Louisa On The Front Lines: Louisa May Alcott in the Civil War, By Samantha Seiple (256 Pages)
Generations of fans have enjoyed Little Women, the story of four girls and young women (and their loving “Marmee”) in a New England town around the time of the Civil War. There are many movie versions, giving a chance for actresses of the day to try their hand at the roles.
The book is inspired by the lives of the author (Louisa May Alcott) and her family. Louisa had a special ability to write about her experiences, including in thinly fictionalized form. Hospital Sketches, for instance, is a true-life account of her experience as a Civil War nurse.
Louisa once told a fan that “Mr. March did not go to the war, but Jo did.” This book is about Louisa May Alcott’s time ”on the front lines,” particularly her short time as a nurse at a military hospital (December 1862 to January 1863) during the Civil War.
But, in a wider sense, the “front lines” can be seen as her whole life as she fought to be an independent, successful woman. One able to take care of her family and obtain self-fulfillment.
The core of the book is about her experience as a Civil War nurse. We learn about the creation of the U.S. Sanitary Commission and the authorization of women nurses. And, we get a taste of the horrors of war, both on the battlefield and in the hospitals afterward.
Louisa’s letters about her experience serve as the basis of a successful set of “sketches” that help her on the road to success as a writer. It also gets her some respect from her father.
Afterwards, we learn about her trip to Europe, writing Little Women, and her continual fighting “on the front lines” for her beliefs (voting for women). This is all done in a narrative that has a flavor of one Louisa’s own sketches. It is mostly in Louisa’s voice but the perspectives of others involved in the narrative are also expressed.
The Civil War offered Louisa the opportunity to go to the front lines, where she would push the boundaries for women and test her beliefs, while gaining life experience that would translate into an influential and lasting literary contribution — Little Women.
This provides a summary of the theme of the book. The core of the book discusses Alcott’s experiences as a nurse during the Civil War. The book argues this provided both personal and professional ramifications of central importance in her life and career.
Should I Read It?
Samantha Seiple had written several “young adult narrative non-fiction books” (to quote the author blurb on the book) before writing this book.
I think her past experience shows in the writing. The book has some serious themes, including death and family drama, that might not be appropriate for some younger readers. But, the book still has a feel of a young adult book in style.
This is not really a problem for those who do not mind a less in-depth biography. The reader, however, should know the book’s character.
If someone wants a more in-depth look at her life, this book is not really for you. And, the book early on promises that her nursing experience had a more life-changing nature in who she is as a person and writer than seems to have been shown.
The best part of the book is when it focuses on the core subject — her time as a nurse during the Civil War. This is done in a colorful way, providing narrative detail (including her trip to the hospital and the battle that led to so many wounded to treat) in a page-turning way. Readers, especially fans of her writings, will enjoy reading about “Lu” and her experiences.
It does seem to me that that author found that this material didn’t quite fill the necessary amount of space she had to fill. Either way, the few chapters afterward felt a bit tacked on. And, I’m not sure why the book does not even provide a quick summary of her final years, especially after introducing the story by summarizing her childhood and early adulthood.
I would recommend this book, but let the reader be aware of some of its limitations.
Fans of this book might also enjoy various writings of Louisa May Alcott, many probably already have read (maybe more than once) Little Women. But, other stuff she wrote are also available, including her narratives about her father’s failed utopian community, struggles trying to work in various jobs, her Hospital Sketches, and collections of her “pulp” short stories.
Introduction: Heroine’s Journey
The Alcott family were supporters of Abraham Lincoln, abolitionists, and feminists. As the Civil War began, Louisa May Alcott, then twenty-eight, dreamt of contributing to the war effort.
Nursing provided an opportunity to go to the front lines. Lousia’s experiences as a nurse would also provide an important introduction to the public of her writing, leading eventually to her greatest success, the novel Little Women. Her writing provided a means of self-expression.
Part One: The War At Home
This is the largest section (about eighty percent of the book) and can be divided into three basic parts: before, during, and after her nursing experience.
The book is mostly in the voice of Louisa (“Lu”), but from time to time, the perspectives of other characters (such as her parents) are expressed. This is helped by multiple Alcotts keeping journals for which we now have access.
An early chapter (A Soldier’s Story) also deals with John Suhre, who would later particularly affect Louisa when she became a nurse. Suhre’s injury is covered later (Burnside’s Blunder).
The first chapter (Wayward Daughter) summarizes Louisa’s early life. Her father, Bronson, is drawn as an egotistical head in the clouds philosopher.
