ABSTRACT
STERN’s collection of essays is an invaluable overview of Alcott’s changing stature and audience. Reprints of contemporary reviews, excerpts from early critical responses, and new essays on the entire range of Alcott’s fiction give a comprehensive sampling of responses to Alcott’s work. The volume also provides easy access to difficult-to-obtain historical material. Particularly useful are the articles on her pseudonymous sensation thrillers and little-known adult fiction. Organized chronologically, the volume reveals the experimental nature of much her work and suggests important areas for future critical work.
