Anna Alcott Pratt

Anna Bronson Alcott Pratt (March 16, 1831 – July 17, 1893) was the elder sister of American novelist Louisa May Alcott. She was the basis for the character Margaret "Meg" of Little Women, her sister's classic, semi-autobiographical novel.

Early life Anna Bronson Alcott was born in the Germantown neighborhood of Philadelphia on March 16, 1831. She was the first of four daughters born to Amos Bronson Alcott and Abby May. Amos Bronson Alcott was a schoolteacher and from the time Anna was born, he took detailed notes on his daughter's development.

Anna was primarily educated at home although she attended her father's Temple School in the late 1830s.

From an early age, Anna was "stage-struck" and secretly longed "to shine before the world as a great actress or prima donna." It was published after Louisa's death in Comic Tragedies (1893) which featured an introduction by Anna titled "A forward from Meg." Guests included Henry David Thoreau, Ralph Waldo Emerson, Lidian Jackson Emerson and Franklin Benjamin Sanborn.

Anna and John had two sons: Frederick Alcott Pratt (1863–1910) and John Sewall Pratt (1865–1923). Louisa offered $4,500 which was accepted. and she was buried in the family lot on Author's Ridge in Sleepy Hollow Cemetery, Concord.