The Lost Summer of Louisa May Alcott at Newtonville Books

The Lost Summer of Louisa May Alcott
Kelly O'Connor McNees
7pm tonight, Newtonville Books (296 Walnut St, Newtonville)
Free, as readings are wont to be

In The Lost Summer of Louisa May Alcott, Kelly O'Connor McNees has crafted a gentle tale of a strong-willed woman who prioritized her own success over social pressures to marry and have a family. By setting up Alcott in the fictional situation of having a long-lost love, McNees ironically works in a similar framework to Alcott herself, who famously based Little Women on her own family: frail Lizzie, comely May, stalwart Anna, and her own headstrong self. McNees paints Alcott as stubborn but sensible, sewing pillowcases to make her way until her stories start to sell, and highly family-oriented but still unwilling to give up on her own dream. We find the notion of rewriting a female author's history in a way that centers on her relationship with a man somewhat problematic, but appreciate that Alcott's insistent (if possibly misguided) independence prevails throughout. It's worth a trip to Newton to learn more about McNees' research and motivation for rewriting Alcott's history.