Louisa May Alcott's name is known universally. Yet during her youth the famous Alcott was her father, Bronson -- an eminent teacher, lecturer and admired friend of Emerson and Thoreau. Willful and exuberant, Louisa flew in the face of her father's intricate theories of child rearing. She could not understand the frugal life Bronson preached and, in a family that insisted on self-denial and spiritual striving, Louisa dreamed of wealth and fame. But at the same time, like most daughters, she wanted her father's approval. This story of their tense yet loving relationship adds dimensions to Louisa's life, her work, and the relationships of fathers and daughters.
