Louisa May Alcott, born on November 29, 1832, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, was a renowned author known for her relatable characters and strong female protagonists in 19th-century literature. Raised in a family involved in the transcendentalist movement, Alcott was influenced by her parents' beliefs and began reading and writing at a young age. Despite financial struggles, she took on various jobs, including teaching and laundry, to support her family.

Alcott published her first poem, “Sunlight,” under a pseudonym and her first book, a compilation of short stories, in 1854. During the Civil War, she served as a nurse but contracted typhoid fever, an experience that inspired her novel Hospital Sketches. In 1868, she published her most famous work, Little Women, which quickly became a bestseller and solidified her place in American literature. Alcott later published Little Men and became involved in the women’s suffrage movement, also contributing to publications advocating for women’s rights.

Never married, Alcott adopted her niece after her sister's death and continued to write, focusing on characters from Little Women. She struggled with health issues throughout her life, which she attributed to mercury poisoning from her nursing duties. Alcott passed away in 1888 at the age of 56 in Boston, Massachusetts. Her works continue to be celebrated and remain popular with readers worldwide.