 First edition title page | |
| Author | Louisa May Alcott |
|---|---|
| Language | English |
| Series | Little Women |
| Genre | Children's literature |
| Publisher | Roberts Brothers |
Publication date | 1871 |
| Publication place | United States |
| Media type | |
| Pages | 376 (first edition) |
| Preceded by | Little Women |
| Followed by | Jo's Boys |
Little Men: Life at Plumfield with Jo's Boys, is a children's novel by American author Louisa May Alcott (1832–1888), which was first published in 1871 by Roberts Brothers. The book reprises characters from her 1868–69 two-volume novel Little Women, and acts as a sequel in the unofficial Little Women trilogy. The trilogy ends with Alcott's 1886 novel Jo's Boys, and How They Turned Out: A Sequel to "Little Men". Alcott's story recounts the life of Jo Bhaer and her husband as they run a school and educate the various children at Plumfield. The teaching methods used at Plumfield reflect transcendentalist ideals followed by Alcott's father, Bronson Alcott. Book education is combined with learning about morals and nature as the children learn through experience. Paradoxes in the story serve to emphasize Alcott's views on social norms.
Little Men was written following the death of Alcott's brother-in-law, who inspired the character John Brooke, while Alcott was visiting Rome. In June 1871, the year of its release, the book had sold 130,000 copies. Reviews at the time said Little Men had the same charm as Alcott's other books, although it was overly idealistic at times, and that Alcott had depicted children well in her writing.
Alcott's classic novel has been adapted to a 1934 film, a 1940 film, a 1998 film, a television series, and a Japanese animated television series.