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Let Genius Burn — History
Let Genius Burn

Louisa May Alcott may be best known for the beloved book Little Women, but her story doesn’t begin or end with her famous novel. On Let Genius Burn, we separate the layers of Louisa’s life to learn more about who she really was–and all the ways her legacy continues to resonate today. We’ll explore the traumatic year of her childhood spent in an experimental utopian community, her service as a Civil War nurse, her final years of wealth and celebrity as a children’s author–and more intimate details and little-known stories of Louisa’s life. Instead of a retelling of Louisa May Alcott’s biography, each episode in the 8-part series examines Louisa’s life through a different lens–Louisa as a celebrity, writer, activist, daughter, and more– highlighting her complexity as a person, woman, and historical figure. Ahead of her time, Louisa railed against the limitations of her gender and fought for women’s suffrage. She craved literary greatness, but was weighed down by the financial needs of her family. Through writing scandalous Gothic thrillers, she found a way to voice her own inner turmoil. In the end, she achieved extraordinary financial success, but creative fulfillment remained elusive.We’ll examine all of this and more on Let Genius Burn. Find more on Instagram and Facebook @letgeniusburn or at letgeniusburn.com.

Copyright: © 2021 Let Genius Burn

Latest Episodes:

Louisa as Legacy Sep 06, 2021

Show notes

At the time of Louisa May Alcott's death, she was known to most as the "children's friend," an author of children's books and particularly books for girls. As time passed and scholars made the connection between Louisa May Alcott and the lurid thrillers she wrote under pen names, Louisa's legacy took on new dimensions. Today, we can appreciate Louisa May Alcott as the feminist and forward-thinking woman who is also the author of a famous novel called Little Women. This episode discusses Louisa's legacy and how it has changed over time.
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Louisa as Woman Aug 30, 2021

Show notes

In Louisa May Alcott's time, strict definitions and expectations of white womanhood permeated Louisa’s society and culture. Marriage and motherhood were the accepted roles for women; voting was inaccessible and illegal, education restricted, and earning a living through a career was limited. Louisa May Alcott defied gender expectations, sometimes through her acting as a way to embody a male character and through her dress, language, and active lifestyle. From a topsey-turvey girl to a self-made woman, she wore her own version of womanhood like a badge of honor.
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Donate to Sojourner Family Peace Center: https://www.familypeacecenter.org/

Louisa as Celebrity Aug 23, 2021

Show notes

When Little Women became a sensation, Louisa May Alcott became the ultimate literary celebrity. Fans were waiting out on her lawn and knocking on her door, and her life was suddenly not her own. Although she had always yearned for fame, she was surprised to find it costly and unpleasant. Still, her celebrity opened new doors for her. It gave voice to her causes, and it may have even spurred her creativity. In this episode, we unpack how Louisa's celebrity status defined the last twenty years of her life, whether it's possible to separate the artist from their art, and how Louisa's celebrity has continued into the 21st century.
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Support Mass Audubon this week: https://www.massaudubon.org/.

Louisa as Activist Aug 16, 2021

Show notes

Louisa devoted her life to the causes she believed in, primarily abolition and women's suffrage. Her political beliefs were handed down from her parents, who were constantly striving for a better world. The Alcotts made their home available to freedom seekers on the Underground Railroad, and Louisa eventually became a nurse during the Civil War, as she was otherwise not allowed to go and fight. She was also the first woman registered to vote in Concord. Learn about food reform, dress reform, and more in Louisa as Activist.
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Support the Robbins House this week: https://robbinshouse.org/.

Louisa as Scribbler Aug 09, 2021

Show notes

In this episode, we pull back the curtain to take a peek at Louisa at her writing desk. We will trace the development of her writing style, the desires that pushed her to write, and the arc of her professional career.

From crafting jolly tales to journaling her worries and struggles, Louisa spent her life meeting herself on the page. Writing, she said, “is my salvation when disappointment or weariness burden and darken my soul…” Through introspection and observation, she explored herself and the world she struggled to fit into, while her vivid imagination allowed her to express what was unvoiced inside of her. Through her writing, Louisa strove to prove her existence to herself, to claim a right to her thoughts and desires in a world that expected women to stay silent. Fortunately, her words still exist for us today, as luminous as ever.
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Support the UW Odyssey Project: https://odyssey.wisc.edu/

Louisa at Work Aug 02, 2021

Show notes

Before she became an author and celebrity, Louisa May Alcott was a teacher, seamstress, governess, companion, servant, and nurse. Though they were difficult, her experiences gave her material to write for the rest of her life. This week, learn about Louisa May Alcott's relationship with work, which was both her salvation and the bane of her existence.
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Louisa as Sister Jul 26, 2021

Show notes

Once upon a time, four sisters became immortal. When they were young, the four girls were still flesh and blood, ordinary girls who built towers out of their father’s books and put on plays in the barn for their neighbors and went hungry too many nights. One day, when they were all grown up, the second sister took out her magic pen and began to write down the stories of their adventures: the simple yet profound drama of growing up into women and forging their own paths. Like a spell, she transformed her sisters with paper and ink into characters who would live forever: from Anna, Louisa, Elizabeth, and May into Meg, Jo, Beth, and Amy. This is the story of the sisterhood behind Little Women. This is Louisa as Sister.
Visit our website to learn more: www.letgeniusburn.com/learn-more.
This week, we're asking for support for Louisa May Alcott's Orchard House museum. Please give if you're able: https://louisamayalcott.org/donate.

Louisa as Daughter Jul 19, 2021

Show notes

Before Louisa May Alcott grew up to be a famous children's author, she belonged to her parents: Bronson Alcott and Abigail May Alcott. Bronson was an educator whose lofty ideas brought him to the forefront of the Transcendentalist philosophy movement. Abigail May Alcott was a social worker and ardent supporter of women's suffrage. Together, they created a family where their four daughters were encouraged to be active, creative individuals. This is the story of Louisa May Alcott as a daughter.
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If you can, please support Feeding America: https://www.feedingamerica.org.

Louisa May Alcott: An Introduction Jul 12, 2021

Show notes

A short biography of Louisa's life lays the groundwork for this series. Meet the hosts of Let Genius Burn and hear about why we believe Louisa May Alcott was a singular genius in her generation. This is Let Genius Burn.

Trailer: Let Genius Burn Jun 27, 2021

Show notes

Welcome to Let Genius Burn, a podcast series about the life and legacy of Louisa May Alcott created by Jill Fuller and Jamie Burgess.
Louisa May Alcott is best known for her novel Little Women, but her story doesn't begin or end with her famous novel. Learn about the layers of Louisa's life, from her extraordinary childhood as the daughter of a Transcendentalist philosopher to the wealth and celebrity of her later years as a children's author.
Let Genius Burn launches July 12, 2021. In the meantime, learn more about Louisa's life on Facebook and Instagram @letgeniusburn and on our website letgeniusburn.com.

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