INTRODUCTION xiii I. A NEW EDEN 1 II. THE FOUNDING OF FRUITLANDS 21 II. BROOK FARM AND FRUITLANDS 35 IV. THE MAN WITH THE BEARD 53 V. SUMMER SUNSHINE 68 VI. FATHER HECKER’S DESCRIPTION OF FRUITLANDS 75 VII. ANNA ALCOTT’S DIARY AT FRUITLANDS 86 VIII. LOUISA MAY ALCOTT’S DIARY AT FRUITLANDS 106 IX. AUTUMN DISAPPOINTMENT 112 X. IN AFTER YEARS 130 XI. TRANSCENDENTAL WILD OATS. BY LOUISA MAY ALCOTT 145 APPENDIX: CATALOGUE OF THE ORIGINAL FRUITLANDS LIBRARY 175 ILLUSTRATIONS THE OLD HOUSE AT FRUITLANDS, HARVARD, MASSACHUSETTS _Frontispiece_ In front are the mulberry trees planted by the philosophers for the propagation of silkworms. A. BRONSON ALCOTT AT THE AGE OF 53 4 _From the portrait by Mrs. Hildreth._ ABIGAIL MAY, MRS. A. BRONSON ALCOTT 4 _From a daguerreotype._ THE SMALL ENTRY WHERE THE VALUABLE BOOKS WERE KEPT 10 THE STUDY 28 A bust of Socrates stands on the fine old Dutch highboy that Joseph Palmer brought from No Town. CHARLES LANE 42 THE SMALL DINING-ROOM 48 Around this table the philosophers discussed their deepest problems. NANCY AND JOSEPH PALMER 56 THE REFECTORY, ALSO USED AS A KITCHEN 68 ISAAC T. HECKER 76 LOUISA, ANNA, AND ABBA MAY ALCOTT 88 THE COMMUNITY SETTLE 100 WHERE ABBA MAY’S STOCKING WAS HUNG THE NIGHT BEFORE HER 106 BIRTHDAY Anna’s bedroom is on the right, next to Mrs. Alcott’s. The portraits of the “Little Women” hang on the wall. THE OUTER KITCHEN 116 CHARLES LANE’S ROOM 124 The old cowhide trunk, in which some of the most valuable of the books were shipped from London; also the old chest in which the linen was kept. The spinning-wheel belonged to a former owner. THE BEDROOM 128