This is a fresh, modern take on this remarkable and prolific writer, a woman who secretly authored pulp fiction, harboured radical abolitionist views, and served as a Civil War nurse. Harriet Reisen's vivid biography explores Alcott's life in the context of her works, all of which are to some extent autobiographical. This lyrically written biography will appeal to anyone who ever loved Alcott's works, and will reveal the origins of her fiction in the far-reaching experiences of her life.