Good Wives: Little Women, Part 2 (Puffin Classics) - Softcover

Louisa May Alcott (1832-88) was brought up in Pennsylvania, USA. She turned to writing in order to supplement the family income and had many short stories published in magazines and newspapers. Then, in 1862, during the height of the American Civil War, Louisa went to Georgetown to work as a nurse, but she contracted typhoid. Out of her experiences she wrote Hospital Sketches (1864) which won wide acclaim, followed by an adult novel, Moods. She was reluctant to write a children's book but then realized that in herself and her three sisters she had the perfect models. The result was Little Women (1868) which became the earliest American children's novel to become a classic

Alcott's "little women" continue their story in Good Wives, a tale that follows them into adulthood. Herbert brings characters as diverse as the guttural Mr. Baer and the Irish Hannah to life but struggles to differentiate the four girls, making Jo take on a rough, mannish tone while Beth is almost otherworldly. In truth, her voice is better suited to the older characters, whose scenes flow seamlessly until another youngster interjects a word. Listeners may find Herbert's deep intonations, while clear and consistent, too heavy for such a gentle tale. She paces the story well, though, and true fans of Alcott will find the interpretation of the work worth their time. K.R. (c)AudioFile, Portland, Maine