The Lives and Landscapes of Louisa May Alcott, Laura Ingalls Wilder, and L M Montgomery

I can’t wait to begin this six-week class focused on the lives and landscapes of three beloved North American authors.

Did you grow up reading Little Women, Little House on the Prairie, or Anne of Green Gables? For many of us these books were formative during our childhood and young adult years, and continue to influence our lives today.

As a nature journaler and lover of history and literature I am always fascinated by the nature and literary influences that shaped the lives of famous people. What and who made them into the people they became?

Each of these women grew up surrounded by very different landscapes: Louisa May Alcott lived in an historic New England context right near Walden Pond which was made so famous by Henry David Thoreau. Laura Ingalls Wilder experienced the thrilling life of an American pioneer on the flat prairies of Kansas and the Dakotas. L M Montgomery grew up surrounded by the incredibly breathtaking views of both countryside and seaside on her beloved Prince Edward Island.

While these women experienced different landscapes, they actually experienced some similar literary influences. During this class we will discuss the books and authors these women were familiar with and how their own works were influenced by their reading practices.

Immersing ourselves in the landscapes and lives of these women will, I hope, give us a fresh perspective on our own landscapes as we consider the similarities and differences between the landscapes we study and the landscapes we live out in our own lives.

And of course we must include teatimes where we can discuss what was going on in the kitchen and on the tea table when these women were alive. This will also give us a chance to further explore how the lives of these women intertwined with each other through their literary tastes and contributions.

You can find all the class details here. I’d love to have you join me!