Picspam - Nan
"Little Men" is the sequel to the celebrated "Little Women", and continues with the story of the life of our heroine Jo March, now known as Jo Bhaer, who inherited from her Aunt March a property known as Plumfield, where always on Jo and her husband established a school. It is in this novel where we find the spiritual heir of Miss Alcott.
Rarely do writers are able to return to a theme that were forced to abandon for any reason. Ironically to Louisa May Alcott, the same force that forced her to marry Jo was the one that allowed her to give us Nan: her celebrity as author.
If you do not know her, let me introduce you to Miss Anne Harding, Nan for the friends:
1940: Ann Gillis 1993
1998: Gabrielle Boni 1999: Brittney Irvin
This particular young lady came rather late to Plumfield, Nan makes not an appearance until Chapter VII (Once bitten, twice shy, I guess). And even for Nan were part of the school, it took a long introduction by Jo and practical reasons. From the twenty-first century, one wonders whether the protocol was necessary, especially when Nat and Dan only had to appear at the door for being admitted, but at the time of Miss Alcott's idea of having boys and girls living together was quite innovative.
"Daisy needs a companion, and the boys would be all the better for another girl among them; you know we believe in bringing up little men and women together, and it is high time we acted up to our belief [...]."
"You are right, as usual. Now, who shall we have?" asked Mr. Bhaer, seeing by the look in her eye that Mrs. Jo had some one all ready to propose.
"Little Annie Harding."
"What! Naughty Nan, as the lads call her?" cried Mr. Bhaer, looking very much amused.
"Yes, she is running wild at home since her mother died, and is too bright a child to be spoilt by servants. I have had my eye on her for some time, and when I met her father in town the other day I asked him why he did not send her to school. He said he would gladly if he could find as good a school for girls as ours was for boys. I know he would rejoice to have her come; so suppose we drive over this afternoon and see about it."
"Have not you cares enough now, my Jo, without this little gypsy to torment you?" asked Mr. Bhaer, patting the hand that lay on his arm.
"Oh dear, no," said Mother Bhaer, briskly. "I like it, and never was happier than since I had my wilderness of boys. You see, Fritz, I feel a great sympathy for Nan, because I was such a naughty child myself that I know all about it. She is full of spirits, and only needs to be taught what to do with them to be as nice a little girl as Daisy. Those quick wits of hers would enjoy lessons if they were rightly directed, and what is now a tricksy midget would soon become a busy, happy child. I know how to manage her, for I remember how my blessed mother managed me, and-"
"And if you succeed half as well as she did, you will have done a magnificent work," interrupted Mr. Bhaer, who labored under the delusion that Mrs. B. was the best and most charming woman alive.
"Now, if you make fun of my plan I'll give you bad coffee for a week, and then where are you, sir?" cried Mrs. Jo, tweaking him by the ear just as if he was one of the boys.
"Won't Daisy's hair stand erect with horror at Nan's wild ways?"
The little lady Harding proved that she could keep Mama Bhaer's hands busy. Nan is spirited, opinionated, has her own ideas about what can and can not do and is much less tender than the sweet Daisy, but still she has a big heart and an unconventional mind:
To my knowledge, nobody has adapted "Jo's Boys" to the screen and that's a real shame because it would be the vindication of Jo and, consequently, of Miss Alcott for the public at large. In that book, Miss Alcott presents a model of what Jo could have been if not for pressure from the readers. Nan is independent, and is working to break into a profession for men. Nan does not need a man, and Alcott lets us know it:
But the pride of the community was naughty Nan; for, like so many restless, wilful children, she was growing into a woman full of the energy and promise that suddenly blossoms when the ambitious seeker finds the work she is fitted to do well. Nan began to study medicine at sixteen, and at twenty was getting on bravely; for now, thanks to other intelligent women, colleges and hospitals were open to her. She had never wavered in her purpose from the childish days when she shocked Daisy in the old willow by saying: 'I don't want any family to fuss over. I shall have an office, with bottles and pestle things in it, and drive round and cure folks.' The future foretold by the little girl the young woman was rapidly bringing to pass, and finding so much happiness in it that nothing could win her from the chosen work. Several worthy young gentlemen had tried to make her change her mind and choose, as Daisy did, 'a nice little house and family to take care of'. But Nan only laughed, and routed the lovers by proposing to look at the tongue which spoke of adoration, or professionally felt the pulse in the manly hand offered for her acceptance.
This indifference on the part of Nan towards love relationships is a trait that sometimes, the directors of the adaptations of "Little Men" had set in motion with varying degrees of success:
Apparently what saves the situation a bit is that "Little Men" has always been considered more childish than "Little Women", but that is a rant for another day.
Alcott also provides us with a description of Nan, ten years after the events of "Little Men":
Nan was a handsome girl, with a fresh colour, clear eye, quick smile, and the self-poised look young women with a purpose always have. She was simply and sensibly dressed, walked easily, and seemed full of vigour, with her broad shoulders well back, arms swinging freely, and the elasticity of youth and health in every motion. The few people she met turned to look at her, as if it was a pleasant sight to see a hearty, happy girl walking countryward that lovely day [...]
I take this opportunity to show the only adaptation that has taken this description into account :
