Editorial Content for The Revelation of Louisa May

Louisa May Alcott, the future author of LITTLE WOMEN and other books and stories, lives with her parents and two sisters in the small town of Concord. Her father, Bronson Alcott, is a writer, speaker and believer in self-reliance, but he barely makes enough money to keep his family alive.

So, when Louisa’s mother gets a job offer in Waterford, she takes it, leaving Louisa in charge of the household. Louisa dreams of being a novelist, but she barely has time to write now that her mother is gone.

Everything changes when, during Louisa’s mother’s absence, a runaway slave shows up seeking a place to hide until his family can join him and they can move on to safety. The man who is chasing the slave, hoping to cash in on the bounty, is mysteriously murdered and Bronson Alcott is blamed. Then, a childhood friend who Louisa hasn’t seen for years turns up unannounced.

I enjoyed reading THE REVELATION OF LOUISA MAY since I learned more about the title character, who is the author of one of my all-time favorite books. 

This is a work of fiction, but the story is based on the real life of Louisa May Alcott. Author Michaela MacColl includes many facts about the Alcotts in her narrative, including their participation in the Underground Railroad and their friendships with Henry David Thoreau and Ralph Waldo Emerson.

I enjoyed reading THE REVELATION OF LOUISA MAY since I learned more about the title character, who is the author of one of my all-time favorite books. For example, I was surprised to learn that her real love was writing mystery and adventure stories!