The tour of the house began with a short film with Louisa where she described her home, family, and her writing. She wrote several novels, but is best known for her first, Little Women, based on her family. The book has been translated in hundreds of languages and has never been out of print.
We got to tour the house though photographs inside were verboten. Most of the items (80%) belonged to the Alcotts. We saw the half-moon, shelf desk, Amos Alcott, Louisa's father, built so she would have a place to do her writing. Anna's (Meg in LW) grey silk wedding dress, also described in the book, was on display. Anna's real-life wedding was described in the book.
One amusing fact about Louisa was found in the parlor. On the settee was a small, rectangular pillow. It was called Louisa's mood pillow. Apparently, Louisa was temperamental and moody. The pillow was a signal to family members whether they could safely approach Louisa. If the pillow was vertical on the settee all was well. If the pillow was horizontal, stay away.
After the tour, we walked around Concord Center visiting the little shops. We had lunch at Helen's in Concord Center. The sweet potato fries are pure heaven. After lunch, since we were in the neighborhood, our next stop was...
Wish I could've been there with you. It sounds delightful...and everyone should have a mood pillow...
ReplyDeleteI thought the mood pillow was a great idea :-D
DeleteOh my gosh, I would have loved that. I may have to put that on my bucket list.
ReplyDeleteDid her sister really die as represented in the book?
ReplyDeleteYes. Lizzie Alcott, Beth in Little Women, died shortly after the family moved into Orchard House. She had contracted scarlet fever. Recovered, but died two years later from an illness as it seemed she never fully recovered her health. Louisa wrote LW ten years later. Many of the scenes in the book are taken from the real lives of the Alcott family, Every detail of Anna's wedding is preserved in the pages as the older sister, Meg, right down to the description of the flowers she carried and her simple, grey silk wedding dress.
DeleteLouisa wrote "Little Women" from May through June of 1868
DeleteWow, she wrote the book in just one month!? Color me impressed! I would be disappointed not to be able to tour the house. (I don't have a mood pillow, I just declare stright out I'M CRANKY! GO AWAY! Seems to work pretty well....... ;)
ReplyDelete