Little Women, or, Meg, Jo, Beth and Amy

This is an autobiographical novel written by Louisa, the daughter of the famous American educator Emma Alcott, at the request of a publisher. It was published in two parts in 1868 and 1869. It was intended as a novel for young girls, but it gained a large general readership. It depicts the family life of four sisters, Meg, Jo, Beth, and Amy, in their childhood, set against the backdrop of the down-to-earth atmosphere of a rural town in New England. The personalities of each of the four sisters are also written differently. Jo, the author, is tomboyish and wants to become a writer, while Meg, the older sister, is beautiful and ladylike. Beth is "shy" and good at music, and the youngest, Amy, wants to become a famous painter and tries to somehow overcome her selfishness. Various incidents occur around these four sisters, but the depiction of them helping each other and living cheerfully and courageously in their ordinary daily lives resonated with many readers and was very well received. Having established herself as a novelist, she later published a sequel based on the same subject. Her works have been translated into many languages ​​and are widely read. The film version of "Little Women" has a plot that includes a sequel. She is credited with introducing realism to American children's literature.

[Ken Akiyama]

"Four Sisters" translated by Matsumoto Keiko (Shincho Bunko)" ▽ "Four Sisters, volumes 1 and 2, translated by Endo Toshiko (Iwanami Bunko)" ▽ "Little Women - The Four Girls, Part 1, translated by Yoshida Katsue (Kadokawa Bunko)" ▽ "Little Women, translated by Onchi Mihoko (Obunsha Bunko)"

Source: Shogakukan Encyclopedia Nipponica About Encyclopedia Nipponica Information | Legend

アメリカの有名な教育者エーマス・オールコットの娘ルイザが、出版社の依頼で書いた自伝的小説。二部に分けて、1868、69年に出版された。少女向きの小説のつもりが、一般の読者を多く得た。内容は、ニュー・イングランドの田舎(いなか)町の堅実な気風を背景に、メグ、ジョー、ベス、エミーの四人姉妹の少女期の家庭生活を描いたもの。4人の性格もそれぞれ書き分けられ、作者にあたるジョーはおてんばな性格で、将来、作家志望、姉のメグは美しく淑女然としている。ベスは「はにかみや」で、音楽が得意、末のエミーは将来、有名な画家を志し、自分のわがままをなんとか直そうと努力する。この4人をめぐってさまざまな事件が起こるが、平凡な日常生活のなかで助け合ってけなげに明るく生きる描写は多くの読者の共感を得て、大好評だった。小説家としての地位を確立した彼女は、その後も同じ題材をもとにした続編を出した。彼女の作品は各国語に訳され、愛読されている。映画化された「若草物語」は続編を加えた筋立てになっている。アメリカの児童文学にリアリズムを導入した彼女の功績は大きい。

［秋山　健］

『松本恵子訳『四人姉妹』（新潮文庫）』▽『遠藤寿子訳『四人の姉妹』上下（岩波文庫）』▽『吉田勝江訳『若草物語――四少女　一』（角川文庫）』▽『恩地三保子訳『若草物語』（旺文社文庫）』

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