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21 h 57 minAudiobook14 minSummaryRead it, hear it, the 15-minute summary, and print and large print at cost
Little Women; Or, Meg, Jo, Beth, and Amy, the audiobook coverAudiobook edition · 21 h 57 min
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Little Women; Or, Meg, Jo, Beth, and Amy, paperbackPaperback · 6 × 9 in · printing soon
Little Women; Or, Meg, Jo, Beth, and Amy, hardcoverHardcover · 6 × 9 in · printing soon
About this book

Four sisters dream of different futures, but how do they grow without growing apart?

In a cold New England living room, Meg, Jo, Beth, and Amy March complain about Christmas without presents. Their family has lost its money, and their father serves as a chaplain with the Union army. With Marmee guiding them, the sisters face small disappointments and hard choices that test their kindness.

Louisa May Alcott gives each sister a wish of her own. Meg loves pretty things, Jo wants to write, Beth treasures music and home, and Amy dreams of becoming an artist. As they quarrel, work, and fall in love, they must decide what matters most—and what they are willing to change.

What you’ll discover

  • Four distinct sisters Meet girls whose clashing tempers and shared affection make family life feel warm and real.
  • Jo's restless ambition Follow a fiery young writer as she wrestles with temper, independence, and the desire for fame.
  • Kindness put to work A Christmas breakfast given away turns generosity from a fine idea into a concrete choice.
  • Friendship next door Discover Laurie, the lonely neighbor whose lively spirit finds friendship among the March sisters.
  • Goodness without dullness Explore how pride, vanity, and anger test people who genuinely want to do better.

Who will love it

Sie werden dieses Buch lieben, wenn Sie warmherzige Familiengeschichten mögen, Schwestern, die einander necken und trösten, und Heldinnen, die an sich arbeiten. Es eignet sich für alle, die Humor, Freundschaft und Lebenslektionen über Geld, Arbeit und Liebe schätzen.

What’s inside

The key ideas, in the 15-minute summary

  1. 4 Schwestern klagen an einem kalten Weihnachtsabend
  2. Ein verschenktes Frühstück bringt ein unerwartetes Festessen
  3. Jo und der Laurence-Junge finden einen Freund
  4. Lasten im Alltag und ein Klavier aus Güte
  5. Jo erfährt, wie gefährlich ihr Jähzorn sein kann
  6. Feine Kleider und eine Woche Müßiggang als Lehrmeister
  7. Jo opfert ihr Haar, ein Telegramm trifft ein
  8. Jede Schwester muss an einer Schwäche arbeiten
  9. Meg zwischen Liebe, Geld und dem Reichtum daheim
  10. Eine herzliche Erzählerin und der Weg eines Pilgers

Who’s who

  • Jo MarchDie zweitälteste Schwester: ein großes, unverblümtes, jungenhaftes Mädchen mit aufbrausendem Temperament, das Bücher liebt und davon träumt, Schriftstellerin zu werden.
  • Meg MarchDie älteste Schwester, hübsch und sanftmütig. Sie arbeitet als Erzieherin und sehnt sich nach Wohlstand und schönen Dingen.
  • Beth MarchDie scheue, musikalische drittälteste Schwester, die am liebsten zu Hause bleibt und ihr Klavier und ihre Puppen liebt.
  • Amy MarchDie jüngste Schwester, künstlerisch begabt und auf ihr Ansehen bedacht. Sie will Künstlerin werden und gesellschaftlich aufsteigen.
  • MarmeeFrau March, die kluge, geduldige Mutter, die ihre Töchter mit Rat und eigenem Vorbild leitet.
  • LaurieTheodore Laurence, der lebhafte, einsame Nachbarsjunge, der zum engsten Freund der Schwestern wird.
  • Herr LaurenceLauries strenger, gütiger Großvater, ein reicher Nachbar, der die March-Mädchen lieb gewinnt.
  • Herr BrookeLauries ruhiger Hauslehrer, der der Familie in einer Krise hilft und Meg im Stillen bewundert.

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Children's Classics

Little Women; Or, Meg, Jo, Beth, and Amy

by Louisa May Alcott · 1868

4 Schwestern stricken, streiten und spielen Pilger in einem kalten Bürgerkriegswinter, während ihr Vater an der Front ist.

Challenging10–20 hours to read2 languages

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In short

Would you give away your Christmas breakfast to a hungry family when you have no presents and your own stomach is empty? Four sisters do exactly that on the first morning of Little Women, and the scene shows what kind of book this is.

Little Women; Or, Meg, Jo, Beth, and Amy by Louisa May Alcott, the cover

From the 15-minute summary · Key idea 1

4 Schwestern klagen an einem kalten Weihnachtsabend

Am Heiligabend sitzen 4 Mädchen am Feuer und klagen. Ohne Geschenke sei Weihnachten kein richtiges Weihnachten, meint Jo. Meg seufzt über ihr altes Kleid, Amy findet es ungerecht, arm zu sein. Nur Beth erinnert daran, dass sie noch Vater, Mutter und einander haben.

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15-minute summary
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Details
First published
1868
Language
Deutsch
Level
Challenging

Cite this edition

Alcott, Louisa May. Little Women; Or, Meg, Jo, Beth, and Amy. Library of Alexandria, 2026, libraryofalexandria.com/products/little-women-or-meg-jo-beth-and-amy.

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Questions about Little Women; Or, Meg, Jo, Beth, and Amy

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Worum geht es in Betty und ihre Schwestern?

Der Roman begleitet die 4 Schwestern Meg, Jo, Beth und Amy March, die während des Bürgerkriegs in einer liebevollen, aber armen Familie in Neuengland aufwachsen. Jede versucht, eine Schwäche zu überwinden und zugleich ihren eigenen Traum zu verfolgen.

Wer sind die 4 March-Schwestern?

Meg ist die Älteste und liebt ein behagliches Leben. Jo ist eine jungenhafte angehende Schriftstellerin mit aufbrausendem Temperament. Beth ist die scheue, musikalische Schwester, die ihr Zuhause liebt. Amy ist die Jüngste, eine Künstlerin, die gesellschaftlich aufsteigen möchte.

Warum ist das Buch mit Die Pilgerreise verbunden?

Die Mutter erinnert die Mädchen an ein Kinderspiel nach John Bunyans alter Geschichte. Sie bittet sie, ihre Schwächen als Lasten auf einem wirklichen Weg zum Guten zu betrachten. Die Kapitel greifen diesen Weg auf.

The author

Louisa May Alcott

1832–1888 · American novelist

Louisa May Alcott (1832–1888) was an American novelist born in Germantown, Pennsylvania. She lived mainly in Massachusetts, including Boston and Concord. She wrote Little Women, published in two parts in 1868 and 1869, An Old-Fashioned Girl in 1870, Little Men in 1871, and Work: A Story of Experience in 1873.

More by Louisa May Alcott

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