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The Complete Rose Campbell Story: Eight Cousins and Rose in Bloom
Kindle edition of Alcott's Eight Cousin Series with an active table of contents. This edition includes:
Eight Cousins
Rose in Bloom
Eight Cousins
Rose in Bloom
286 pages, Paperback
First published July 24, 2011
23 people are currently reading
140 people want to read
About the author
Louisa May Alcott
4,043 books10.6k followersLouisa May Alcott was an American novelist, short story writer, and poet best known for writing the novel Little Women (1868) and its sequels Good Wives (1869), Little Men (1871) and Jo's Boys (1886). Raised in New England by her transcendentalist parents, Abigail May Alcott and Amos Bronson Alcott, she grew up among many well-known intellectuals of the day, including Margaret Fuller, Ralph Waldo Emerson, Nathaniel Hawthorne, Henry David Thoreau, and Henry Wadsworth Longfellow.
Alcott's family suffered from financial difficulties, and while she worked to help support the family from an early age, she also sought an outlet in writing. She began to receive critical success for her writing in the 1860s. Early in her career, she sometimes used pen names such as A.M. Barnard, under which she wrote lurid short stories and sensation novels for adults that focused on passion and revenge.
Published in 1868, Little Women is set in the Alcott family home, Orchard House, in Concord, Massachusetts, and is loosely based on Alcott's childhood experiences with her three sisters, Abigail May Alcott Nieriker, Elizabeth Sewall Alcott, and Anna Bronson Alcott Pratt. The novel was well-received at the time and is still popular today among both children and adults. It has been adapted for stage plays, films, and television many times.
Alcott was an abolitionist and a feminist and remained unmarried throughout her life. She also spent her life active in reform movements such as temperance and women's suffrage. She died from a stroke in Boston on March 6, 1888, just two days after her father's death.
Alcott's family suffered from financial difficulties, and while she worked to help support the family from an early age, she also sought an outlet in writing. She began to receive critical success for her writing in the 1860s. Early in her career, she sometimes used pen names such as A.M. Barnard, under which she wrote lurid short stories and sensation novels for adults that focused on passion and revenge.
Published in 1868, Little Women is set in the Alcott family home, Orchard House, in Concord, Massachusetts, and is loosely based on Alcott's childhood experiences with her three sisters, Abigail May Alcott Nieriker, Elizabeth Sewall Alcott, and Anna Bronson Alcott Pratt. The novel was well-received at the time and is still popular today among both children and adults. It has been adapted for stage plays, films, and television many times.
Alcott was an abolitionist and a feminist and remained unmarried throughout her life. She also spent her life active in reform movements such as temperance and women's suffrage. She died from a stroke in Boston on March 6, 1888, just two days after her father's death.
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Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews
September 19, 2020
First up: this book is older. Some parts have not aged as well as others.
But still I think it to be a beautiful coming-of-age story about a relatable heroine. Though the story may be set in the 1870s (possibly 80s as well) I think about Rose (or Rosie in my translation) to be a good example for a compassionate, intelligent and driven young women. She stands up against the olden believes of her family for the people and causes she believes in. She continuously proves a woman’s value as more than just a wife and mother without belittling the importance a caring figure has in peoples lives, children especially.
Furthermore it sets a nice example for the growth of a healthy relationship based on trust and esteem for each other.
But still I think it to be a beautiful coming-of-age story about a relatable heroine. Though the story may be set in the 1870s (possibly 80s as well) I think about Rose (or Rosie in my translation) to be a good example for a compassionate, intelligent and driven young women. She stands up against the olden believes of her family for the people and causes she believes in. She continuously proves a woman’s value as more than just a wife and mother without belittling the importance a caring figure has in peoples lives, children especially.
Furthermore it sets a nice example for the growth of a healthy relationship based on trust and esteem for each other.
April 13, 2024
As a teenager, I loved Louisa Mae Alcott. Re-reading her books as a senior person did not have the same magic. Oh to be young and naive again! And that is who I would recommend to read this book -- innocent girls with romantic hearts.
This book is actually a compilation of two of Alcott's books which feature the same main character, Rose Campbell. Rose is an orphan and comes to live in the seat of the Campbell family home town. The extended Campbell family is large -- with many aunts and uncles and cousins. In fact, she has seven male cousins who become her playmates in her youth; thus the title of the first book, "Eight Cousins." The second book is "Rose in Bloom," which presents Rose as a young woman with a great inheritance being pursued by many suitors.
