Fiction vs. Reality: Discovering the Real Little Women at Louisa May Alcott’s Orchard House

Abstract

Bridging the gap between an author’s works based on real life and historical accuracy can be a challenge for literary sites that symbolize both fiction and reality. Louisa May Alcott’s Orchard House, the home of the Alcott family and the place in which she wrote her most famous novel, Little Women, also served as the setting for the book. This dichotomy sometimes confuses readers, who may believe that everything that happens in the novel really occurred in the author’s life. I intend to show how a literary site works to represent both the fictional and historical worlds to its visitors, with the aim of educating and inspiring visitors to learn more about the real-life Alcotts and to come away with a better understanding and deeper appreciation of the author, her ties to her family, and their commitment to improving the world.

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