Photo of Louisa May Alcott
Open Library

Louisa May Alcott

1 series 17 books in order 14 standalone books

Louisa May Alcott was born in Germantown, Pennsylvania, on November 29, 1832. She was the daughter of philosopher and teacher Bronson Alcott and practical Christian Abigail May. She had three sisters: Anna, Elizabeth, and May. She spent her childhood in Boston and Concord, Massachusetts, where she was influenced by visits to Ralph Waldo Emerson’s library, nature walks with Henry David Thoreau, and theatrical performances at "Hillside." Like her fictional character Jo March, she was a tomboy and enjoyed competitive games. Writing was a passion from an early age, and she often created dramatic stories that she and her sisters performed for friends. She preferred to play dramatic roles such as villains, ghosts, and queens. At age 15, she vowed to help her family by any means necessary, declaring she would become rich, famous, and happy. She was an American novelist who lived from 1832 to 1888.

Born
1832
Known for
March Trilogy

Series by Louisa May Alcott

March Trilogy

3 books in order · 1871–1886

  1. Cover of Little Women

    Little Women

    Year unknown · Louisa May Alcott

    Louisa May Alcott's classic novel, set during the Civil War, follows the four March sisters--Meg, Beth, Amy, and the tomboy Jo--through the joys,…

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  2. Cover of Little men

    Little men

    1871 · Louisa May Alcott

    An abridged version of a novel by Louisa May Alcott follows the adventures of Jo March and her husband, Professor Bhaer, as they work to create a…

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  3. Cover of Jo's Boys

    Jo's Boys

    1886 · Louisa May Alcott

    This 1886 novel by Louisa May Alcott is a sequel to her earlier works "Little Women" and "Little Men." It follows the return of the classmates of…

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Standalone books

Frequently asked questions

How many books has Louisa May Alcott written?

We list 17 books by Louisa May Alcott across 1 series, published between 1869–1886 — each shown in full reading order.

What order should I read Louisa May Alcott's books?

Read each series in publication order. A good place to start is “Little Women.” Open any series above for its complete numbered reading order.

Where can I buy Louisa May Alcott's books?

Every title links to Amazon from its series page — see our affiliate disclosure in the footer for how that supports the site.

Bibliography and reading orders compiled from verified bibliographic data. Spotted an error? We continuously correct the catalog.