Happy Friday, dear readers! And hello to all you new subscribers. If you need a refresher on our whole deal, feel free to give a click here.
Before we begin, let’s take a look at our Death Poll Standings.
NOT LOOKING GREAT.
Anyway, I thought now would be a good opportunity to get us all re-acquainted with the basics of Little Women. We’ll begin with an-oh-so-loving rip from the book’s Wikipedia page.
“Little Women is a coming-of-age novel written by American novelist Louisa May Alcott, originally published in two volumes, in 1868 and 1869. The story follows the lives of the four March sisters—Meg, Jo, Beth, and Amy—and details their passage from childhood to womanhood. Loosely based on the lives of the author and her three sisters, it is classified as an autobiographical or semi-autobiographical novel.”
By all accounts the book was a runaway success, due in no small part to its serialized nature. The first half occurs over the course of one year, we have a three-year time skip, and then Alcott RIPS through the next five to ten years. Time flies when you’re littleing women!
I’m hesitant to talk TOO much about the overall plot, for obvious reasons. Buuuut, I realize we need a base with which to compare to. Thus, I present to you a slim timeline of plot points I think it’ll be important for you to remember:
The book starts with sisters Meg, Jo, Beth, and Amy. Their mother is Mrs. March, aka “Marmee.” Their father is off at the Civil War (America’s Version). They have an annoying Aunt March who has more money than them.
The Marches have an old, rich neighbor who is nice to them. His name is Mr. Laurence. He has a grandson who they call Laurie. Laurie is an orphan.
The girls spend most of their time having huge personal flaws. (I cannot emphasize enough how much of Little Women is a self-help book about how girls can be normal if they try.)
The girls try to make money while Father is away, in spite of their personalities.
Mr. March gets sick from war. Marmee goes to see him in Washington.
Beth gets scarlet fever while Marmee is away. She gets better but is left with Old-Timey Malaise.
Laurie hangs out with the girls.
Father comes home from war. Marmee, who was not at war, also comes home.
BREAK
Meg gets married to Laurie’s tutor. They’re bad at being married.
Beth is still sickish. Jo takes care of Beth.
Laurie falls in love with Jo.
Jo does not love Laurie. Like many a college sophomore before her, she takes a trip to New York City about it.
Jo writes smut in New York City. She meets an Older Professor Man who tells her not to write smut anymore. She stops writing smut.
Old Professor Man falls in love with Jo.
Laurie Proposes to Jo.
Jo declines Laurie’s proposal. Like many a college senior before him, he takes a trip to Europe about it.
Beth gets sick again. Jo is her caregiver.
Amy goes to Europe with Aunt March! You know! Amy!
Laurie falls in love with Amy.
Beth dies. Amy and Laurie get married about it.
Old Professor Man hangs around the house.
Jo falls in love with Old Professor Man.
Old Professor Man proposes. Jo says yes.
Aunt March dies, and leaves her estate to Jo.
Jo gets married and starts a school for boys.
Babies.
And that’s the book, folks! Women start off little and then, through trials and tribulations, become Big Women.
You’ll find that most adaptations focus on the second half. Understandable, as that’s where the juice is. Tbh that’s why the second half is what scares me the most. If we kill off basically any of the three main girls, that half immediately becomes DEEPLY challenging. How’s Laurie gonna rebound if Amy fell in a big big hole and died? RIDDLE ME THAT, AMERICA??
In our final prologue page on Monday I’ll go into greater detail about what to expect from “Chapter One: Playing Pilgrims.” SPOILER: A lot more words devoted to sewing than you would want!
LAUNCHING CHRISTMAS EVE 2025