"Little Women" is a novel by Louisa May Alcott, originally published in two volumes in 1868 and 1869. It tells the story of the four March sisters – Meg, Jo, Beth, and Amy – and their passage from childhood to womanhood. The novel explores themes of family, love, loss, and the challenges faced by young women in the 19th century, particularly regarding their roles in society and their aspirations for personal fulfillment.