This memorable and touching autobiographical novel by Louisa May Alcott is the story of the four March sister's youth and young womanhood in and around their New England home. With their father away at war, the older girl- Meg, the pretty one; and Jo the tomboy- take care of Beth the shy one and Amy the artist and try to help support the family, when their beloved "Marmee" must leave to nurse Father who is badly wounded, the girls sustain themselves by putting to use the lessons of loyalty and patience they learned. When Beth, the shy sister, emulates her mother by helping the poor but catches scarlet fever from one of her charges, the trails of everyday life reach a climax. This great American classic demonstrates Louisa May Alcott's extraordinary talent at portraying the joys and struggles of family life in an unforgettable way.