| Abstract: | Louisa May Alcott was one of the most popular authors of the nineteenth century. However, Alcott’s literary career would not
have been so successful without the help and advice of various publishers and editors, such as W.W. Clapp, Frank Leslie, James
Redpath, James Elliott, A.K. Loring, and most notably Thomas Niles of Roberts Brothers. All of these publishers or editors
helped Alcott to develop from a writer of lurid, sensational tales to the accomplished professional author of American classics.
In the nineteenth century, it was more than often the publisher who exerted great influence over the nature of a literary
work, from its subject matter to its marketing. This article focuses on Alcott’s relationships with her many publishers and
shows how they helped Alcott develop her own style and subjects into a rewarding career as a writer.
Daniel Shealy, visiting assistant professor at Clemson University, is co-editor ofThe Selected Letters of Louisa May Alcott, scheduled for publication by Little, Brown in August 1987. |
