Little Women

Louisa May Alcott, 1868

In a small New England town during the American Civil War, four sisters, responsible Meg, fiery Jo, gentle Beth and artistic Amy, face a Christmas without money or their father, who is away at the war. Guided by their wise mother, Marmee, and befriended by the lively boy next door, Laurie, they quarrel, dream, work and grow up together. Alcott's warm, funny novel follows the girls from childhood games to the hard choices of becoming young women.

Growing up and finding one's own pathFamily love and sacrificeWork, ambition and women's independenceGoodness versus wealth and vanity

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Public domain: the author died in 1888 and the work was published in 1868, so its copyright has ended in Korea, the US and the EU. Everything written here is our own; no translation is copied.

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English practice

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Characters

Ask them about their choices. They remember only what you have read so far.

Meg March 메그 마치 The eldest March sister, pretty and responsible, who sometimes wishes the family were rich again. Main character Appears in part 1
Jo March 조 마치 The tomboyish second sister who loves books, hates fuss and dreams of becoming a famous writer. Main character Appears in part 1
Beth March 베스 마치 The shy, gentle third sister who loves music, kittens and home more than anything. Main character Appears in part 1
Amy March 에이미 마치 The youngest March, an artistic girl with golden curls who longs to be a fine lady. Main character Appears in part 1
Marmee (Mrs. March) 마미(마치 부인) The girls' wise and loving mother, who guides them through hard times with patience and good sense. Main character Appears in part 1
Laurie (Theodore Laurence) 로리(시어도어 로렌스) The lively, lonely boy next door: rich, musical and longing for a family of his own. Main character Appears in part 1
Mr. March 마치 씨 The girls' gentle, scholarly father, serving far away as an army chaplain during the war. Appears in part 1
Mr. Laurence 로렌스 씨 Laurie's gruff, wealthy grandfather, whose stern face hides a kind heart. Appears in part 1
Aunt March 마치 대고모 The girls' rich, crotchety great-aunt, sharp with her tongue and careful with her money. Appears in part 1
Hannah 해나 The Marches' loyal housekeeper, who has been with the family since Meg was born. Appears in part 1
Sallie Gardiner 샐리 가드너 Meg's fashionable, well-off friend, whose family gives the New Year's Eve dance. Appears in part 1
John Brooke 존 브룩 First appears in part 2. Read up to part 1 to meet them without spoilers.
Fred Vaughn 프레드 본 First appears in part 2. Read up to part 1 to meet them without spoilers.
Professor Friedrich Bhaer 프리드리히 바에르 교수 First appears in part 5. Read up to part 4 to meet them without spoilers.