Little Women
by Louisa May Alcott
Little Women concerns the lives and loves of four sisters growing up during the American Civil War. It was based on Alcott's own experiences as a child in Germantown, Pennsylvania with her three sisters, Anna, May, and Elizabeth.
Source: Alcott L. M. (1868). Little Women.Boston, MA: Roberts Brothers.
- Part 1, Chapter 1: Playing Pilgrims
- With their father away at war, Meg, Jo, Beth, and Amy make plans for Christmas. A letter from their father arrives.
- Part 1, Chapter 2: A Merry Christmas
- The girls awake Christmas morning to find gifts from their mother, and decide to help out a less fortunate family.
- Part 1, Chapter 3: The Laurence Boy
- Jo and Meg decision to attend a New Year's Eve party causes quite a commotion.
- Part 1, Chapter 4: Burdens
- A good deal of Meg, Jo, Beth, and Amy's personalities are divulged to the reader.
- Part 1, Chapter 5: Being Neighborly
- Jo pays a visit to Laurie.
- Part 1, Chapter 6: Beth Finds the Palace Beautiful
- The Meg, Jo, Amy, and a reluctant Beth pay a visit to Mr. Laurence's home.
- Part 1, Chapter 7: Amy's Valley of Humiliation
- Amy's difficulties at school lead Ms. March to take action.
- Part 1, Chapter 8: Jo meets Apollyon
- Jo's refusal to invite Amy has unintended consequences. A near tragedy brings the sisters back together.
- Part 1, Chapter 9: Meg Goes to Vanity Fair
- Meg's stay with the Moffats introduces her to the life of a young lady.
- Part 1, Chapter 10: The P.C. and P.O.
- The secretive Pickwick Club is disclosed to the reader.
- Part 1, Chapter 11: Experiments
- The girls decide to experiment with laziness.
- Part 1, Chapter 12: Camp Laurence
- Laurence invites the girls to go camping.
- Part 1, Chapter 13: Castles in the Air
- The children discuss their dreams. Laurie and Meg argue about the future.
- Part 1, Chapter 14: Secrets
- Jo runs into Laurie and the two trade secrets.
- Part 1, Chapter 15: A Telegram
- Mrs. March departs after receiving word of Mr. March's health. Jo makes a sacrifice to provide for the family.
- Part 1, Chapter 16: Letters
- The girls each write a letter to their mother.
- Part 1, Chapter 17: Little Faithful
- Beth's visit to the Hummel family has unintended consequences.
- Part 1, Chapter 18: Dark Days
- Mrs. March is sent for as Beth's condition worsens.
- Part 1, Chapter 19: Amy's Will
- Amy's interaction with Esther leads her to write her will.
- Part 1, Chapter 20: Confidential
- Mrs. March returns and visits Amy. Mr. Brooke's intentions towards Meg are disclosed.
- Part 1, Chapter 21: Laurie Makes Mischief, and Jo Makes Peace
- Laurie's prank on Meg angers the girls. Jo talks to Mr. Laurence in order to restore peace.
- Part 1, Chapter 22: Pleasant Meadows
- Mr. March arrives just in time for Christmas Day.
- Part 1, Chapter 23: Aunt March Settles the Question
- Mr. Brooke pays a visit to the Marches to make a request of Meg.
- Part 2, Chapter 24: Gossip
- Three years have passed and Mr. March has come home. Meg is preparing for her marriage, while Jo pursues a writing career.
- Part 2, Chapter 25: The First Wedding
- At a small ceremony, Meg marries Mr. Brooke.
- Part 2, Chapter 26: Artistic Attempts
- Amy's luncheon with her art class goes badly.
- Part 2, Chapter 27: Literary Lessons
- Jo starts to sell her stories to provide for the family.
- Part 2, Chapter 28: Domestic Experiences
- Meg discovers that married life is not as easy as she thought.
- Part 2, Chapter 29: Calls
- Amy and Jo exhibit their personality differences while visiting several families.
- Part 2, Chapter 30: Consequences
- Mrs. Chester's fair allows the girls to show off their individual talents. Aunt Carrol's decision leaves Jo dissapointed.
- Part 2, Chapter 31: Our Foreign Correspondent
- While in Europe Amy runs into Fred Vaughn, an old acquaintance from Camp Laurence. Amy continues to write letters to her mother and sisters.
- Part 2, Chapter 32: Tender Troubles
- Jo, intending to help her sister's relationship with Laurie as well as her own writing, decides to move to New York.
- Part 2, Chapter 33: Jo's Journal
- Jo, now in New York, writes her family to tell them of her experiences.
- Part 2, Chapter 34: Friend
- Joe continues to write, but decides not to write sensational stories anymore. As summer arrives, Jo returns home to her sisters and mother.
- Part 2, Chapter 35: Heartache
- Jo's return home leaves Laurie with a broken heart.
- Part 2, Chapter 36: Beth's Secret
- Beth divulges a secret to Jo concerning her health.
- Part 2, Chapter 37: New Impressions
- On Christmas Day, an older Laurie and Amy rediscover each other.
- Part 2, Chapter 38: On the Shelf
- Meg and John's marriage experiences another crisis. Marmee's advice yields positive results for Meg and John.
- Part 2, Chapter 39: Lazy Laurence
- Amy, realizing that Laurie is heart broken, gently reprimands Laurie for his behavior.
- Part 2, Chapter 40: The Valley of the Shadow
- Beth's room is prepared to make her final days as comfortable as possible. Jo's poem has a profound effect on Beth.
- Part 2, Chapter 41: Learning to Forget
- Amy, having learned of Beth's passing, is joined by Laurie in Europe.
- Part 2, Chapter 42: All Alone
- Jo is deeply affected by Beth's passing, and begins to reminisce about her time in New York with Professor Bhaer.
- Part 2, Chapter 43: Surprises
- Laurie and Amy return home with some surprising news. Professor Bhear, in town on business, pays a visit to Jo.
- Part 2, Chapter 44: My Lord and Lady
- Laurie and Amy discuss their plans for the future.
- Part 2, Chapter 45: Daisy and Demi
- The reader is introduced to Meg and John's twins.
- Part 2, Chapter 46: Under the Umbrella
- Jo and Professor Bhear divulge their true feelings to one another.
- Part 2, Chapter 47: Harvest Time
- After the sudden death of Aunt March, Joe and the Professor inherit Plumfield. The novel closes as Mrs. March celebrates her sixtieth birthday surrounded by her daughters and extended family.