Alcott was a prolific writer before she began her books for young adults. But it was her books like these two which capture the joys and pitfalls of youth that propelled her into the status of a writer of classic fiction.
This book is actually a compilation of two of Alcott's books which feature the same main character, Rose Campbell. Rose is an orphan and comes to live in the seat of the Campbell family home town. The extended Campbell family is large -- with many aunts and uncles and cousins. In fact, she has seven male cousins who become her playmates in her youth; thus the title of the first book, "Eight Cousins." The second book is "Rose in Bloom," which presents Rose as a young woman with a great inheritance being pursued by many suitors.
Alcott was a prolific writer before she began her books for young adults. But it was her books like these two which capture the joys and pitfalls of youth that propelled her into the status of a writer of classic fiction.
August 31, 2017
I liked it.
I didn't care for the stories separately, but when read together it makes for a good read. Eight Cousins was the story of Rose's childhood. Rose in Bloom took off with Rose as a young adult. Of course there is more emotional issues in the second half. It had one chapter where I cried. Other than that it had a good ending.
I didn't care for the stories separately, but when read together it makes for a good read. Eight Cousins was the story of Rose's childhood. Rose in Bloom took off with Rose as a young adult. Of course there is more emotional issues in the second half. It had one chapter where I cried. Other than that it had a good ending.
January 22, 2021
I think Eight Cousins may be my favorite Alcott book. I love the interactions between the cousins and their distinct personalities. Beautiful book.
Rose in Bloom is rated very slightly less in my mind, if only because I love Eight Cousins so much!
Rose in Bloom is rated very slightly less in my mind, if only because I love Eight Cousins so much!
June 16, 2023
Lovely story But…
I loved both of these books.
While I realize they were written in a completely different time when it was an acceptable practice, I had difficultly with Rose marrying her cousin… although I’m certain it’s a second cousin.
Still the stories are lovely.
I loved both of these books.
While I realize they were written in a completely different time when it was an acceptable practice, I had difficultly with Rose marrying her cousin… although I’m certain it’s a second cousin.
Still the stories are lovely.
Read
November 2, 2021Love both books!
March 20, 2022
Another beautiful story by Louisa May Alcott! This copy I read is both
Eight Cousins
and it's sequel
Rose in Bloom
, so I'm going to tie them together in my review.
I love how it starts off in a happy-go-lucky setting seemed to be written for amusement, and turns into a deep story with a lot of lessons to be taken away from it. One of these, I think, was showing how parents shouldn't neglect the growth of their children, and the author shows this by telling how spoiling your children isn't good for them, as well as the extreme opposite isn't either. As always, Louisa May Alcott puts it in the best way possible. Another thing I got out of this is that a relationship can't survive on love alone, and that there is so much more to it. This applies not only to romantic relationships, but any kind, such as friendship, or a parent/child relationship, going along with the first thing I mentioned. A very important lesson, especially for today.
I would definitely recommend these two books!
Note: Although I loved this, I wouldn't recommend buying this particular edition. There are a lot of errors in grammar, the print is very small, and the cover doesn't match the story at all.
I love how it starts off in a happy-go-lucky setting seemed to be written for amusement, and turns into a deep story with a lot of lessons to be taken away from it. One of these, I think, was showing how parents shouldn't neglect the growth of their children, and the author shows this by telling how spoiling your children isn't good for them, as well as the extreme opposite isn't either. As always, Louisa May Alcott puts it in the best way possible. Another thing I got out of this is that a relationship can't survive on love alone, and that there is so much more to it. This applies not only to romantic relationships, but any kind, such as friendship, or a parent/child relationship, going along with the first thing I mentioned. A very important lesson, especially for today.
I would definitely recommend these two books!
Note: Although I loved this, I wouldn't recommend buying this particular edition. There are a lot of errors in grammar, the print is very small, and the cover doesn't match the story at all.
