Rose in Bloom

First edition frontispiece
Author	Louisa May Alcott
Language	English
Publisher	Roberts Brothers
Publication date	1876
Publication place	United States
Media type	Print
Preceded by	Eight Cousins

Rose in Bloom is a novel by Louisa May Alcott published in 1876. It depicts the story of a nineteenth-century girl, Rose Campbell, finding her way in society. It is Alcott's sequel to Eight Cousins.

Background

Alcott took three weeks to write Rose in Bloom while taking care of her mother, Abba Alcott, and finished it in September 1876.^[1] It was published by the Roberts Brothers in November.^[2] Little, Brown and Company republished it in 1919 with one illustration by Frank Thayer Merrill. In 1927 it was published by the same company with color illustrations by Hattie Longstreet Price.^[3] In 1935 John D. Ravold published a play adaptation of the novel and called it Rose in Bloom: A Play in Three Acts, from the Book by Louisa M. Alcott. The play takes place in 1885 in one room of the Campbell house.^[3]

Plot

The story begins when Rose returns home from a years-long trip to Europe. Spending the evening with her cousins, Rose discovers that everyone has changed. The youngest cousin, Jamie, accidentally mentions that the aunts want Rose to marry one of her cousins to keep her fortune in the family. Rose is indignant, declaring that she can manage her property well on her own and that she will focus on philanthropic work. Her cousin Charlie, with the approval of his mother, has already decided Rose is marked out for him. Phebe also comes home, no longer the servant that Rose "adopted" but as a young lady with a cultured singing ability, having formally studied music. Rose challenges anyone who would look down on Phebe. Phebe is readily accepted as part of the Campbell clan until Archie falls in love with her; the family feel that Archie would be marrying beneath himself. Phebe, whose pride and debt to the family make her wish to prove herself before she will accept Archie, leaves the Campbells' home and sets off to make a name for herself as a singer, to try to earn the Campbell's respect.

After some time at home, Rose comes out into society, much to Uncle Alec's chagrin. She promises to try high society for only three months. During that time, she and her cousin Steve teach Steve's brother Mac how to dance and dress properly for social events. Mac is grudging, but he eventually learns how to be a gentleman. Meanwhile, Charlie falls in love with her and courts her. Rose begins to give in to his charm, but he derails the budding romance by coming to her house late one night, very drunk, ruining her respect for him. After her three months of society are over, Rose begins to focus on her philanthropic projects and convinces Charlie to refrain from alcohol and achieve temperance in order to win her love and respect. With the help of Uncle Alec, she tries to help Charlie, but fails. Charlie's life ends in an alcohol-induced accident on the eve of a voyage to India to see his father and join his business. Although Rose was never in love with Charlie, she hoped that he would improve his habits so they could see what relationship they could develop.

Shortly after Charlie's death, Mac brings Rose a three-year-old orphan whose mother recently died at the hospital; Rose adopts the child and names her Dulce. Several months later, Rose finds out that Mac is in love with her. She has never thought of him as anything but a bookworm and refuses his love, but she declares deep respect for him. This gives Mac hope, and he goes to medical school, willing to wait for her. She is touched by his devotion and begins to see him clearly for the first time, realizing that Mac is the man she has been looking for. He settles a joke with her by publishing a small book of poetry to wide critical success, earning her respect even more deeply. His absence shows her how much she loves him.

While Rose discovers her heart, Steve and his sweetheart, Kitty, become engaged, creating a new sensation in the family. Kitty, who looks to Rose for sisterly guidance, is willing to follow Rose's advice on improving her mind. Rose continues to wait for Mac's return but reaches a crisis when Uncle Alec becomes dangerously sick while visiting Mac. Phebe nurses him back from the brink of death, at personal peril, and returns him to the anxious Campbells. She is greeted as a member of the family, sealing her own engagement with Archie with everyone's blessing. The homecoming is completed for Rose when she reunites with Mac and finally declares her love.

