Louisa May Alcott was an American novelist. According to literary fiction and researchers, she has introduced the phrase "the curse of the mummy." During the Civil War she served as a nurse in a military hospital in Georgetown. In 1863, in revised form it was published letters to relatives that she sent from the hospital, and this book has brought her first fame. 'Behind a Mask, or A Woman Power' is a controversial novella by Louisa May Alcott that was initially published in 1866. The plot of the novella is focused upon Jean Muir, who works as a governess for one of the rich families of Coventry. She employs intrigues and manipulation to gain success in the society, starting from the family she works for.