Award-winning author Heidi Chiavaroli discusses her new novel, The Orchard House, inspired by the life of Louisa May Alcott. She delves into Alcott’s lesser-known romances and identifies the two men who inspired the character Laurie.
Readers worldwide adore Louisa May Alcott and her classic novel, Little Women. We fondly remember scenes like the March sisters giving away their Christmas breakfast to the poor Hummels, Beth’s gentle spirit in the face of death, and the debates over whether Jo should have accepted Laurie’s love or found a better match in Professor Bhaer.
But who was Louisa May Alcott, the woman behind this beloved story? And what romantic experiences influenced her creation of the heroes in Little Women?
While researching for my novel The Orchard House, I explored Alcott’s letters and journals. What I found not only enriched the storyline of my book but also deepened my admiration for her and the men in her life. Three young men, although their relationships with Alcott remain somewhat mysterious, played significant romantic roles in her life and inspired parts of the characters in her iconic story.
1. Alfred Whitman
Alfred Whitman, or “Alf,” was a motherless fifteen-year-old when he came to Concord in 1857. He formed close bonds with the Alcott sisters, especially Louisa, both through the Pratt family connections and their participation in the Concord Dramatic Union. Louisa and Alf maintained a lifelong correspondence where she affectionately called him “My dearest Dolphus,” and he referred to her as his “little woman.” Louisa later revealed that she based Laurie’s character partly on Alf and another young man she met abroad.
2. John Suhre
During her time serving as a nurse in Washington after her thirtieth birthday, Alcott met John Suhre, a blacksmith and a critically wounded soldier. Moved by his dignity and bravery, she stayed by his side as he faced death and later immortalized him in Hospital Sketches. His character inspired parts of my novel, The Orchard House.
3. Ladislas Wisniewski
Perhaps the most intriguing of her relationships, Ladislas was a young soldier fighting in the Polish Revolution whom Alcott met in Europe. They spent significant time together in Paris, leading scholars to believe in a potential romance, although some argue her affection might have been maternal. Despite differing views, their farewells were poignant, with Alcott expressing deep emotions in her writing.
These relationships, although often ending bittersweetly, are woven into the fabric of Little Women. While Alcott didn’t have a picture-perfect romance, Jo March’s fictional journey continues to resonate with readers, offering a sense of fulfillment and happy endings.
The Orchard House Official Synopsis
Award-winning author Heidi Chiavaroli invites readers into a time-slip novel appealing to fans of Little Women. The story follows two women, one in present-day Massachusetts and another in Louisa May Alcott’s Orchard House post-Civil War, as they battle personal demons and search for belonging.
2001
Taylor, abandoned by her family, sees a chance to fit in with her best friend Victoria Bennett’s family. Despite their shared dreams at summer camp, betrayal shakes Taylor’s newfound stability as she enters college.
1865
While Louisa May Alcott travels, Johanna Suhre takes up a job at Orchard House, caring for Alcott’s parents. She falls for Nathan Bancroft, but soon faces the dark side of her marriage.
2019
A successful author, Taylor, returns home upon learning of her adoptive mother’s cancer. Drawn into the story of a woman from the past, she finds a path to forgiveness and belonging through the lens of history.
About the Author
Heidi Chiavaroli mixes her love for history and literature to write women’s fiction and split-time stories. Her latest book, The Orchard House, centers on estranged sisters finding forgiveness through Alcott’s little-known history as a Civil War nurse. Visit Heidi online at heidichiavaroli.com.
