Little Women
By Louisa May Alcott (1868)
The immortal story of the four March sisters—Meg, Jo, Beth, and Amy—growing up in Civil War New England, playing Pilgrim's Progress, and learning love, sacrifice, and character.
Reading Little Women this term?
Schedule chapters into your Charlotte Mason week with one tap and read the full unabridged text in a calm, distraction-free reader with zero ads or Gutenberg formatting quirks.
Instant setup • No credit card required • Keep your pace forever
Chapter 1 Sample & Typography Preview
Distraction-Free ReaderBelow is an unabridged preview of Chapter 1 formatted in our peaceful Living Term reader typography. No ads, no sidebars, and no eye strain.
Chapter 1: Playing Pilgrims
'Christmas won't be Christmas without any presents!' Giving up their breakfast for the poor Hummels.
Playing Pilgrims
'Christmas won't be Christmas without any presents!' Giving up their breakfast for the poor Hummels.
[Complete Public Domain Work — Pre-1928 Edition.]
Keep reading Little Women in Living Term
Get instant access to all 57 unabridged chapters, plus 350+ other Charlotte Mason living books, poetry, hymns, and a peaceful weekly schedule builder.
Table of Contents
57 ChaptersEvery chapter below is pre-indexed for oral narration and easy 1-click scheduling into your weekly Charlotte Mason lesson plan.
Chapter 1: Playing Pilgrims
'Christmas won't be Christmas without any presents!' Giving up their breakfast for the poor Hummels.
Ch. 1: Playing Pilgrims
Little Women by Louisa May Alcott — Chapter 1
Chapter 2: A Merry Christmas and the Laurence Boy
Meeting lonely Laurie next door; Jo's spirited play in the attic theatre.
Ch. 2: A Merry Christmas
Little Women by Louisa May Alcott — Chapter 2
Ch. 3: The Laurence Boy
Little Women by Louisa May Alcott — Chapter 3
Chapter 3: The Castles in the Air
Sitting on the hill with Laurie, sharing their deepest childhood dreams for the future.
Ch. 4: Burdens
Little Women by Louisa May Alcott — Chapter 4
Chapter 4: Amy's Valley of Humiliation
Limes at school, the burning of Jo's book manuscript, and the lesson of forgiveness on the frozen river.
Ch. 5: Being Neighborly
Little Women by Louisa May Alcott — Chapter 5
Chapter 5: Jo Meets the 'Lion' & The Laurence Library
Browsing the magnificent bookshelves; finding a kindred spirit in old Mr. Laurence.
Chapter 6: Beth Finds the Palace Beautiful
The shy sister playing the grand piano in the neighbor's parlor; the gift of the little upright piano.
Ch. 6: Beth Finds The Palace Beautiful
Little Women by Louisa May Alcott — Chapter 6
Ch. 7: Amy's Valley Of Humiliation
Little Women by Louisa May Alcott — Chapter 7
Chapter 7: Dark Days: Father Ill at Washington
Jo cuts her long brown hair for twenty-five dollars to help send Marmee to the hospital.
Chapter 8: Beth's Secret Trial: Scarlet Fever
Nursing the German baby; the long night of waiting for Marmee's return while the fever breaks.
Ch. 8: Jo Meets Apollyon
Little Women by Louisa May Alcott — Chapter 8
Chapter 9: Pleasant Meadows and Jo's Writing
Publishing her first sensation stories; earning money to help her family with honest penwork.
Ch. 9: Meg Goes To Vanity Fair
Little Women by Louisa May Alcott — Chapter 9
Chapter 10: Under the Umbrella: The Harvest of Character
Meg's quiet wedding, Beth's sweet spirit, and Jo finding true companionship in shared values.
Ch. 10: The P.C. And P.O.
