50 Fun Facts About Little Women

Who wrote Little Women?

She wrote it 'in record time for money' at Orchard House in Concord and admitted she did not enjoy it.

In which two years were the novel's two volumes originally published?

They were combined into a single novel in 1880.

What is the second volume called in the United Kingdom?

The title came from the publisher, not Alcott; she delivered the manuscript on New Year's Day 1869.

Which of the four March sisters is the tomboy who writes?

Meg is beautiful and traditional, Beth the shy pianist and peacemaker, Amy the artist who longs for elegance.

What do the girls call their mother?

On Christmas morning she sends them out to give their breakfast to the poor Hummel family.

Where is Mr. March at the start of the novel?

He had lost all his money, leaving the family in genteel poverty.

What is Laurie's full name?

He is the orphaned grandson of the wealthy Mr. Laurence next door.

Whom does Meg marry?

He is Laurie's tutor; they wed three years after the first volume ends and have twins.

What are the names of Meg and John's twins?

Margaret 'Daisy' and John Laurence 'Demi' Brooke.

What illness does Beth catch from the Hummel family?

Three Hummel children die; Beth recovers but never regains her health.

Which sister goes to live with Aunt March during Beth's illness?

Jo, who had already had scarlet fever, nurses Beth instead.

Which sister is chosen over Jo to tour Europe with their aunt?

That trip is where she and Laurie fall in love.

What does Jo do when Laurie proposes?

She loves him like a brother; he flees to Europe with his grandfather.

What does Jo write anonymously in New York for extra money?

Professor Bhaer's disapproval persuades her to give up the genre.

What subject does a fellow boarder teach Jo in New York?

He is a fellow boarder, and in love with her before she realises it.

What does Aunt March leave Jo when she dies?

Jo and Friedrich turn it into a school for boys — the setting of Little Men.

What is the name of Laurie and Amy's daughter?

She is named for her late aunt Beth.

Which John Bunyan work do the March girls constantly reference and 'play'?

Several chapter titles echo its characters and places.

What were the titles of Alcott's two sequels?

They came out in 1871 and 1886.

Which publisher urged Alcott to write 'a girl's book'?

Her father Bronson Alcott also pushed her to do it.

What is the name of the Alcott home in Concord where the book was written and set?

She modelled the fictional house on her real one.

Which Alcott sister inspired Amy and illustrated the first edition?

Abigail May Alcott, called May, was a real painter who studied in Europe.

Which real person was Meg based on?

Anna's husband John Bridge Pratt was the model for John Brooke.

Which character was said to have all the warmth and tenderness Alcott's father lacked?

Bronson Alcott was often unable to find steady work but very present at home.

Where did the novel rank in the BBC's 2003 Big Read poll of Britain's best-loved novels?

That made it the fourth-highest American novel on the list.

Who played Jo in George Cukor's 1933 film?

It broke box-office records at Radio City Music Hall.

Which future star played Amy in the 1949 colour version?

Allyson was Jo, O'Brien Beth and Leigh Meg; the film won the Oscar for art direction.

Who played Jo in the 1994 film?

Columbia only agreed to the film if Ryder played Jo; she was Oscar-nominated.

Which two actresses shared the role of Amy in the 1994 film?

Dunst played the young Amy, Mathis the grown-up.

Who played Laurie in the 1994 film?

Susan Sarandon played Marmee; Gillian Armstrong directed.

Who wrote and directed the 2019 adaptation?

Sony had been developing it since 2013; Gerwig was hired to write in 2016.

Who plays Jo in the 2019 film?

Watson is Meg, Pugh Amy and Scanlen Beth.

Which Oscar did the 2019 film win?

It had six nominations, including Best Picture, Ronan and Pugh.

Who plays Aunt March in the 2019 film?

Laura Dern is Marmee.

Roughly how much did the 2019 film gross worldwide?

The 1994 film had grossed $95 million.

How many BBC serial adaptations of Little Women have there been?

1950 (live), 1958, 1970 and the Heidi Thomas miniseries of 2017.

In which year did the Broadway musical Little Women, with music by Jason Howland, open?

Sutton Foster starred as Jo; it closed after 137 performances.

What is the name of the March family's only servant?

Lotty Hummel later works at Jo's Plumfield school.

What gift does Mr. Laurence give Beth?

It had belonged to his late granddaughter.

How much time passes between the end of volume one and Meg's wedding at the start of volume two?

John had gone to war and been wounded in the interval.

Who plays Laurie in the 2019 film?

The film earned six Academy Award nominations including Best Picture, with Florence Pugh as Amy and Laura Dern as Marmee.

What illness strikes Mr. March in Washington, drawing Marmee away from home?

Mr. Laurence sends John Brooke along to help, and it is in Washington that John confesses his love for Meg to her parents.

What nickname does Jo alone use for her friend Laurie?

He in turn calls her 'my dear fellow', and her father has referred to her as his 'son Jo'.

Who played Marmee in the 1994 film?

That version earned three Oscar nominations, including Best Actress for Winona Ryder.

Amy's teacher Mr. Davis punishes her for bringing what to school?

He strikes her palm and makes her stand before the class, after which Marmee withdraws her from the school.

Which future star played Beth in the 1994 film?

She was fresh from the TV series My So-Called Life when the film was released.

Who directed the 1994 film adaptation?

The Australian director had made her name with My Brilliant Career, another story of a headstrong young woman writer.

Which wealthy Harvard friend of Laurie's courts Amy in Europe, only to be refused?

Rivalry with the far richer suitor is what finally spurs the dissipated Laurie to pull himself together.

How large was the first printing of the novel in 1868?

It sold out so fast that Roberts Brothers publicly admitted they could not keep up with orders.

Laurie's late father was disowned by his family for eloping with whom?

Both parents died young, so Laurie was raised by his overprotective grandfather in the mansion opposite the Marches.