March 18, 2012
Poor little Rose has been recently orphaned. Thankfully, "Eight Cousins" isn't the type of book where someone gets locked in a garret and made to shovel coal. Rather, Rose is taken in by her Uncle, a gentleman sailor & physician recently returned from the sea. Surrounded by a large & rowdy family, Uncle Alec begins to raise Rose as he thinks best befits a little girl- basically, just like her male cousins. No corsets and "lady-like" behavior here! Rose learns to run and play, is comfortable and well-fed, rows a boat and has dozens of adventures with her cousins.
Uncle Alec (and through him, Louisa May Alcott) isn't at all shy about sharing his opinions, either. "Eight Cousins" is full of little homilies about family and child-rearing, honesty and courage and forthrightness. It comes just shy of being overbearing, but is thankfully saved by the sheer sense of fun in the story. Rose and her seven male cousins are always up to something- play-acting in the country, camping on an island, cavorting and having a fabulous time. They're joined by Phoebe, the dish-washing maid whom Rose decides to "adopt" as her sister, and the family thus opens their arms to her.
I remember adoring this book as a little girl (mostly wishing that I could also have a fantastic, rich family and fabulous adventures). This time around I still enjoyed it, but I also found myself actually paying attention to some of Alcott's little rules of life. I'm sure we could all stand to be a little more honest & good in our lives, right?
The story of Rose & her cousins continues in "Rose in Bloom." I have to admit that I was less impressed with this installment. Rose is a grown woman now, and her moral problems now have more to do with balancing her fortune and the expectations of her social circle. Uncle Alec would prefer that she avoid her peers entirely, but Rose is determined to be a part of it. There's a definite sense of "poor little rich girl" for large parts of it. Woe is Rose, people like her for her money. Rose's moral values are also quite a bit stronger than some of her peers, and I felt that she often judged people a bit too harshly. In fact, the entire family seems a bit more harsh and less-than-accepting of people's faults. Maybe it's just because the cousins are adults now, and they're exposed to the more "adult" side of the family, but the story definitely isn't as sweet as "Eight Cousins."
If the goal of "Eight Cousins" is to teach us to good people, "Rose in Bloom" serves as a warning: don't get so caught up in being good that you neglect or reject people because they aren't as good as you are.
Uncle Alec (and through him, Louisa May Alcott) isn't at all shy about sharing his opinions, either. "Eight Cousins" is full of little homilies about family and child-rearing, honesty and courage and forthrightness. It comes just shy of being overbearing, but is thankfully saved by the sheer sense of fun in the story. Rose and her seven male cousins are always up to something- play-acting in the country, camping on an island, cavorting and having a fabulous time. They're joined by Phoebe, the dish-washing maid whom Rose decides to "adopt" as her sister, and the family thus opens their arms to her.
I remember adoring this book as a little girl (mostly wishing that I could also have a fantastic, rich family and fabulous adventures). This time around I still enjoyed it, but I also found myself actually paying attention to some of Alcott's little rules of life. I'm sure we could all stand to be a little more honest & good in our lives, right?
The story of Rose & her cousins continues in "Rose in Bloom." I have to admit that I was less impressed with this installment. Rose is a grown woman now, and her moral problems now have more to do with balancing her fortune and the expectations of her social circle. Uncle Alec would prefer that she avoid her peers entirely, but Rose is determined to be a part of it. There's a definite sense of "poor little rich girl" for large parts of it. Woe is Rose, people like her for her money. Rose's moral values are also quite a bit stronger than some of her peers, and I felt that she often judged people a bit too harshly. In fact, the entire family seems a bit more harsh and less-than-accepting of people's faults. Maybe it's just because the cousins are adults now, and they're exposed to the more "adult" side of the family, but the story definitely isn't as sweet as "Eight Cousins."
If the goal of "Eight Cousins" is to teach us to good people, "Rose in Bloom" serves as a warning: don't get so caught up in being good that you neglect or reject people because they aren't as good as you are.
February 20, 2025
A sweet and idealistic telling of young love.
I loved little women, and all the books that followed. This one seems less real and more idealistic. Still a good read.
I loved little women, and all the books that followed. This one seems less real and more idealistic. Still a good read.
July 28, 2020
Did not read Kindle edition, as I have an old copy from 1956 with both books as one volume.
May 31, 2015
I much prefer these two books to the Little Women series. I never wanted to be part of the March family, but I wanted to live on Aunt Hill! It sounded delightful.
May 5, 2017
One of my favorites as we watch Rose grow up.
Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews