SHORT WORKS OF LOUISA MAY ALCOTT

In this collection, Louisa May Alcott touches on a variety of delicate issues of her day. Strong, independent women; equality; feminism; and social classes are some of the subjects she addresses. A ghost story is also included for supernatural appetites. "Clams" is the best of the short works. It is witty, clever, scary, even timeless and believable. Laurie Klein handles the diverse characters with aplomb and charm. However, the stories do seem dated and "corny" even though they are a wonderful sampler of nineteenth-century American life and literature. A good purchase for large or primarily American collections. S.G.B. ©AudioFile, Portland, Maine [Published: MAR 93]