Elise Hooperâs debut novel conjures the fascinating, untold story of May AlcottâLouisaâs youngest sister and an artist in her own right.
We all know the story of the March sisters, heroines of Louisa May Alcottâs Little Women. But while everyone cheers on Jo March, based on Louisa herself, Amy March is often the least favorite sister. Now, itâs time to learn the truth about the real âAmyâ, Louisaâs sister, May.
Stylish, outgoing, creative, May Alcott grows up longing to experience the wide world beyond Concord, Massachusetts. While her sister Louisa crafts stories, May herself is a talented and dedicated artist, taking lessons in Boston, turning down a marriage proposal from a well-off suitor, and facing scorn for entering what is very much a manâs profession.
Life for the Alcott family has never been easy, so when Louisaâs Little Women is published, its success eases the financial burdens theyâd faced for so many years. Everyone agrees the novel is charming, but May is struck to the core by the portrayal of selfish, spoiled âAmy March.â Is this what her beloved sister really thinks of her?
So May embarks on a quest to discover her own true identity, as an artist and a woman. From Boston to Rome, London, and Paris, this brave, talented, and determined woman forges an amazing life of her own, making her so much more than merely âThe Other Alcott.â