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Good Wives
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Little Women: Book 2

Good Wives (1869) (edit title/settings)

by Louisa May Alcott (Author) (edit contributors)

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Description edit see section history

Continues the story of the lives of the March sisters, three years on from the end of LITTLE WOMEN, when the sisters are all now young adults and must face various trials and tribulations in their search for happiness.

Summary edit see section history

At the beginning of Good Wives, Meg and John are getting married. They have twins, a boy and a girl named Daisy and Demi. Daisy is very sweet and loving, while Demi is mischevious and curious about everything. Laurie graduates from college and proposes to Jo. However, she doesn't want to marry... read more (warning: may contain spoilers)

At the beginning of Good Wives, Meg and John are getting married. They have twins, a boy and a girl named Daisy and Demi. Daisy is very sweet and loving, while Demi is mischevious and curious about everything. Laurie graduates from college and proposes to Jo. However, she doesn't want to marry him; he has always been just a brother to her. He goes to Europe to get over his failed proposal. Amy is already there; her aunt sponsored the trip and is taking care of her as she tours all over. Jo goes to New York to try to make something of herself, but she realizes that her writing dreams might be unattainable. But she does make a very good friend: Professor Friedrich Bhaer, who tutors in the house she stays in. Meanwhile, Beth's illness comes back and she eventually dies, leaving a very lonely Jo behind. Amy is still in Europe when Beth dies. She is all alone in a foreign land until Laurie comes to her; they spend months together and a love blossoms. They marry and have one daughter, Beth. Professor Bhaer comes to visit the March family and proposes to Jo, who accepts. They marry and open a boys' school (as well as having two boys of their own, Rob & Teddy) and their story continues in the sequel Little Men and Jo's Boys. The book closes with the whole family together in Jo's apple orchard, reflecting on their lives & how they each have everything they need.

Characters/People edit see section history

  • Josephine 'Jo' March: One of the main characters in the book is Jo, who is the second daughter of Mr and Mrs March.
  • Theodore 'Laurie' Laurence: The main male character in the book. Jo calls him Teddy.
  • Amy March: One of the main characters in the book is Amy, who is the fourth daughter of Mr and Mrs March.
  • Beth March: One of the main characters in the book is Beth, who is the third daughter of Mr and Mrs March.
  • John Brooke: Meg's husband, father of Demi and Daisy
  • Meg March: One of the main characters in the book is Meg, who is the first daughter of Mr and Mrs March.
  • Mr. Friedrich Bhaer: German Professor. Boarder at Mrs. Kirke's boarding house.
  • Demi Brooke: Son of John and Meg Brooke
  • Daisy Brooke: Daughter of John and Meg Brooke
  • Hannah: Servant of the March family
  • Tina: Student of Mr Bhaer
  • Fred Vaughn: Friend of Laurie's who visits Amy when she's in London.
  • Mrs. Kirke: Friend of Mrs. March who lives in New York and runs a boardinghouse. Asked for someone to come teach her children and to sew.
  • Florence "Flo": Daughter of Mary Carrol.
  • Mrs. Carrol: Florence's mother, Aunt to the Marches. First name Mary.
  • Jack Scott: A friend John brings home unexpectedly on the day his wife tries to make currant jelly.
  • Mrs Sallie Moffat: Meg's friend, nee Gardiner. Married to Ned Moffat.
  • Mrs. Chester: A neighbor of the Marches on whom Amy and Jo call. Hostess of a high society charity event.
  • Frank Vaughn: Friend of Laurie's who visits Amy while she's in London.
  • Mr. James Laurence: Laurie's grandfather
  • Aunt March: Aunt to the four March girls. Took a liking to Amy and bribed her to stay on to help by offering her art lessons. Secretly purchased linens for Meg's wedding present because a vow prevented her from giving anything more than the family pearls.
  • Lotty: A girl who often helps Meg at Dovecote.
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Setting & Locations edit see section history

  • Paris: Amy's trip abroad also included a stop in Paris, France.
  • London: Amy's trip abroad as a companion to her Aunt Carrol included a trip to London. Amy sent a letter home from here.
  • Rome: Amy wants to see Rome.
  • Valrosa: Amy sketches/draws at Valrosa and invites Laurie to accompany her.
  • Switzerland: Fred Vaughn was on his way to Switzerland when he stopped off to see Amy in Paris. Amy and the rest of the travelers are also to visit Switzerland.
  • Germany: Amy's trip abroad includes several cities including Heidelberg, Germany from where she sends a letter home. Professor Bhaer is from Berlin, Germany.
  • Dovecote: Name of the home that John Brooke prepared for Meg. A tiny house with a little garden behind it and a small front yard.
  • New York: Home of Mrs. Kirke's boardinghouse. Jo goes there to teach the Kirke children.

Organizations edit see section history

First Sentence edit see section history

IN order that we may start afresh, and go to Meg's wedding with free minds, it will be well to begin with a little gossip about the Marches.

Table of Contents edit see section history

Introduction
1. Gossip
2. The First Wedding
3. Artistic Attempts
4. Literary Lessons
5. Domestic Experiences
6. Calls
7. Consequences
8. Our Foreign Correspondent
9. Tender Troubles
10. Jo's Journal
11. A Friend
12. Heartache
13. Beth's Secret
14. New Impressions
15. On the Shelf
16. Lazy Laurence
17. The Valley of the Shadow
18. Learning to Forget
19. All Alone
20. Surprises
21. My Lord and Lady
22. Daisy and Demi
23. Under the Umbrella
24. Harvest Time

Glossary edit see section history

  • truckle: submit or behave obsequiously

Series & Lists edit see section history

This is book 2 of 5 in Little Women. (standard series)

Preceded by Little Women, and followed by Little Men.

This is book 13 of 56 in Biblioteca das Raparigas. (edition-based publisher list)

Preceded by O Romance de Isabel, and followed by Eight Cousins.

Authors & Contributors edit see section history

  1. Louisa May Alcott (Author)

First Edition edit see section history

Original Language: English
Publisher: Roberts Brothers
Country: USA
Publication Date: 1869
ISBN: N/A
Page Count: 359

More Books Like This edit see section history

   
  • Little Women
  • Little House on the Prairie
  • Little House in the Big Woods

Books with Additional Background Information edit see section history

   
  • Little Women
  • Little Women

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