In the following excerpt, Shealy views Alcott as "a pioneer in American fantasy literature. "

In the following essay, a version of which was presented at the National Women's Studies Association Conference in May, 1980, Halttunen examines the role of the "parlor theatrical" in Alcott's fiction, noting that the popularity of this dramatic form reflected idealized conceptions of the role of the family during the Victorian era.

In the following chapter from a critical study of Alcott, Elbert examines how Alcott's novel Moods examines social and moral questions associated with relationships between the sexes.

In the following excerpt, Stern discusses recurring themes and structural devices in Alcott's sensation stories.

In the following essay, Estes and Lant emphasize the ambiguity and complexity of Alcott's portrayal of "a young girl's entry into the world of Adulthood" in "Fancy's Friend."

In the following essay, Stoneley considers the use of fashion in Louisa May Alcott's work as a consequence of her upbringing. He asserts that Alcott's treatment of fashion also reflects tensions concerning the nineteenth century's consumer-driven middle class.

In the following essay, Carpenter studies the theme of repressed rage in "A Whisper in the Dark," commenting that "the text should be viewed as a battleground not only for its characters but for its author as well."

In the following essay, Keyser finds a radical feminist subtext in Alcott's children's story "Cupid and Chow-chow. "

In the following chapter from a critical study of Alcott's fiction, Keyser offers an analysis of Behind a Mask, considering the work in the context of the "Victorian Cult of True Womanhood. "

In the following excerpt, Stern discusses characterizations, themes, and literary sources for Alcotts sensation stories.

In the following essay, Keyser argues that "Alcott uses the Gothic machinery of a highly implausibleand melodramatic story to make a number of telling points about the nature of patriarchy."

In the following essay, Yellin argues that Alcott's feminist concerns are revealed in her novel Work, which is distinguished from other nineteenth-century novels "in proposing that women extend their actions into the public sphere."

In the following essay, Stern examines Alcott's artistic development throughout her career, focusing in particular on the author's approach to both the craft and the business of fiction writing.

In the following essay, Fetterley argues that " 'Behind a Mask' is Alcott's most radical text."

In the following essay, Marsella articulates the "moral code" of Alcott's Scrap Bag stories in relation to the author's portrayal of women and children.

In the following excerpt, Douglas contrasts Alcott's sensation stories with her popular juvenile writings and concludes that "the little girls of Alcott's later work have something in common with the femmes fatales of her early books."

In the following essay, Rostenberg discusses the publishing history of Alcott's pseudonymous sensation stories.