The essay collection concentrates on the secondary works of Louisa May Alcott and looks at the idea that Alcott was as heavily influenced by her times as by her transcendentalist upbringing. Her work often discards or subverts the conventional and includes the new, the practical, and the real. The early sections of the collection look at her growth as a writer and include (1) the gothic and the monstrous feminine, (2) the theme of useful work, and (3) the themes of physical and mental health. The last section concentrates on Alcott’s philosophy concerning creativity and genius, both her own and others. Throughout the collection, contributors emphasize Alcott’s belief in women’s agency.