Little Women, Louisa May Alcott's most famous novel, is based on the author's own life growing up in the years before the American Civil War, and Jo March, the main character, is her alter ego. Although the Alcotts were poor, their home was filled with love, fun, games, and lively ideas. Early in her life, Alcott vowed to use her talents to raise her family out of poverty. While she was earning money by sewing, teaching, and nursing, she was furiously writing short stories and articles and struggling to sell them. After the overwhelming success of Little Women, she was rich and famous, and publishers and fans demanded more books from her. Today, she is among the most celebrated American authors of the 19th century. Read about this remarkable author's life in this newly revised biography.