A question about Little Women.

[CurlewKate]

That scene at the beginning where they each find a book under their pillow. What book is it? I ask because I have always thought one thing-and I discover my best bookish friend thinks something else….

Pilgrims Progress, I think.

I think PP too

I've always thought it was The Pilgrim's Progess (which I remember reading as a child, and finding fascinating).

From memory, I always thought The Bible. Or perhaps specifically the New Testament (something about the story of ‘the best life ever lived’).

Pretty sure it’s the New Testament.

But they'd already have that as a family, wouldn't they? Whereas owning your own PP seems to have been a bit of a thing for girls in that time and context. Aren't they always on about it in What Katy Did, too?

I can't edit my post, but at multiple points in Little Women - including the chapter before - it's mentioned how much the girls loved playing at pilgrims, complete with bundles, and they're referred to as pilgrims, etc. They're also exhorted to behave like pilgrims. I just checked the book, and it's mentioned in chapter 40 that Beth does own it by then, as well.

A grand family Bible is a different thing from a personal copy. The NT is small, personalised (different coloured covers) and an intimate possession to be kept on the girls’ rooms for reading first thing in the morning. That is why the gifts are so special to the girls.
A very different reading experience from consulting a larger format family volume in the library or drawing room.

Like PP I thought PP.

As a pp has mentioned, it states in the text that the books are ‘the story of the best life ever lived’, which can only mean Jesus in that context. Pilgrim’s Progress wouldn’t have been spoken of in those reverential terms.

Another vote for Pilgrim's progress. I was so sure that I thought it was actually named, is it not?

I'm just not sure anyone would have described the NT as 'the story of Jesus's life' - I mean, obviously it is that among other things, but that's not really the way it's discussed in c19 literature.

So then @CurlewKate who thought what, between you and your friend?

I mean: "then she remembered her mother’s promise and, slipping her hand under her pillow, drew out a little crimson-covered book. She knew it very well, for it was that beautiful old story of the best life ever lived, and Jo felt that it was a true guidebook for any pilgrim going on a long journey"

Actually I think it would have been a bit sacrilegious to describe the bible as 'a beautiful old story' wouldn't it?

Perhaps just the Gospels then? Making an even more slender volume. Interesting! But surely must refer to the life of Christ, not PP.

Hmm, I have always thought PP, but now I've just read how Meg promised to, "read a little every morning as soon as I wake, for I know it will do me good and help me through the day" and that does sound more like dutiful NT reading than PP reading 🤔

Yes, I think the Gospels actually rather than the whole NT. And it’s definitely spoken of in terms of something to be read seriously and dutifully. While Pilgrim’s Progress does clearly have a religious theme it would have been seen as a novel to read for entertainment, not something to sit and study daily.

It's definitely Pilgrim's Progress! There are continued references to it. LMA was a transcendentalist and they were big on Bunyan.

Incidentally having recently read both Little Women and Little Men with my DD, I found the latter far more entertaining and less pious! 😁

There are continued references to PP because the whole novel is structured around the novel (Slough of Despond, Vanity Fair etc) and the girls' experiences reflect some of Christian's trials. But it had already been discussed by the time Christmas rolls around and they get their 'guide books'.
I've just gone back to check the passage and I can't imagine PP being spoken of with such reverence either. I seem to think the 'little books' come up again throughout the series in passing.

I always thought the Gospels- because of the points made by others on this thread. My friend thought Pilgrim’s Progress. I imagined them reading PP for fun and to build games round and Marmee giving them the Gospels as a“guidebook for young Pilgrims” and to remind them that there’s more to PP than the adventure.

Marmee does go on about it and remind them how they used to play PP when they were little - but I think of this as her laying the ground for the fact that's what she's given them! When Jo opens hers she does say "she knew it very well", so it seems the treat is having one's own copy in a different binding for each sister. And the reason they're reverential about it, I think is because each contains "a few words written by their mother, which made their one present very precious in their eyes"

Although I wouldn't put it past that woman to give them all bibles either, tbf. As a wise woman once said, it's all very well to give your own breakfast to the Hummels: quite another to make free with someone else's.

I always thought it was the Pilgrims Progress.

I think for a long time I assumed it was PP but then came to think it was the NT.

Didbt one of them get a ‘dove coloured’ version? So not only a Bible, but a GREY Bible. It would take a lot of sledding and skating to make up for that tbf.