This lesser-known sister, the free spirit, the girl who decorated her walls-was she really the brat she was portrayed to be in her sister’s novel? Elise felt suspicious of Louisa’s account of her. Hooper recalls backing away from the desk and entering May’s room, the youngest of the Alcott sisters, better known to the world as Amy March from Little Women where pencil sketches of angels and animals adorned the walls. May Alcott Nieriker: Thoroughly Modern Woman She remembers visiting Orchard House at age ten and exploring Louisa Alcott’s restored bedroom. There, at a small desk in the corner, was where Louisa had written her classic Little Women in two feverish months. In The Other Alcott, a captivating work of historical fiction, Elise Hooper gives readers a glimpse into the youngest Alcott’s artistic pursuits and her side of the sibling rivalry.Īuthor Elise Hooper grew up near the Alcott’s home in Concord, Massachusetts and has been fascinated by the Alcotts (local legends) since her childhood. Now, it’s time to learn the truth about the “real Amy” - Louisa’s sister, May. Many of us grew up knowing the story of the March sisters, heroines of Little Womenby Louisa May Alcott. But while most fans cheer on Jo March, based on Louisa herself, Amy March is often the least favorite sister.

Here is a description of this engaging novel, published in the fall of 2017, reprinted by permission of the publisher, William Morrow: The youngest of the Alcott sisters, she was the inspiration for the character of Amy March in Little Women. May (who, after she married, was known as May Alcott Nieriker) was a talented artist in her own right.Īs she seeks to establish her own identity apart from the close-knit family, the personality of a dynamic and determined young woman, in many ways ahead of her time, unfolds. The Other Alcott by Elise Hooper, the author’s debut novel, is a believable imagining of the life of May Alcott.