Louisa May Alcott was an American novelist, short story writer, and poet known for her novel "Little Women" and its sequels. Raised in New England by transcendentalist parents, she grew up among intellectuals such as Emerson and Thoreau. Alcott began receiving critical success in the 1860s and sometimes used pen names to write lurid stories for adults. "Little Women" was well-received and remains popular today, adapted into plays, films, and TV shows. Alcott was also active in reform movements like temperance and women's suffrage. She died from a stroke just two days after her father's death. Alcott's early life was shaped by her father's strict views on education and her mother's desire to redress wrongs done to women. Poverty forced Alcott to work from an early age, and writing became her creative outlet. She served as a nurse during the Civil War and wrote about her experiences in "Hospital Sketches." Alcott achieved further success with "Little Women" and its sequel "Good Wives." She died at the age of 55, leaving behind a legacy as a feminist and influential author.