Chapter 1: Playing Pilgrims with James Frankie Thomas

Episode 1 February 18, 2022 00:53:19
Chapter 1: Playing Pilgrims with James Frankie Thomas
Jo's Boys: A Little Women Podcast
Chapter 1: Playing Pilgrims with James Frankie Thomas

Feb 18 2022 | 00:53:19

/

Show Notes

This week, we're joined by special guest James Frankie Thomas, who writes the YA of Yore column for the Paris Review. We dive into the first chapter of Little Women, "Playing Pilgrims," where the March sisters await a Christmas without any presents and Jo can't get over her disappointment in not being a boy. We also get into the life and times of Lu Alcott, who, in their own words, was "more than half-persuaded that I am a man's soul put by some freak of nature into a woman's body." Why, you ask? "Well, for one thing, because I have fallen in love in my life with ever so many pretty girls, and never once the least bit with any man." Who can't relate?

You can visit James online at jamesfrankiethomas.com and on Twitter at @james_f_thomas.

Our cover art is by Mattie Lubchansky. It interpolates the cover art for Bethany C. Morrow's book "So Many Beginnings: A Little Women Remix," with permission from Macmillan Children's Publishing Group. It also interpolates the cover art for Hena Khan's book "More to the Story," with permission from Simon & Schuster. Our theme music is Mozart's Piano Sonata No. 16 in C Major. This episode was edited by Peyton Thomas and transcribed by Morgan Bimm.

A transcript of this episode is available here.

Other Episodes

Episode 19

November 18, 2022 00:47:08
Episode Cover

Chapter 19: Amy's Will with Gregory Eiselein and Anne Phillips

This week, we’re joined by Gregory Eiselein, current president of the Louisa May Alcott Society and Donnelly Professor of English and University Distinguished Teaching...

Listen

Episode 15

October 06, 2023 00:53:41
Episode Cover

Chapter 38: On the Shelf with Willa Fitzgerald

Who better to chat with us about this Meg-centric chapter than Meg herself? On June 28, 2023, before the SAG-AFTRA strike, actor Willa Fitzgerald...

Listen

Episode 17

November 03, 2023 00:58:43
Episode Cover

Chapter 40: The Valley of the Shadow with Saul Leslie

Good night, sweet Beth, and flights of angels sing thee to thy rest. Here to mourn the most meek and mild of the March...

Listen