A Rose in June

"A Rose in June" by Mrs. Oliphant is a story set in the late 1800s that follows Rose Damerel, the oldest daughter in her family, and how different her life is from her mom, Mrs. Damerel. Rose’s dad, Mr. Damerel, is a sweet clergyman who doesn’t always take charge, and her mom is the one who really runs everything. We see Rose living a happy, easy life, while her mom deals with all the tough stuff, which starts drama about what Rose should do with her life, how families work, and what people expect from girls back then. The book starts with a nice summer day at their house, where Mr. Damerel is relaxing and Mrs. Damerel is super busy. Rose is young and lively. She is stuck between her dad, who likes to take it easy, and her mom, who wants her to be responsible. This beginning shows us how the family gets along, but also hints at what the book is really about: how hard it was for women to do what they wanted when their families needed them.