The fictional Jo stands in for the novel's author, Louisa May Alcott, and Pascal says the movie shows what Alcott might have gone through to become a writer. It is the story of the four March sisters as told in the novel - but it's also the story how of that book got published. Pascal sees this version of Little Women as a movie within a movie. This adaptation, Pascal says, "takes all of that collective memory and our understanding of what Little Women means and then it says something very different." But producer Amy Pascal says Gerwig puts a new spin on a familiar story. This rejection scene is repeated in the many film versions of the book from Katharine Hepburn in 1933, to June Allyson in 1949, to Winona Ryder in 1994 - and it appears again in Greta Gerwig's new adaptation as well, starring Saoirse Ronan as Jo. She's fun and smart and so determined to be independent and become a writer that she rejects a marriage offer from her best friend, Laurie, the rich boy from next door. I'm still happier with my version of the dates, though not claiming they're right.If you grew up loving Little Women, as I did, there was one pretty much inviolable truth you lived with: Jo, the second oldest sister was the character everyone wanted to be. There simply hasn't been enough time for her to get from 19 (at Meg's wedding) to 25.ĮTA: Here's another timeline, taken from The Little Women Treasury. And starting the story in December 1863 would be too late, since that would take the Meg/John engagement to December 1864 - but we need at least a year between Meg's engagement and the end of the war (John served for a year before getting wounded).Ĭhapter 43 ("Surprises") opens with Jo contemplating her impending 25th birthday. Spring 1890 - Laurence family goes to Europe, possibly taking Ted Bhaerīecause 1861 feels too early the war seems to be well under way as the novel opens, with "Father far away, where the fighting was." The Northern forces weren't doing much fighting in late 1861, but plenty in 1862. March 1890 - Dan leaves Plumfield, Nat returns, close of Jo's Boys Jo is 42 October 1889 - Dan injured in mine accident, returns to Plumfield Summer 1889 - Franz and Emil get married, Demi engaged September 1888 - dog bites Rob, rabies scare
July 1888 - opening of Jo's Boys Jo is 40, Bess is 15, Josie is 14, Nan is 20 November 1878 - Thanksgiving, close of Little Men July 1878 - Dan comes back with injured footĪugust 1878 - huckleberrying, Nan and Rob get lost
June (?) 1878 - Nan comes to Plumfield, aged 10 May (?) 1878 - Dan comes to Plumfield, aged about 14 Dan is sent away Spring 1878 - opening of Little Men Demi and Daisy are almost 10, Nat is 12, Tom is 11 October 1877 - apple-picking, close of Good Wives, Jo is almost 30 November 1870 - Jo turns 23 (book says 25) Laurie and Amy come home Bhaer turns upġ872 - Aunt March dies, Jo and Bhaer get marriedġ873 (?) - Rob Bhaer born, Bess Laurence born June 1870 - Laurie proposes to Amy at Vevay July-August 1869 - Laurie graduates - proposes to Jo - leaves for EuropeĪugust-September 1869 - Jo finds out that Beth is dyingĭecember 1869 - Christmas - Laurie and Amy meet in Nice November 1868 - Jo turns 21, goes to New York, meets Bhaer July 1868 - Jo and Amy make calls together November 1867 - Meg spends $50 on violet silk
July-August 1867 - Meg fails at currant jelly June 1867 - Meg's wedding, opening of Good Wives (Little Women Part II) Jo is 19, Amy is 16 March sick in Washington Beth gets scarlet feverĭecember 1863 - 1st-2nd, crisis of Beth's illness second Christmas, close of Little Women October 1863 - Jo's story published in Spread Eagle June 1863 - Experiments, Jo's dinner party New Year's Eve 1862-63 - Mrs Gardiner's party, Jo and Laurie talk and dance Posting here for general interest - comments welcome.ĭecember 1862 - first Christmas, opening of Little Women
Based on close reading of text, plus assumptions and guesswork. This is my attempt at drawing up a timeline for Little Women, Good Wives, Little Men, and Jo's Boys.