After her first literary success with Hospital Sketches‚ based on her experiences in the Civil War‚ and a secret career writing "rubbishy novels" to contribute to the family income‚ Louisa May Alcott-s publisher requested a "girl-s book." She grudgingly complied with this semiautobiographical novel of four sisters and their beloved Marmee keeping a home with their father away at war - producing an enduring classic that has captivated generations of readers.