150th Anniversary of Little Women

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To mark the one hundred and fiftieth anniversary of the publication of Little Women, the library hosted an exhibit of her work available in the collection and offered related programming.

 

Celebrating the 150th Anniversary of the Publication of Little Women with Daniel Shealy

Exhibit Reception and Lecture

One hundred and fifty years ago this fall the Boston publisher Roberts Brothers brought out the first volume of Louisa May Alcott's Little Women, one of the most influential books in the history of American children's literature.  Robert Brothers published the second volume in April 1869, which is why the sesquicentennial celebrations surrounding the publication of Little Women run through 2018 and 2019.

UNC Charlotte's Atkins Library and the English Department are collaborating on our own sesquicentennial celebration of the publication of Little Women with the help of Daniel Shealy.  This celebration involves an exhibit of rare Louisa May Alcott publications from the library's Special Collections Department as well as a public reception and presentation by Daniel on the history of Little Women.  The reception and presentation will take place on Thursday, November 29, in Atkins Library's Halton Room from 3:30 pm to 5:30 pm.   Since Alcott was born on November 29, 1832, the reception/presentation will take place on Alcott's birthday.

Widely recognized as one of the world's foremost experts on Louisa May Alcott, Daniel Shealy has published numerous books that relate to Alcott and her writings, including The Journals of Louisa May Alcott, The Selected Letters of Louisa May Alcott, and Alcott in Her Own Time.   His most recent book, Little Women:  An Annotated Edition, was published by Harvard University Press.  Daniel drew on his expertise when he wrote the notes that accompany the materials that are now on exhibit in the display cases on the main floor of Atkins Library through spring 2019.

~ Dr. Mark West, Department of English