Let Genius Burn
Louisa May Alcott may be best known for the beloved book Little Women, but her story doesn’t begin or end with her famous novel. On Let Genius Burn, we separate the layers of Louisa’s life to learn more about who she really was--and all the ways her legacy continues to resonate today. We’ll explore the traumatic year of her childhood spent in an experimental utopian community, her service as a Civil War nurse, her final years of wealth and celebrity as a children’s author--and more intimate details and little-known stories of Louisa’s life. Instead of a retelling of Louisa May Alcott’s biography, each episode in the 8-part series examines Louisa's life through a different lens--Louisa as a celebrity, writer, activist, daughter, and more-- highlighting her complexity as a person, woman, and historical figure. Ahead of her time, Louisa railed against the limitations of her gender and fought for women’s suffrage. She craved literary greatness, but was weighed down by the financial needs of her family. Through writing scandalous Gothic thrillers, she found a way to voice her own inner turmoil. In the end, she achieved extraordinary financial success, but creative fulfillment remained elusive.We’ll examine all of this and more on Let Genius Burn. Find more on Instagram and Facebook @letgeniusburn or at letgeniusburn.com.
Let Genius Burn
Louisa Through the Ages: Conversation with Daniel Shealy
Most Alcott scholars cannot imagine what it would be like to do research without the Selected Letters and Selected Journals of Louisa May Alcott, these two seminal works that make Alcott's work so accessible.
Dr. Daniel Shealy, however, knows exactly what it's like--because he was part of the team that edited these two publications, bringing together hundreds of letters from around the country and compiling them into the legible, useful edition that Alcott scholars depend on for their work. This is the work that has enabled other professors, writers, and filmmakers to shift their perception of Louisa May Alcott, from the famed children's writer to a more serious, scholarly study.
Daniel Shealy shares his experiences working with Joel Myerson, Madeleine Stern, and Leona Rostenberg, giving us a glimpse into the early days of Alcott scholarship. We discuss Louisa's changing legacy over the years, and Daniel even gives his opinion on Little Women films.
Daniel Shealy is Professor of English at the University of North Carolina-Charlotte, where he teaches American literature. He has published thirteen books on Louisa May Alcott, including co-editing Alcott’s Selected Letters and Journals. He also edited Little Women Abroad: The Alcott Sisters’ Letters from Europe, 1870-71, which recounts May Alcott’s first journey to Europe. His most recent book is Little Women at 150.