Louisa, an outspoken freethinker, rubs him the wrong way. Too independent and fiery for his tastes. The Alcotts’ struggles, including a failed utopian community (which Louisa later wrote about), are discussed. Money is often a problem. Those familiar with Little Women will recognize some overlap with Louisa as “Jo,” and three familiar sounding sisters.
As Louisa’s experiences early in the Civil War occur, a new opening arises for women nurses (Stitches and Help Wanted). While this is happening, she has begun making a bit of money writing, largely anonymously (“blood and thunder” pulp stories).
In December 1862, Louisa (having turned 30) was given a chance to serve as a nurse in a hospital outside of Washington D.C. (Georgetown or Bust and The Hurly-Burly House). We now start to get a detailed look at her nursing journey, largely from personal accounts later published as Hospital Sketches. John Suhre, wounded Union soldier, is given a special place, including his death. Suhre, severely injured when brought to the hospital, is a somewhat saintly figure.
Louisa shortly becomes very ill (A Bitter Pill) and her father takes her home (January 1863). She appears to have contracted typhoid, which was treated with dangerous remedies of the day. Louisa is close to death, but survives. Bronson now respects Louisa for having the courage to go to the war and be able to survive the horrors of the hospital. (Duty’s Faithful Daughter).
Hospital Sketches, a prize from a short story contest, and a poem she wrote in memory of Henry David Thoreau provides Louisa with some financial success and public acclaim (A Gift).
Part Two: Where Glory Waits
This section is a short thirty pages and covers the rest of her life.
We first skip ahead to late 1865, with the war now over, as she serves as a travel escort of a well-off invalid woman a bit younger than her. Louisa has a chance to go to Europe, but finds it boring, doesn’t get along well with her patient, and clashes with a Southern family.
A high point was meeting a younger Polish emigrant (Ladislas “Laddie” Weisneiwsky) with a possible love affair involved. (The Unfulfilled Destiny of the chapter title.) Laddie would be an inspiration for “Laurie” in Little Women. Louisa goes home alone in mid-1866.
Two years later. A publishing company asked her to write a story for girls. She was hesitant, but the publisher freshened the offer by agreeing to publish a book her father wanted to write about his philosophy. Using her family as a model, the result was her biggest success, Little Women. (The Chariot of Glory)
The epilogue (Still on the Front Lines) is a snapshot from ten years later. Louisa, inspired by her mother (and supported by her father), supported a women’s right to vote. Massachusetts voted to pass a mild step in that direction — women could vote locally on children and education issues. The book ends with Louisa voting for the first time.
Louisa by this time was in poor health, the effects of her sickness (and probably some of the “treatment” given) while a nurse ultimately shortening her life. The book does not cover her final years, but Louisa died in 1888, two days after her father. Her mother had died in 1877.
Points to Ponder
The introduction argues that Louisa’s experience as a nurse allowed her to “push boundaries” and gain “life experiences” that particularly influenced her classic work, Little Women. Do you think this is true? How important do you think Louisa’s Civil War experiences were to her book?
Louisa May Alcott can be seen as an early feminist in various respects. While reading, consider Lousia through this lens, including her family pressures, desire for independence (including financial), and the limitations she had to endure. This too is part of her “front lines.”
About the Author
Samantha Seiple has degrees in English, journalism, and library and information science. She has worked in business, as a librarian, and editor. She has written science books for children and historical books for young adults. This is her first book for adult readers.
Her previous books include:
Mutants, Clones, and Killer Corn
Byrd & Igloo: A Polar Adventure
Ghosts in the Fog: The Untold Story of Alaska’s WWII Invasion
Death on the River of Doubt: Theodore Roosevelt’s Amazon Adventure
Lincoln’s Spymaster: Allan Pinkerton, America’s First Private Eye
Nazi Saboteurs: Hitler’s Secret Attack on America
The author is not an expert in the subject matter, but has written multiple historical works. The book is well-sourced (with many endnotes and a detailed Selected Bibliography).
Checking various reviews, including from a Louisa May Alcott-themed website, the material as a whole is labeled reliable. The non-Civil War years, not the core of the book, is treated in a somewhat thin fashion. But, the material can be trusted. I would be a bit wary about a few of the suppositions (e.g., how much did the dead soldier influence her?) that cannot be proved.
A fuller biography is suggested for those seeking a more in-depth look at Alcott.
By Joe Cocurullo