REREAD: Rose in Bloom
Aug. 23rd, 2019 07:17 am![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
feather_ghyllRose in Bloom – A Sequel to “Eight Cousins”: Louisa M. Alcott, Sampson Low
There’s a picture on the front of my copy of an anachronistic girl (dressed for the period in which this book was published, and one period appropriate illustration before the story begins, which is of an event from the last chapter. I disapprove of both.
In between this sequel and ‘Eight Cousins’ (reviewed here), Rose, her uncle and Phebe, once a foundling maid, now a dear companion, have been abroad. The book starts with her return, now 19 and a young woman, to find most of her cousins young men. Their elders are soon matchmaking, but heiress Rose has decided to branch out into philanthropy, which is not as easy as it sounds. She’s quickly tempted to go out in society, though, even if she won’t ‘come out’ as Aunt Clara, one of her many aunts would like. Rose makes a deal with her guardian uncle, to have three months of parties and gaieties, and see how she likes it. He’s not overly keen, but sees that experience is her best teacher, and his only demand is that Rose keeps her health in mind.
This puts her more in the path of ‘Prince’ Charlie, the cousin the other boys always thought would be brilliant at something. He’s attractive, but seems to take it for granted that Rose’s affection for him in the past will now naturally become more. He’s surprised by her high-minded principles, while she starts to see that he hasn’t decided what to do with his life and is in danger of living in a ‘fast’ style. Rose also dislikes how sure he is of her, and turns to her cousin Mac, the bookworm of the family, in self-defence. After all, his father asked her to help ‘polish’ Mac after an exhibition of bluntness at a social do. By asking Mac to be her escort and buffer from Charlie, this brings Mac out of himself a little. In the meantime Phebe and Rose’s cousins Archie (the Chief, as the eldest) and ‘Dandy’ Steve have their romances, some more successful than others.
Rose is greatly interested in Phebe’s romance, and plays a role as a messenger after a thwarted Phebe goes away. Although Rose has feelings for Charlie, they are more mixed than he would like, and when she sees him at his worst (inebriated), her Aunt Clara’s fond (and mercenary) hopes look set to be dashed. But can any man live up to the ideal her uncle has set? (One erudite conversation full of classical allusions that I didn’t understand suggested to the reader long before the characters who it might be. Well, that and having read the book previously)
The book is set on being an improving one, with Rose’s peculiar notions of simplicity of garb, furnishing the mind and seeing who you fall in love with and marrying as a responsibility influences other girl friends, and the reader. Rose is determined to be more than a wife and mother, but this means setting small temptations aside and living a quiet life, while others seem called to brilliant careers. But she gains her reward, of course.
This isn’t a pious book – Thoreau ets quoted far more than Scripture; the didactic element is still there along with dramas of illness, death, separated but patient lovers and the growing pains of not-so-little women and men. It’s somewhat episodic – the key three month period could have been polished more so that events interwove and flowed better. Still, I had my nose buried deep in it, even though I knew what happy ending was coming/
There’s a picture on the front of my copy of an anachronistic girl (dressed for the period in which this book was published, and one period appropriate illustration before the story begins, which is of an event from the last chapter. I disapprove of both.
In between this sequel and ‘Eight Cousins’ (reviewed here), Rose, her uncle and Phebe, once a foundling maid, now a dear companion, have been abroad. The book starts with her return, now 19 and a young woman, to find most of her cousins young men. Their elders are soon matchmaking, but heiress Rose has decided to branch out into philanthropy, which is not as easy as it sounds. She’s quickly tempted to go out in society, though, even if she won’t ‘come out’ as Aunt Clara, one of her many aunts would like. Rose makes a deal with her guardian uncle, to have three months of parties and gaieties, and see how she likes it. He’s not overly keen, but sees that experience is her best teacher, and his only demand is that Rose keeps her health in mind.
This puts her more in the path of ‘Prince’ Charlie, the cousin the other boys always thought would be brilliant at something. He’s attractive, but seems to take it for granted that Rose’s affection for him in the past will now naturally become more. He’s surprised by her high-minded principles, while she starts to see that he hasn’t decided what to do with his life and is in danger of living in a ‘fast’ style. Rose also dislikes how sure he is of her, and turns to her cousin Mac, the bookworm of the family, in self-defence. After all, his father asked her to help ‘polish’ Mac after an exhibition of bluntness at a social do. By asking Mac to be her escort and buffer from Charlie, this brings Mac out of himself a little. In the meantime Phebe and Rose’s cousins Archie (the Chief, as the eldest) and ‘Dandy’ Steve have their romances, some more successful than others.
Rose is greatly interested in Phebe’s romance, and plays a role as a messenger after a thwarted Phebe goes away. Although Rose has feelings for Charlie, they are more mixed than he would like, and when she sees him at his worst (inebriated), her Aunt Clara’s fond (and mercenary) hopes look set to be dashed. But can any man live up to the ideal her uncle has set? (One erudite conversation full of classical allusions that I didn’t understand suggested to the reader long before the characters who it might be. Well, that and having read the book previously)
The book is set on being an improving one, with Rose’s peculiar notions of simplicity of garb, furnishing the mind and seeing who you fall in love with and marrying as a responsibility influences other girl friends, and the reader. Rose is determined to be more than a wife and mother, but this means setting small temptations aside and living a quiet life, while others seem called to brilliant careers. But she gains her reward, of course.
This isn’t a pious book – Thoreau ets quoted far more than Scripture; the didactic element is still there along with dramas of illness, death, separated but patient lovers and the growing pains of not-so-little women and men. It’s somewhat episodic – the key three month period could have been polished more so that events interwove and flowed better. Still, I had my nose buried deep in it, even though I knew what happy ending was coming/
