Inasmuch as The Inheritance was Alcott's earliest novel, it can readily be considered in the broad context of its relationship to the body of her work. How did Alcott mature as a writer? Readers may consider the novel as a reflection of the two directions which critics believe Alcott took in her later work. In what ways does The Inheritance foreshadow the adult thrillers she wrote anonymously, and the novels written after 1868 which identified her in her day as "the children's friend"? The obvious context of feminist elements in the novel should also stimulate thought.

Besides the possibilities for a comparison of Edith to Beth March and Jo March in Little Women, readers may also wish to consider the "Amy" characters in both novels. Another fruitful line to pursue is the degree to which Alcott succeeds in a novel of manners and morals. Readers may wish...