Characters

• Rose Campbell: The heroine of the story. She is sweet, kind, pretty, and ambitious. She is an heiress just come of age, and struggles with the many suitors she attracts by learning to judge love versus those who regard her only as "a good match."
• Archibald "Archie" Campbell: Eldest son of Jem and Jessie. Eldest of all the cousins, of steady and thoughtful character, he is the Chief, much respected by all the boys and an “older brother” figure to Rose. He works for Uncle Mac and has begun to "settle down", some think too young.
• Charles C. Campbell (Charlie): Also known as Prince Charlie, the “flower of the family,” considered the most handsome, talented, and promising of the lot. He is the spoiled only child of Stephen and Clara – spoiled by his too-indulgent mother, with no father present to give him guidance. Charlie is looked up to by all the boys because he is particularly charming and well loved in society, nicknamed "Prince Charming" by the girls. He falls in love with, and tries to woo, Rose.
• Alexander Mackenzie Campbell (Mac): The elder son of Mac and Jane. Known as the Bookworm, or simply “the Worm,” Mac always has his nose in a book and is regarded as the wisest and most learned of the cousins, even though he is deficient in basic social skills through his absent-mindedness and lack of interest . In Rose in Bloom, Rose tries to help Mac overcome his awkward social skills by inviting him to accompany her to a dance, and he generally allows her to "polish" him into a well-rounded gentleman. He later falls in love with Rose.
• Stephen Campbell (Steve): Younger brother of Mac. A good-natured, though rather conceited dandy, he idolizes Charlie and copies him in everything, not always to his own advantage. However, his intentions are sound, and he proves to have greater self-control and willpower than Charlie ever displays. He gets engaged to Kitty Van Tassel.
• William and George Campbell (Will and Geordie): Second and third sons of Jem and Jessie. They are in cadet school now, and very proud of their uniforms, though perhaps a bit awkward by sudden growth spurts. They are just now becoming old enough to travel in society, no longer being children.
• James Campbell (Jamie): Youngest son of Jem and Jessie; the much-loved but only slightly spoiled baby of the family. He is known for inappropriately bursting out information he overheard the aunts saying in confidence. He is also a favorite of Rose's, being the only child left of the boys.
• Phebe Moore: A sweet maid who Rose befriended in Eight Cousins. Between the events of Eight Cousins and Rose in Bloom, she travels with Rose to Europe and upon arriving in the US at the beginning of the novel, begins a career as a singer. She is accomplished and beautiful, and instantly attracts the attention of several of the boys, but wins Archie's heart without effort or design.
• Uncle Alec: Rose's guardian after her father died. He holds a different view to bringing up a girl than the culture at that time, believing that too many balls, attention and admirers ruin a girl, and that wholesome food, regular exercise, a well-rounded education and keeping a pure mind are preferable to the fads of the time. He brings Rose up differently to most girls in her social set, allowing her to study and play and get plenty of exercise. He is naturally the example Rose holds all other young men to. He is Rose's confidant and advisor in almost all things, and proves his worth throughout the book.
• Uncle Mac: Younger Mac's father. A successful importer, and kindred spirit with Rose and Alec. At the beginning of the book, he and Alec begin speculative match-making for Rose's hand with much humor.
• Aunt Plenty: The spinster aunt of Uncle Alec with whom Rose and Uncle Alec live. In this sequel, she is dealing with more physical issues due to old age, and has some issues with pride when Archie wishes to marry someone Aunt Plenty deems of a lower class. She is also dealing with the loss of her sister, Aunt Peace. In the end she comes around to everyone's satisfaction and is a model example of a loving family matriarch.
• Aunt Myra: One of the Campbell Aunts who always believes she and everyone else is sick. She drives the family to distraction, and some humor, with imagined diseases. Her only daughter died young, and she is a widow.
• Aunt Clara: Charlie's mother. She loves society, is a great follower of fashion, and is much involved in bringing Rose out. While she loves her son Charlie, she has over-indulged him to the point that he lacks self-will and strength of character, a fact that is noticed and mourned by the rest of the family. She also schemes to have Rose marry Charlie.
• Aunt Jessie: The mother of Archie, Will, Geordie and Jamie. She is the "little mum" whom all the cousins love. She is like a mother to Rose and would love to have Rose for a daughter-in-law, but despite some disappointment, genuinely tries to welcome Phebe when Archie's love for her first comes to light. Aunt Jessie is the most like Uncle Alec in his modern outlook than any of the other women in the novel.
• Aunt Jane: The mother of Mac and Steve; she is very severe and believes in discipline, but has a good heart. Rose comes to have great respect and affection for her despite her somewhat offputting nature.
• Kitty Van Tassel: A rich young woman who moves in the same social circles as the Campbells. Steve proposes and they get engaged. She is rather silly, but Steve's and Rose's good influence improve her mind a good deal and she tries to be better.