Alison Larkin Presents: Little Women with Happy Women

By: Louisa May Alcott

Narrated by: Anne Undeland

Louisa May Alcott’s classic novel Little Women; Meg, Jo, Beth and Amy (the first of four books) gives us the March sisters in one evanescent year, from Christmas to Christmas, as they dance back and forth on the delicate, tender line between childhood and adulthood.

By turns as achingly beautiful as it is humorous and wise, fall head over heels for rough-and-tumble Jo, graceful Meg, gentle, gifted Beth, and willful Amy as they struggle, fight, sing, write, run, play, weep, laugh, and love their ways through life in Civil War New England.

This delightful recording is followed by a fascinating conversation between Anne Undeland and Alison Larkin about Louisa May Alcott’s feminist beginnings and why the famous story is still beloved today. And "Happy Women", an essay Louisa May Alcott wrote for Valentine’s Day 1868 challenging the popular belief that a woman needed to be married in order to be happy.

©2019 Alison Larkin Presents; Little Women is a Public Domain work (P)2019 Alison Larkin Presents

Critic reviews

"Narrator Anne Undeland captivates listeners with her exquisite narration of Part One of this classic. (The novel was originally published in two parts.) Listeners are effortlessly transported into the lives of the March family in Civil War-era New England. Undeland creates distinct and vibrant portraits of these beloved characters--Meg, Jo, Beth, Amy, Marmee, and Laurie--and superbly captures the sisters' great enjoyment of games, plays, crafts, and music, as well as Jo's start as an author. Themes of women's roles, family, and sacrifice for others remain relevant for contemporary listeners. Undeland adeptly conveys French words, as well as the occasional accent, including Irish and German. An afterword presents a stimulating conversation between producer Alison Larkin and Undeland." (AudioFile Magazine)

A Forever Favorite

I've always loved this story and it's nice to listen to in audible. The narrator did a nice job. Its always a fun holiday story as it begins at Christmas time. it's a great story for girls to grow up with as I did.

Fantastic Narration of a Well Loved Classic

I have had Little Women on my tbr for 20 years. With classics there are usually many good narrations to choose from.

I love Alison Larkin productions, and while this is my first one read by someone other than Alison herself, her high standards are easily met. Anne Uneland did very clear and distinct voices, and I was easily able to follow which sister was talking along with the several other characters.

While I really enjoyed this classic story, and will relisten again in the future, it still does not stop my favourite classic. This story was such a sweet story of sisters and how they love each other, as well as fight and have their disagreements. I loved the little historical bits. I enjoyed how different and unique each sister was (I know they were based on her own family.) I enjoyed that while I could relate more to one character, I admired and looked up to the other, as if she were my own sister. I also enjoyed listening to it so close to Christmas, but you can enjoy this story over and over, for years to come, anytime.

I highly recomend this version by Alison Larkin productions. She was the first person I tried classics with on Audible, and I rarely listen to anything else. Enjoy this beautiful listen.

I received a copy of this book at my request, and I have voluntarily left this review.

Loved Little Women!

This book was always a favorite of my childhood and Anne Undeland does it every justice. A beautiful and timeless book beautifully read! I look forward to part two.

Another good Alison La4kin Presents

This is the first I’ve listened to this book. I’ve previously read it. It’s a great book, hence being a classic.

This is the first book I’ve listened to by this narrator ( Anne Undeland ) and I would listen to another. She read this book well. It is a bit more of a reading than a performance, but a very nice listen. She uses subtly different voices for each sister. She makes use of accents for some other characters.

There are no explicit sex scenes, excessive violence or swearing.

I was given this free review copy audiobook at my request and voluntarily left this unbiased review.
Please feel free to comment on whether you found my review helpful.

A new version to love

I grew up listening to Little Women. This wonderfully classic tale is well read by Alison Larkin. I was a little disappointed that they stopped at part one and did not include part two in the recording. The interview at the end provided interesting insight into the author and the novel that I hadn’t known before. All in all, a very enjoyable listen.

I was given this free review copy audiobook at my request and have voluntarily left this review.

Wonderful Classic

I was given this free review copy audiobook at my request and have voluntarily left this review. This was a reread for me. I loved the narrator. I love this story so much!

Great narration

I've been wanting to read this book for a while and not gotten the chance. Listening to this version on my commute, I've loved Undeland's reading which is both engrossing and entertaining.

A great narration of a classic tale...

As I'm not a native speaker of English, I haven't been acquainted with many of the classics beloved by British and American readers. I've seen the 1949 movie version of "Little Women" but somehow I've never put my hands on the book itself - until now:) And I finally understand why it is a beloved story of so many readers...

It is a classic - a tale that spans itself around seemingly simple everyday events in the life of a certain family, written in a language that is elegant, complex and yet extremelly touching and brilliantly shining with gentle humour. The four March girls go through the ups and downs of growing up and of learning what it means to be a responsible adult, retaining that sweet naivety and idealism of an innocent child without coming out as irritatingly childish or stupid. All of them would make great friends, and it's a true journey of discovery following them from one Christmas to the next, witnessing their moments of joy and of despair...

Narration by Ms Undeland is fantastic; the girls have distinctive voices, the male characters are equally well done and the emotional side of the story is conveyed impeccably. I also loved what she said about the book and what the recording of it meant to her in her talk with Ms Larkin. It's a great narration of this classic tale...:)

DISCLAIMER: I was given this free review copy audiobook at my request and have voluntarily left this review.

Absolutely Perfect!

Easy to listen to narration of an entertaining classic story. I am amazed by how Louisa May Alcott made the characters of Meg, Jo, Amy and Beth so unique and so easy to follow throughout the story. Each girl was given challenges that made them stretch and grow throughout the story. As a mom the age of Marme, I want to know how she got so wise!
Little Women has always been one of my favorites and I think Anne Undeland captured every aspect of the story just right.

I received a free copy of this book from the author and/or narrator and/or publisher and I voluntarily wrote this honest review.

Anne Undeland Breathes New Life into Classic

Little Women is a classic that I loved growing up (particularly the early 90s film version); Ms. Undeland's narration does not disappoint! Her delivery is simultaneously enlivened and soothing. A great listen to wind down with at night, make a long car ride fly by, and keep you company while cleaning! If you are debating whether or not to download, go for it!