Meg, Jo, Beth, Amy: The Story of Little Women and Why It Still Matters

Praise for Meg, Jo, Beth, Amy: The Story of Little Women and Why It Still Matters

Lively and informative…Meg, Jo, Beth, Amy does what—ideally—books about books can do: I’ve taken Little Women down from my shelf and put it on top of the books I plan to read.


— Francine Prose - New York Times Book Review

Highly entertaining…[Rioux] paints a compelling portrait of Alcott, giving us fascinating insights into the creation of Little Women.


— Charlotte Gordon - Washington Post

An adroit consideration of Alcott and her milieu.… Thoughtful.
— Meghan Cox Gurdon - Wall Street Journal

A love letter written not by a smitten youngster naïve to her beloved's drawbacks but by a mature adult who can recognize complexity and nuance.
— Ilana Masad - NPR

This delightful look at a great American classic…tells the book’s history, explores its abiding appeal, and considers its influence on generations of readers and writers since. It goes without saying that lovers of that book will adore this book. But even those who haven’t read Little Women will enjoy learning about the literary history behind it.


— Christian Science Monitor

Highly companionable and illuminating.
— Mark Rozzo - Vanity Fair

Engrossing.
— Los Angeles Times

With impeccable research and genuine affection, [Rioux] charts the history of the beloved…novel.
— Connie Ogle - Newsday

Rioux considers the cultural impact and enduring popularity of Louisa May Alcott’s American Civil War-set novel Little Women, a runaway success since it was first published 150 years ago.


— Daily Mail (UK)

Straddling the line between entertainment and nuanced complexity, this fascinating look at Alcott’s novel is not to be missed.
— A Mighty Girl