The Other March Sisters
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- ¥1,800
発行者による作品情報
Giving all the “Little Women” the stories they deserve at last, this imaginative historical novel and companion to the much-loved classic draws Meg, Beth, and Amy March from behind the shadow of Jo – Louisa May Alcott’s alter-ego and the “author” of Little Women – as vibrant and unforgettable characters grappling with societal strictures, queer love, motherhood, chronic illness, artistic ambition, and more.
A riveting reimagining for readers of March by Geraldine Brooks, Sarah Miller’s Caroline and Maggie O’Farrell’s Hamnet.
“An intriguing take on some of the most beloved—yet, paradoxically, overlooked—characters in fiction. ” —Shana Abé, New York Times bestselling author of An American Beauty and The Second Mrs. Astor
I’m sure you believe you know their story from reading that other book, which told you an inspiring tale about four sisters. It told you a story, but did it tell you the story?
Four sisters, each as different as can be. Through the eyes and words of Jo, their characters and destinies became known to millions. Meg, pretty and conventional. Jo, stubborn, tomboyish, and ambitious. Beth, shy and good-natured, a mortal angel readily accepting her fate. And Amy, elegant, frivolous, and shallow. But Jo, for all her insight, could not always know what was in her sisters’ thoughts, or in their hearts.
With Jo away in New York, pursuing her dreams of being a writer, Meg, Beth, and Amy follow their own paths. Meg, newly married with young twins, struggles to find the contentment that Marmee assured her would come with domesticity. Unhappy and unfulfilled, she turns to her garden, finding there not just a hobby but a calling that will allow her to help other women in turn.
Beth knows her time is limited. Still, part of her longs to break out of her suffocating cocoon at home, however briefly. A new acquaintance turns into something more, offering unexpected, quiet joy.
Amy, traveling in Europe while she pursues her goal of becoming an artist, is keenly aware of the expectation that she will save the family by marrying well. Through the course of her journey, she discovers how she can remain true to herself, true to her art, and true to the love that was always meant to be.
By purposefully leaving Jo off the page, authors Liz Parker, Ally Malinenko, and Linda Epstein give the other March sisters room to reveal themselves through conversations, private correspondence, and intimate moments—coming alive in ways that might surprise even daring, unconventional Jo.
PUBLISHERS WEEKLY
Queer authors Epstein (Repairing the World), Malinenko (This Appearing House), and Parker (In the Shadow Garden) sparkle in this delightful feminist retelling of Louisa May Alcott's Little Women. By taking the focus away from Alcott's heroine, Jo, to tell the story from the alternating perspectives of Meg, Beth, and Amy, the authors offer new depth to the characters. Meg resents being pushed into marriage but finds satisfaction by creating a garden filled with healing plants that help women, while Amy resents being expected to marry a rich man. Neighbor boy Laurie is bisexual in this version, and Beth is smitten by a young woman who visits the house. Amy's romance with Laurie has depths unseen in the original, making it clear that they marry for love instead of money, and before Beth succumbs to scarlet fever, she comes alive with her own wants and needs. Jo, meanwhile, is away living in New York City. Not only do the authors pull off their updates to the source text, they manage to stay true to the characters in a way that will please even the most die-hard Alcott fans. This is a treat.
