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REVIEW
Scribbles, Sorrows, and Russet Leather Boots' by Liz Rosenberg is a deeply moving and comprehensive portrait of the author Louisa May Alcott who wrote such classics as Little Women and its sequels Good Wives, Little Men, Jo’s Boys and numerous other titles.
Although Louisa’s own life was a difficult one, and she was born into a poor family, she vowed to be rich, famous and happy before she died. This lofty ambition may have been motivated by her desire to look after her parents and siblings—to alleviate their physical discomfort, health issues and emotional distress. Well, much to her perseverance, she accomplished that and more. In fact, outside her writing, her life was mostly spent caring for others. Whether it be the result of her challenging circumstances or because of her sensitive or sympathetic nature, she felt a moral responsibility to make things right and fair. As the author states: ‘Through poverty, struggle, failure, and ill health, Louisa never lost awareness of the large world around her. She saw suffering and injustice and fought fervently against it.’ This admirable, though cumbersome trait led her down some taxing paths. Louisa not only dedicated herself to caring for her family but also to reform in areas of abolition and suffrage which she often wrote about in her stories. These ongoing missions were sometimes punctuated with little breaks when she spent time on her own writing. But for the most part, she actively tried to bring light and relief to her family members; to see women obtain the rights and respect they deserved; and sought freedom from slavery for the oppressed. She became a Civil War nurse where she brought comfort to dying soldiers and assisted doctors in attending to the awful injuries that came flooding through their medical unit.
Louisa was a determined, strong willed, courageous woman who held firm to her own ideas. She remained single throughout her life because she wanted to be her own person and not give up her personal freedom. She is famous for a number of sayings but this one stands out to me: ‘I am not afraid of storms for I am learning how to sail my ship.’ Her father made a strong impression on her—along with his friends, Ralph Waldo Emerson, Nathaniel Hawthorn and Henry David Thoreau. These three literary men offered their libraries, homes and any assistance the family needed. Plus, fostered Louisa’s sense of wonder and imagination.
It was obvious that Louisa’s life, beliefs and family experiences were drawn upon heavily in her writing: especially seen in Little Women. Louisa poured so much of herself into her character Jo: sharing the same temperament and wishes. But there is one difference that stands out: Jo marries— where Louisa stays single. But as Liz Rosenberg suggests, the publishing world expected character Jo to marry so Louisa changed her original manuscript to suit the expectations of the time.
I cannot comment on the coverage of Louisa’s life itself as before reading Scribbles, Sorrows, and Russet Leather Boots I knew little about her history. But I can say I felt Liz Rosenberg delivered the facts eloquently and masterfully and I certainly learned a lot from reading her book. It is obvious she drew upon the deep well of research available on Louisa. The book covers so much area that it must have been a hefty task to pour the volume of information into such a well-crafted shape. The chapters of Louisa’s life are beautifully arranged and accentuated by Diana Sudyka’s lovely illustrations. We start with her long fight into the world on November 29th and end with her last breath at age fifty five. The stroke that eventuates in a coma, then death was such a tragic turn of events for one who led such a productive selfless life. But her voice and influence are not silenced as her valiant unwavering spirit lives on through her words in her stories, articles, poems, letters and journals.
I must add that I loved the Epilogue with its potent distillation of all the facts, providing memorable highlights of this talented author who was surrounded by some of the most amazing minds of her time. It is a fitting conclusion to a well-crafted book.
Without hesitation, I highly recommend Scribbles, Sorrows, and Russet Leather Boots to all lovers of Louisa May Alcott’s books. It will move your heart and help you see the life behind the genius. The Alcott family faced many trials but the love they had for each other was the glue that held them together through thick and thin. As Liz Rosenberg reminds us— it was not all ‘miserable poverty and neglect’ … ‘they recalled with love their jolly days and unusual freedoms’. This is the heartbeat and message of Little Women and shows us how much art really can imitate life. 5 Stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Thanks to Candlewick Press and Liz Rosenberg for a review copy.
