Loved by generations worldwide, “Little Women” is a universal coming of age story. Set against the backdrop of the Civil War, the story follows sisters Jo, Meg, Beth and Amy March on their journey from childhood to adulthood. With the help of their mother, Marmee, and while their father is away at war, the girls navigate what it means to be a young woman: from sibling rivalry and first love, to loss and marriage.
Based on the classic novel by Louisa May Alcott, a new three-part adaptation from the award-winning creator of “Call the Midwife,” Heidi Thomas (“Cranford,” “Upstairs Downstairs”) and directed by Vanessa Caswill (“Thirteen,” “My Mad Fat Diary”), premieres soon on PBS. You can watch it in Utah on KUED starting on Sunday, May 13 at 7:00 p.m.
Today we talk with writer Heidi Thomas about the enduring themes of “Little Women,” which Thomas calls “as complex as ‘Middlemarch.’” We’ll also talk about “Call the Midwife,” the popular series on which Thomas is the writer and executive producer. And we’ll talk about other adaptations Heidi Thomas has done of classics such as “Cranford” and “Madame Bovary.”