Complete and unabridged. Four sisters in a New England house while their father is away at the war: the play they write, the money they have not got, the neighbour's boy, the burned manuscript, and the sister who does not live. Alcott wrote the first half in about ten weeks for a publisher who wanted a book for girls and did not expect much of it. She refused to marry Jo to Laurie and was never forgiven for it. Its 146 original illustrations have been carefully restored and coloured for this edition.