Louisa May Alcott was an American novelist, poet, and short story writer best known for her novel Little Women. Born in Germantown, Pennsylvania in 1832, Alcott was the daughter of Amos Bronson Alcott and Abigail May Alcott. She was raised in a family of Transcendentalists and was educated by her father. Alcott wrote for magazines and newspapers to support her family, and her first book, Flower Fables, was published in 1854. In 1868, Alcott published Little Women, which was an immediate success and has since become a classic. Alcott wrote several other novels, including An Old-Fashioned Girl, Little Men, and Jo's Boys. She also wrote poetry and short stories. Alcott died in 1888 at the age of 55. Her works remain popular today and have been adapted into films, television shows, and plays.