Miss Alcott's E-mail: yours for reforms of all kinds
by Kit Bakke

Summary

Miss Alcott's E-mail reaches back to the past for guidance in the dilemmas women face today. Louisa May Alcott was far more than the author of Little Women. She was an abolitionist, a suffragette, and a woman who supported herself in 19th century New England when most women stayed home and did none of those things. Miss Alcott's E-Mail was called by the Boston Globe "A whirlwind exchange of ideas about reform and revolution."

Thirty-six years ago, author Kit Bakke, a member of the notorious Weather Underground protesting the Viet Nam war, was surrounded by U.S. police, guns drawn. Twenty-eight years later, just after the 9/11 attacks, Kit stood, singing with other Americans, as loud-speakers played America the Beautiful, and felt tears coursing down her cheeks. Kit says that was the moment, in many ways, that Miss Alcott's E-Mail was born.

Kit discovered that Alcott was an independent thinker, civil war nurse, activist, champion of women's rights, and a neighbor and friend of Emerson and Thoreau. Alcott's novels were written to support her parents and siblings, who would otherwise have lived in extreme poverty. "Yours for reforms of all kinds," Louisa Alcott signed her letters. And so is Kit Bakke, it seems, beginning with this imaginative construction for a biography - in which Kit emails Miss Alcott about issues of the day - and Miss Alcott emails back.

Praise

"This work is a delight. Recommended for all libraries." — Library Journal

"...intriguing and lively imaginary correspondence..." — Booklist

"Alcott's personality shines through in her frank assessments, droll humor and keen desire to set things right." — Seattle Times

"...to Kit's surprise, Louisa e-mailed her back. On that charming conceit, this excellent book is based...The effect is like a wonderful movie shot with a hand-held camera." — Washington Post

"A great starting point for lively discussion at book clubs...an alive and engaged text." - ForeWord Magazine

About the Author

Kit was born in Seattle, graduated from Bryn Mawr College in Political Science, and became involved in the radical political group "The Weathermen." After several years both above and underground, Kit had a baby, rejoined society, and returned to school in nursing, eventually earning two master's degrees. She is now a clinical information systems consultant, the mother of two, and lives in Seattle with her family. Miss Alcott's Email is her first book.

Learn more at kitbakke.com.

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