Secular Charlotte Mason

I recently watched this biography of Louisa May Alcott. While I find Alcott, herself, fascinating exactly how this bio was put together is just as interesting. It is an combination of a typical biography, a Ken Burns documentary (even though he had nothing to do with it) and an historical re-enactment. I think this type of biographical documentary would appeal to children as well as adults. Due to the mature content I would use this particular documentary only with teens. Many of Alcott's written works were rather risque. Near the end of the documentary there is an interesting comment about whether we should consider Alcott a classic author since many of her adult works are not classics. This would be a *great* topic of discussion with a teen! 

http://www.pbs.org/wnet/americanmasters/episodes/louisa-may-alcott/the-woman-behind-little-women/1295/

One of my absolute favorite books is actually a biography of Louisa May Alcott. Invincible Louisa by Cornelia Meigs.  Since this is a Newbury it is, obviously, appropriate for children. In many ways I find Alcott's life and personality even more interesting than her written work and this is the book that turned me on to what she may really have been like. I think she is a wonderful role model for unconventional girls.  

http://www.amazon.com/Invincible-Louisa-Story-Author-Little/dp/0316565946/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1262196737&sr=8-1-spell

It is one of my goals to read what LMA journals may remain; esp. the hospital memoirs that were published. Unfortunately I do not have any links for those at this time. I'm pretty sure Ms. Alcott will be our next author study once we finish Mark Twain in June so I will have more resources to add to the author study page at that point. 

If you happen to be studying the transcendentalist movement it might be nice to include a LMA biography since she, and her sisters, are products of the movement and knew most of the people involved in it.