Why We Still Love Little Women, 150 Years Later (feat. Lindsay Ellis and Princess Weekes) | It's Lit

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Before women were asking “Am I a Carrie or a Samantha?”, they were asking “Am I a Jo or an Amy?” Before there was Edward vs Jacob, there was Laurie vs Professor Bhaer. And over the more than 150 years since Little Women was originally published, there have been (deep breath) dozens of adaptations, feature films, television adaptations, plays, ballets, operas and at least two animes based on it.

So despite being written off as proto-chick lit or kiddie lit or as Alcott herself said, "moral pap for the young,” Little Women has worked its way into the consciousness of readers for the last 150 years, and has stayed there.

But what is it about the tale of the March sisters that keeps us coming back?
Hosted by Lindsay Ellis and Princess Weekes, It’s Lit! is a show about our favorite books, genres and why we love to read. It’s Lit has been made possible in part by the National Endowment for the Humanities: Exploring the human endeavor.

Hosted by: Lindsay Ellis, Princess Weekes
Written by: Princess Weekes
Director: David Schulte
Executive Producer: Amanda Fox
Producer: Stephanie Noone
Editor: Sara Roma
Writing Consultants: Maia Krause
Executive Producer (PBS): Adam Dylewski
Editorial Producer (PBS): Niki Walker

Produced by Spotzen for PBS Digital Studios.

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[JoshuaFagan]

So Alcott wrote a story about the triumphs and tragedies of four sisters, and all her fans cared about was shipping. Sounds like fandom hasn't really changed in a century and a half.

[Yersifanel]

"Amy burning Jo's manuscript, which has scarred generations of young female writers forever."
Why yes, this is very accurate.

[bmillz]

I think something great about this book/film is that there’s no “villain” or even antagonist so to speak. It’s just sentimental everyday life. And it works so well.

[Jingles]

I love that this came out just after Patrick H Willems' video in which he proclaims he wants everyone to make Little Women video essays

[onatgz]

"these little women... how little are they?" -joey tribbiani.

[vilwarin]

Baehr was based on Alcott real lover, a German older guy. He was the love of her life, and died before they could marry. Baehr also reflects Alcotts opinions in terms of education, phylosophy, etics and religion. He is not just Team Edward

[AveryTalksAboutStuff]

Wait, Little Women anime has existed this whole time and I never knew about it?? I appreciate this info. 😂

[melenatorr]

Thank you very much for this presentation, very lovely and sharp. Just an FYI, that youngest sister May became a successful painter in Europe. She illustrated the first edition of "Little Women", and though her work was negatively reviewed, it improved enough for it to be displayed twice at the Paris Salon. She was also an author, publishing a book about living cheaply as an American woman in Europe. She helped to support her art and her family by teaching art, and, with Louisa, was a productive and creative person. In Europe, she managed to snag a husband several years younger than she was, but unfortunately died from complications in child birth. Bronson Alcott has a great deal to answer for in terms of his family, but discouraging his children, as you pointed out, was not one of his faults.

I like to speak up for May because I feel she's often left in Louisa's shadow.

[thatjillgirl]

I didn't want Jo to marry Laurie (I believe her just fine when she says she loves him like a brother but not romantically). But I do wish she could have been allowed to just stay single. She and book Behr had zero romantic chemistry. (Though 2019 movie Behr was quite nice.)

[ethanuyeda]

Speaking of Isabel Allende, it would be interesting to see a breakdown of magical realism and its history.

[charischannah]

I read "Little Women" over and over as a kid and a teen. I find it deeply amusing that Alcott would, in some of her other books in that same genre, criticize "slang" and sensational novels (try "An Old-Fashioned Girl" and "Eight Cousins" for some hilarious moralizing) when she had written novels like "A Long Fatal Love Chase." I don't necessarily love her having Jo marry and settle down, but I love that she had Jo do it in her own way--marrying the older guy who was more her match intellectually and starting a crazy experimental school together.

[Rahru]

"Alcott, much like Rian Johnson, didn't believe in giving in to fan service."
Preeeaaaach!

[ericgeddes]

I'm a 30 year old man. I discovered Little Women through the new movie in January, and finished the book less then a month ago. I adore this story.

[tmack]

Alcott sure "George Lucas-ed" her publisher by keeping the copyright.

[mhfromnh]

as a New Englander I have an obligation:
it's Concord like conquered.
thanks for coming to my TED Talk.

[mackenzieray]

"her very own creepy old guy!" I see you sneaking that Beetlejuice reference in!

[JoaoPessoa]

To this day the only time I truly laughed at Friends was when Rachel spoiled Little Women for Joey

[franug]

As a Chilean, it's kind of funny you consider Isabel Allende as a marginalized voice. She's one of the biggest writers here, though many critizise her because of how "light" her work is perceived (I do like her earlier work). But it's not like she has a marginalized background: she is the daughter of a diplomat and was able to escape Pinochet's regime and go into exile, whereas so many poorer people got tortured and/or murdered. And for us, there isn't a "Latino" race (it's different here), but if I had to put there somewhere, she would be white with European roots. Goes to show how subjective - dare I say, American - the notion is. There are plenty of Latinamerican women writers with way less reach than her

[shebjess]

Well, I'm never not gonna think of Laurie as a romantic McGuffin now...

[mhawang]

Lindsay and Princess together again! to talk about Little Women! Today is a great day.