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In 1870, renowned author Louisa May Alcott and her budding artist sister, Abby May Alcott, embarked on a fourteen-month grand tour of Europe. With Louisa’s reputation as a writer firmly established and May on the cusp of a respected art career, this journey was a rich tapestry of their artistic explorations. ‘Little Women Abroad’ presents a substantial collection of May’s sketches intertwined with all known letters penned by the Alcott sisters during this voyage.
This volume boasts more than thirty of May’s drawings, nearly all of them seeing the light of day for the first time. Additionally, out of the seventy-one letters included, over three-quarters make their complete debut in this collection. The supporting materials provided by Daniel Shealy enrich the content, providing depth and context to the people, places, and events brought to life in the letters and illustrations.
At the time of the Alcott sisters’ European sojourn, Louisa’s ‘Little Women’ had already achieved international acclaim, and her latest work, ‘An Old-Fashioned Girl’, was quickly gaining popularity. Louisa, now a celebrated literary figure, would pen ‘Little Men’ while in Europe. Her letters from this period would later form the backbone of her travel book ‘Shawl Straps’.
Louisa’s letters provide a writer’s keen perspective, while May’s drawings display her gift for capturing color, detail, and composition. Although May received prior art training in Boston, it was under the tutelage of European masters that she truly flourished as an artist. When words fell short, she let her drawing pen express her impressions.
‘Little Women Abroad’ weaves together the unique perspectives of two influential American artists – one literary, the other visual – spinning an engaging narrative at the intersection of European and American history and culture.