The Pen and the Planchette

We all know Louisa May Alcott for her Little Women, but did you know her other works? Alcott’s forays into Gothic and supernatural fiction often reflect her fascination with the psychological and the mysterious. In A Whisper in the Dark, she tells the story of Sybil, a young woman imprisoned by her uncle in an asylum as part of a scheme to control her inheritance. The story is rife with Gothic tropes, including secretive relatives, a claustrophobic setting, and the threat of madness. Or how about Behind a Mask? Alcott presents Jean Muir, a governess whose calculated manipulation of her employer’s family leads to her ultimate triumph. Jean’s mastery of disguise and psychological manipulation makes her both a quintessential Gothic figure and a radical critique of Victorian gender norms. Join us as we explore Alcott in a way she hasn't been discussed before!