An Old-Fashioned Girl facts for kids
Polly (Roberts Bros., 1870)
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| Author | Louisa May Alcott |
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| Country | United States |
| Language | English |
| Publisher | Roberts Brothers |
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Publication date
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1869 |
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An Old-Fashioned Girl is a classic novel by Louisa May Alcott. It was first published in 1869.
The first part of the story appeared in Merry's Museum magazine. This happened in July and August of 1869. Later, Alcott added more chapters to make it a full book.
The book is about Polly Milton, the "old-fashioned girl." She visits her rich friend Fanny Shaw in the city. Polly is surprised by their fancy lifestyle. She also notices that the family members don't seem to understand each other well. Polly's simple ways start to change their family life.
This novel was also made into a musical movie in 1949. Gloria Jean played Polly in the film.
Contents
What is An Old-Fashioned Girl About?
Polly's First Visit to the City
Polly Milton is a bright 14-year-old girl. She lives in the countryside. For the first time, she visits her friend Fanny Shaw. Fanny's family is very wealthy and lives in the city.
Polly is amazed by the fancy home and city life. The expensive clothes and new habits are very different for her. She often finds she doesn't like them. Fanny's friends sometimes ignore Polly. This is because of her simple clothes and different behavior.
Fanny's brother, Tom, often teases Polly. Even Fanny sometimes thinks Polly is a bit unusual. But Polly is warm, kind, and always supportive. Her good nature slowly wins over everyone in the family. Her "old-fashioned" ways teach them important lessons.
Polly's Return to the City
For the next six years, Polly visits the Shaws every year. She becomes like a part of their family. Later, Polly moves to the city to become a music teacher. She faces challenges with her job and her own feelings.
The Shaw family, who seemed so rich, faces money problems. They are almost bankrupt. Polly helps them understand something important. She shows them that a happy family life is more valuable than money or fancy things.
With Polly's help, the family starts to change. They find a happier way to live. Tom, Fanny's brother, has wasted a lot of money. After his engagement ends, he gets a job out West. He goes with Polly's brother, Ned. Tom wants to help his family and make up for his past mistakes. During this time, Polly and Tom start to have strong feelings for each other.
The Ending of the Story
At the end of the book, Tom comes back from the West. He finally gets engaged to Polly. She is his true love.
Adaptations
The novel was made into a 1949 musical film. Gloria Jean starred as Polly in the movie.
