 "Ben and Sancho", illustration from an 1888 edition of Under the Lilacs | |
| Author | Louisa May Alcott |
|---|---|
| Language | English |
| Publisher | Roberts Brothers |
Publication date | 1878 |
| Publication place | United States |
| Pages | 305 |
Under the Lilacs is a children's novel by Louisa May Alcott and is part of the Little Women Series.[1] It was first published as a serialized story in St. Nicholas magazine in 1877-1878. It was first published in book form by Roberts Brothers in 1878. The plot follows twelve-year-old Ben Brown, a circus runaway who makes friends with the Moss family. He also becomes friends with Miss Celia and her brother Thornton, and Miss Celia eventually allows Ben to live at her house.
The novel's themes deal with characters' gender portrayal, home life, and moral lessons. Alcott, who wrote the novel while caring for her sick mother, struggled to come up with ideas for the story. During its composition she maintained correspondence with Mary Mapes Dodge. The book has been republished many times with new illustrations, receiving both praise and criticism in its early years.
- ^ Cheney 2010, p. 401.