Little Men

 Little Men (1871) by Louisa May Alcott

Little Men takes place ten years after the end of Little Women. Jo March, now married to Professor Fritz Bhaer, has inherited Plumfield and the couple have turned the country house into a school for boys--their own and their nephews, as well as boys in need of a good family life and good training. A few girls are in the mix as well, to help the young men learn to be a bit more gentlemanly. The school is well-established when we enter the story and we see how the work of the Bhaers affects their young charges--especially the newest additions to the Bhaer menagerie, Nat and Dan. Nat is a timid, shay boy who has spent his young life as a street musician, often suffering beatings when things weren't going well. Mr. Laurie (friend of the Marches) discovers the young boy who has just been orphaned and sees promise in the little musician. He just knows that Plumfield will be the making of him. Once Nat is established at Plumfield, he sends for his friend Dan. 

Dan is also an orphan, but a much rougher character than Nat. He doesn't settle in so well at first and, in fact, Mr. Bhaer has to send him away to another home for boys when he sees the influence Dan has over his school. But Dan's heart is with Plumfield and he soon comes back, bruised and in need of a good home. Once Jo finds the key to Dan's interest (natural/biological studies), the Bhaers are able to help him grow and blossom. It is fun to watch Nat come into his own and exhibit his violin skills as well as to see Dan tamed and taught to use his strength for good. Of course, with a houseful of boys there are always adventures and scrapes, but the Bhaers manage them with firm yet gentle hands.

I loved Louisa May Alcott when I was young--so much so that when we had to choose someone literary to dress up as for school, I picked her. While I loved Little Women, Little Men was my favorite. Like Jo, I always preferred boys and knew that if I ever had children that I wanted sons. Also, like Jo and Nan, I was a tomboy and always preferred playing with the boys to the more standard girlish pursuits of playing house or playing with dolls. Give me a good old game of football or ball tag or a tramp through the woods any day. 

My vintage copy

As an adult I appreciate how the Bhaers tried to find the right method of education for each child. They would observe the children to see where their hearts lay--whether it was music for Nat or natural history for Dan or anything to do with sailing ships for Emil. And the girls were treated equally--Daisy may prefer homemaking skills such as cooking and tidying up, but Nan had a gift for treating cuts and bruises and was encouraged to follow medicine; being a doctor wasn't ruled out just because she was a girl. Once the child's specific interest was found, then in addition to the basics (which everyone needs)--reading, writing, and 'rithmetic--they were given studies and tasks that would help them with their areas of interest. A really good way to raise and educate children, in my opinion.

This is a charming book that I thoroughly enjoyed. ★★★★★

First line: "Please sir, is this Plumfield?" asked a ragged boy of the man who opened the great gate at which an omnibus left him.

Last line: For love is a flower that grows in any soil, works its sweet miracles undaunted by autumn frost or winter snow, blooming fair and fragrant all the year, and blessing those who give and those who receive.