Book Review: The Brownie & The Princess & Other Short Stories by Louisa May Alcott

The Brownie & The Princess & Other Short Stories by Louisa May Alcott
Review by Joy Henshaw of Jim and Joy

This book is a collection of ten short stories written by beloved author, Louisa May Alcott. She lived in the mid-1800’s and was a very prolific writer. Although best known for her novel, Little Women, she also wrote horror and suspense, realistic fiction and fantasy in the form of poems, plays, short stories and novels. Each of the stories in this collection sweetly and beautifully teaches and rewards the virtues of honesty, bravery, kindness, strength of character, and love to all of God’s creatures.


Some of the stories are fanciful, such as The Brownie and the Princess and The Silver Party. Others are simply observations of people in a certain place and time. I think my favorite was Jerseys, or the Girls’ Ghost, about 6 young ladies at a finishing school. A new teacher arrives on the scene with some new ideas about how young ladies should conduct themselves. She teaches them how to train their bodies along with their minds to be strong, useful and contributing members of society and their households. She helps them to give up some of their lazy or bad habits and hopes that their new routines will continue when they matriculate.

When compared to some of the more popular fiction of the day, these stories may seem tame or trite upon first read. However, after careful reading, I found many beautiful qualities that if emulated by more of us today would make our journey through life as sweet and pleasant as these stories.

If you are looking for a quick read to uplift you during your day, I would highly recommend any of the stories in this collection for ages 6 and up!

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