little einsteins leo deviantart (2024)

Little Evil - Der True-Crime Podcast mit Schuss

Alina und Kim befassen sich jede zweite Woche mit zwei echten Kriminalfällen zu einem vorher festgelegten Thema und diskutieren die Fälle.
Seid dabei, wenn es wieder um Mord und Totschlag geht.

Set in nineteenth century New England, Little Women follows the lives of the four March sisters-Jo, Beth, Amy and Meg. The novel is a classic rites of passage story, that has often split literature critics but has been adored by many over the years. Intended as a book for young girls, the book is too sentimental for some but plenty of adults and young men have Little Women firmly featured in their best books of all time. The pace of the novel can be slow at times and the language almost too perfect but the overall sympathetic tone of Alcott wins over the reader.

The book is semi-autobiographical, with Jo Marsh mirroring the life of an ambitious Alcott. Just like Alcott, Jo is a strong, independent woman who is fighting through her domestic duties to do what she truly loves. Writing is Jo’s passion and in a world where women are expected to put personal growth aside in order to withhold traditional family values, she is met with many challenges.

“I am not afraid of storms, for I am learning how to sail my ship.”

The book speaks to every woman that has had to fight against convention. With their father away at war, the four sisters pull together to support each other but still have time to search for their own identity. These ‘little women’ are not children but young adults finding their way via love, religion and confidence. Whilst it may seem sad that the sisters do have to conform to some extent, if you read between the lines there is so much inspiration for young female readers.

Originally published in monthly installments between 1855 and 1857, the novel focuses on the various forms of imprisonment, both physical and psychological, while also concentrating on dysfunctional family ties. Accordingly, Dickens avidly criticizes the social deficiencies of the time including injustice, social hypocrisy, the austerity of the Marshalsea debtors’ prison, and bureaucratic inefficiency.

The novel kicks off with the introduction of William Dorrit, the oldest prisoner in the Marshalsea prison, who is also referred to as The Father of the Marshalsea. His imprisonment is owed to poor business decisions, which have secured him a place in the debtors’ prison in London. Here he shares accommodation with his wife and children Fanny and Tip, and later the Dorrits welcome their second daughter Amy, who is born inside the prison and is incidentally the Dorrit of the title. The eponymous Little Dorrit grows to become a meek and benevolent young woman who despite her poor financial state, unselfishly takes care of her whole family without the slightest complaint. At the same time the novel welcomes Arthur Clennam, a somewhat idle man in his forties, who has just returned to London following his father’s death after years abroad on family business. Returning to see his mother, a cold and bitter woman, Arthur intends to discuss some details concerning their family business. Troubled by his family’s past, Arthur is determined to uncover the truth behind their fortune. Later, he becomes acquainted with Amy Dorrit, and a special friendship develops between the two, as Arthur sees it as his duty to take the young woman under his protection and unravel the mysterious past surrounding both their families. Consequently, the novel observes the mysterious intertwinement between the two families, as their carefully kept secrets slowly come to light.

Nevertheless, Little Dorrit offers a colorful set of characters, a gripping central plot, and several subplots which essentially bring about the notion of redemption. Moreover, it serves as a vivid example to support the idea that anyone is able to reverse their fortune and bring down the invisible walls that seem to confine one to their self-condemned imprisonment. A classic tale depicting Victorian England with its bleak shortcomings and enduring hope, Little Dorrit enthralls with its convoluted relationships, twists and a plethora of characters and subplots, which essentially makes the lengthy novel a pleasure to devour.

If you've read and loved Little Women, you'd probably enjoy finding out more about the doings of the sisters in the third book in the series, Little Men.

Published in 1871, the book's full title was Little Men or Life at Plumfield with Jo's Boys. It followed the success of Little Women in 1868 and Good Wives in 1869, which portrayed the fortunes of the March family. Filled with remarkable, endearing and memorable characters, the books remain as fresh and enjoyable as they were when they first came out more than a century ago.

Little Men is, like Alcott's other books in the series, based on some of the events in her own life. The “March Family Saga” as the books came to be known was semi-autobiographical in nature. The character of Jo March was based on Alcott herself and many of the episodes in the books are based on real happenings at the family home she shared with her parents and sisters in Concord, Massachusetts. Little Men continues the story of Jo March after she marries the love of her life, Professor Bhaer. She inherits the vast country estate of Plumfield from her crotchety old Aunt March and immediately decides to set up a school for boys. However, this is no conventional school. She takes in orphans, delinquents, disabled and abused children. She and her husband, along with other people, work their magic on the little minds and hearts, leading to many a happy ending.

Jo's sisters Meg and Amy feature in this book too. The other sister Beth, who died earlier, is now only a beloved memory. Meg's and Amy's husbands, their families and friends all form part of this colorful tapestry. Though some of the writing may seem dated, and there are plenty of moral asides from the author and though children today prefer fantasy above reality, the book is indeed a warm and endearing family story that appeals to all ages.

The overwhelming influence of human relationships and the struggle to survive in a harsh and unforgiving world are all brilliantly portrayed in this book. Jo March's journey from an impulsive and hot-headed tomboy into a loving and warm-hearted wife in whose hands the fate of her pupils lies is vividly portrayed. Inspired also by the death of her beloved brother-in-law, Little Men is a tribute to a person who was her friend, philosopher and guide.

A great addition to your collection of the March Family Saga books!