New Books Available at the 2005 Summer Conversational Series

March: A Novel, by Geraldine Brooks
Viking Press; hardcover; 288 pages; $24.95

Brooks has crafted an intriguing work of historical fiction that is a “parallel universe” to Little Women, telling the tale from the perspective of the heretofore absent Mr. March. Exhaustive research on the real “Father of Little Women,” A. Bronson Alcott, and the realities of The Civil War combine in a story that not only brings the era alive, but breathes life into a formerly unknown character. A must-read for Civil War and historical fiction buffs, as well as adult admirers of Little Women.

Elizabeth, Mary, and Sophia Peabody: the story of these remarkable sisters and their central role in shaping the thinking of their day has never before been fully told. Megan Marshall's unprecedented research into their lives uncovered thousands of letters never read before as well as other previously unmined original sources. The Peabody Sisters casts new light on a legendary American era.

Alcott In Her Own Time: A Biographical Chronicle of Her Life, Drawn from Recollections, Interviews, and Memoirs by Family, Friends, and Associates by Daniel Shealy
University of Iowa Press; paperback; 204 pages; $24.95

Here are stories from the people who knew her, with several that focus on Louisa’s teen years, providing intimate glimpses into the life of the Alcotts that lead readers to one conclusion: the family was happy, fun, and entertaining -- very much like the fictional Marches!

The Lyceum and Public Culture in the Nineteenth-Century United States by Angela G. Ray
Michigan State University Press; paperback; 320 pages; $24.95

Be sure to join Angela during the 19th Century Evening Edification on Wednesday, July 13th, at 7:30 p.m. for an enlightening lecture / discussion, Q&A, and book signing in The School of Philosophy.