Today I finished reading An Old-Fashioned Girl by Louisa May Alcott.

As mentioned in my post, Authors Card Game – Genealogy, it was the only one of the Alcott books in the card game that I had not read. I also mentioned in The Post Pipeline II that I had started reading the book.

An Old-Fashioned Girl was originally published in 1870. The first six chapters had appeared serially in a magazine in 1868. The story was added to before it was published and the section that was added was my favorite part of the book.

The story begins with the old-fashioned country girl Polly visiting her friend Fanny who was a member of a wealthy family that lives in a city. At the start of the book she is only 14-years old. I really like Alcott’s descriptions in the book of family life. Especially the contrast between the wealthy and those who do not have as much. After a summer together Polly returns to her family.

In the second part of the book, which takes place six years later, Polly returns to the city to teach music and again interacts with the family of her friend Fanny.

A change in fortune for Fanny’s family brings them closer. The change also affects other characters in the book. There are a few romances in the story, but I will let you discover them for yourself. I don’t want to spoil a good read for someone.

The title page shown above causes my mind to wander in different directions.

First, this 1963 printing is by Whitman Publishing Company. The Authors Card Game that I have is also by Whitman and is from about the same time period.

Secondly, I knew that this copy of An Old-Fashioned Girl has been in my family for a long time.

How do I know this?

The girl who signed the title page is a family friend and this book was most likely handed down to my older sister in the mid 70’s before we moved from Iowa to Kansas.

As I read the book I would often think of the friend and her family. Especially as the illustrations of the Old-Fashioned Girl reminded me of her.

Which Louisa May Alcott book is your favorite?

Steven