Little Women by Louisa May Alcott — Chapter 10
Ch. 11: Experiments
Little Women by Louisa May Alcott — Chapter 11
Ch. 12: Camp Laurence
Little Women by Louisa May Alcott — Chapter 12
Ch. 13: Castles In The Air
Little Women by Louisa May Alcott — Chapter 13
Ch. 14: Secrets
Little Women by Louisa May Alcott — Chapter 14
Ch. 15: A Telegram
Little Women by Louisa May Alcott — Chapter 15
Ch. 16: Letters
Little Women by Louisa May Alcott — Chapter 16
Ch. 17: Little Faithful
Little Women by Louisa May Alcott — Chapter 17
Ch. 18: Dark Days
Little Women by Louisa May Alcott — Chapter 18
Ch. 19: Amy's Will
Little Women by Louisa May Alcott — Chapter 19
Ch. 20: Confidential
Little Women by Louisa May Alcott — Chapter 20
Ch. 21: Laurie Makes Mischief, And Jo Makes Peace
Little Women by Louisa May Alcott — Chapter 21
Ch. 22: Pleasant Meadows
Little Women by Louisa May Alcott — Chapter 22
Ch. 23: Aunt March Settles The Question
Little Women by Louisa May Alcott — Chapter 23
Ch. 24: Gossip
Little Women by Louisa May Alcott — Chapter 24
Ch. 25: The First Wedding
Little Women by Louisa May Alcott — Chapter 25
Ch. 26: Artistic Attempts
Little Women by Louisa May Alcott — Chapter 26
Ch. 27: Literary Lessons
Little Women by Louisa May Alcott — Chapter 27
Ch. 28: Domestic Experiences
Little Women by Louisa May Alcott — Chapter 28
Ch. 29: Calls
Little Women by Louisa May Alcott — Chapter 29
Ch. 30: Consequences
Little Women by Louisa May Alcott — Chapter 30
Ch. 31: Our Foreign Correspondent
Little Women by Louisa May Alcott — Chapter 31
Ch. 32: Tender Troubles
Little Women by Louisa May Alcott — Chapter 32
Ch. 33: Jo's Journal
Little Women by Louisa May Alcott — Chapter 33
Ch. 34: Friend
Little Women by Louisa May Alcott — Chapter 34
Ch. 35: Heartache
Little Women by Louisa May Alcott — Chapter 35
Ch. 36: Beth's Secret
Little Women by Louisa May Alcott — Chapter 36
Ch. 37: New Impressions
Little Women by Louisa May Alcott — Chapter 37
Ch. 38: On The Shelf
Little Women by Louisa May Alcott — Chapter 38
Ch. 39: Lazy Laurence
Little Women by Louisa May Alcott — Chapter 39
Ch. 40: The Valley Of The Shadow
Little Women by Louisa May Alcott — Chapter 40
Ch. 41: Learning To Forget
Little Women by Louisa May Alcott — Chapter 41
Ch. 42: All Alone
Little Women by Louisa May Alcott — Chapter 42
Ch. 43: Surprises
Little Women by Louisa May Alcott — Chapter 43
Ch. 44: My Lord And Lady
Little Women by Louisa May Alcott — Chapter 44
Ch. 45: Daisy And Demi
Little Women by Louisa May Alcott — Chapter 45
Ch. 46: Under The Umbrella
Little Women by Louisa May Alcott — Chapter 46
Ch. 47: Harvest Time
Little Women by Louisa May Alcott — Chapter 47
When you assign Little Women to your weekly schedule, Living Term advances your bookmark to the next chapter every time a lesson is completed.
Add to Weekly Schedule (Free Trial)Why Charlotte Mason Parents Read With Living Term
Living Term replaces messy PDF downloads, ad-cluttered public domain archives, and lost paper bookmarks with one peaceful morning time habit.
Click Monday on your schedule, tap the reading row, and the next chapter opens immediately in your browser or tablet.
Complete spines from H.E. Marshall, Charlotte Yonge, Arabella Buckley, Thornton Burgess, plus 109 traditional hymns and poetry.
Every chapter includes noble narration prompts and copywork excerpts ready to go, saving Mom hours of Sunday evening prep.