47 pages • 1 hour read
Eight Cousins
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Summary and Study Guide
Overview
American writer Louisa May Alcott originally serialized her novel Eight Cousins (or The Aunt-Hill), chapter by chapter, from 1874-1875 in a popular monthly American children’s magazine entitled St. Nicholas. The story depicts a young, orphaned heir named Rose as she moves from childhood to adolescence, and each chapter portrays an important life lesson that she experiences and grows from. The chapters were published together in novel form in 1875. In 1876, Alcott published its sequel, Rose in Bloom. An established children’s author known for her novel Little Women (1868-1869), Alcott wrote popular juvenile literature to support her family members, who were impoverished because of her father’s idealistic but impractical approach to life. Other works by this author include Behind a Mask (1966) and Little Men (1871).
This study guide refers to the public domain Kindle edition available freely for download here.
Content Warning: The source text includes racist language about Chinese people.
Plot Summary
The novel opens on 13-year-old Rose Campbell, daughter and sole heir to her recently deceased father George’s estate and fortune. She is sobbing in the front room of her great-aunts Peace and Plenty’s house, having returned there recently from boarding school to await the arrival of her new guardian, her Unlock all 47 pages of this Study Guide Plus, gain access to 8,900+ more expert-written Study Guides. Including features:
Related Titles
By Louisa May Alcott
