. 21Face to face with the Laurence boy
  22. 22They sat down on the stairs
  23. 23Tell about the party
  24. 24The kitten stuck like a burr just out of reach
  25. 25Burdens
  26. 26Curling herself up in the big chair
  27. 27Reading that everlasting Belsham
  28. 28He took her by the ear! by the ear!
  29. 29Mr. Laurence hooked up a big fish
  30. 30Tail-piece
  31. 31Being Neighborly
  32. 32Being neighborly
  33. 33Laurie opened the window
  34. 34Poll tweaked off his wig
  35. 35Putting his finger under her chin
  36. 36Please give these to your mother
  37. 37Tail-piece
  38. 38Beth finds the Palace Beautiful
  39. 39O sir, they do care very much
  40. 40Mr. Laurence often opened his study door
  41. 41She put both arms around his neck and kissed him
  42. 42Amy's Valley of Humiliation
  43. 43The Cyclops
  44. 44Amy bore without flinching several tingling blows
  45. 45You do know her
  46. 46Girls, where are you going?
  47. 47Jo meets Apollyon
  48. 48I burnt it up
  49. 49Held Amy up by his arms and hockey
  50. 50Packing the go abroady trunk
  51. 51Meg goes to Vanity Fair
  52. 52Meg's partner appeared
  53. 53Asked to be introduced
  54. 54I wouldn't, Meg
  55. 55Holding a hand of each, Mrs. March said, &c.
  56. 56The P. C. and P. O.
  57. 57Mr. Pickwick
  58. 58Jo threw open the door of the closet
  59. 59Jo spent the morning on the river
  60. 60Experiments

About this edition

Author
Louisa May Alcott
Era
Modern (c. 1800–1945)
Reading level
Intermediate: some philosophy helps
Formats
EPUB, PDF
Length
476 pages
This edition
Modern Philosophers