4 out of 5 stars

WOW!! I was not expecting to enjoy this as much as I did. This was probably the book that has been on my bookshelves the longest (over a decade now) and I knew it was time to finally pick it up. Oh and I’m so glad I did!

Rosamond really stood out to me as a strong-willed and level-headed female protagonist for a book written in the 1850s. To have someone like her be the leading lady, it definitely is revolutionary in its own right. Also, the amount of circumstances she found herself in in addition to the nature of her love interests no wonder this book was considered “too scandalous” to publish back then.

The plot is quite fast-paced and tightly packed with action and twists practically in every chapter. Some of those ending lines in the chapters had me gasping because I did not expect them at all! Two in particular were very pleasantly surprising in the best way possible. The only thing I wish was a bit different is that because at times it was so fast-paced the story didn’t get to breathe in certain scenes. This might be due to Alcott never gone to edit a final draft after being rejected by her publisher.

The love interests were definitely fascinating. Tempest is your obsessed stalker who will go to the ends of the world to make Rosamond his once more. Ignatius was the just, protective man who would do anything to keep her safe. Oh! And let me mention that he’s also a priest! There was this very tender scene between Ignatius and Rosamond and I wish it would have led to something a bit more. But I know that even having a priest as love interest back then was already crossing so many societal taboos.

The chase from beginning to end was very fun. It achieve its purpose of keeping the reader entertained and its end felt satisfactory. I couldn’t have envisioned a better ending but we warned this isn’t your happily ever after. I would say if you are a fan of dark/gothic romances pick this one up!! Louisa May Alcott was in her bag with this one and so glad it finally got to see the light of day even if it was a century later.

Young, beautiful Rosamund Vivian longs for adventure after years of being cooped up in a dreary house with her cantankerous and unaffectionate grandfather. So when the handsome and mysterious Philip Tempest pays them a visit, she is fascinated by his stories of adventure and his allusions to a dark past. Before she knows it, she's been swept away on his yacht, off to an exciting new life of romantic travels to exotic locales. However, it is not long before Rosamond discovers that her new love is not all he seems. She discovers, to her horror, that their marriage is a sham, and Philip is already married to another woman. In he shame, Rosamund tries to flee, but the deceitful Philip is not ready to let her go. From mountain monastery to secluded asylum, through France, Italy, Germany, and England, Rosamund wrestles with her own conflicting emotions as she tries to escape the clever and controlling Philip, but he is always close on her heels, and utterly unscrupulous in his pursuit of the woman he claims to love. Will Rosamund ever be truly free of this monster she once loved?

Apparently Alcott, best known for her more realistic novels involving the March sisters (Little Women, Little Men, Jo's Boys, etc.), also penned several outlandish adventure romances, including this little gem. Originally--and deliciously--entitled A Modern Mephistopheles, this book was ultimately rejected by publishers as being 'too sensational', even after Alcott tried to 'tone it down' and make it more palatable. It languished in unpublished obscurity until the headmaster of a New Hampshire school got his hands on the original sensational version and was able to finally get it published. And thank goodness for that.

Allow me to say: This book is hilarious. And I mean that in the best possible way. By the end of the story (and honestly, the title should be enough to tell you how it ends), Rosamund has been institutionalized by a corrupt doctor; concealed herself as a nun in a convent; masqueraded as a boy; climbed out at least two different windows; and befriended a wide variety of colorful characters. In the course of her adventures, no fewer than three men fall in love with fair Rosamund, including a Count, a war hero, and a Roman Catholic priest--in one of my favorite scenes in the books, Rosamund catches the priest reading Luther's reflections on marriage for clergymen, which she finds immensely promising. Priceless.

As much as Rosamund is a caricature of the endlessly good and beautiful (and courageous) heroine, Philip Tempest embodies the domineering and indefatigable villain perfectly. He is genuinely convinced that he loves Rosamund, and everything he does is 'for her own good'--including chasing her across continental Europe and falsely accusing her of creating his villainy out of her own insanity. He lies about her, kidnaps her, bullies her, controls her, and threatens violence to all who would help her (or try to take his place), all in the name of love. This selfish 'love' is nicely contrasted with the selfless devotion of Rosamund's priestly admirer, who is determined to honor her and his vows despite his immense attraction to her. His concern for her virtue strengthens Rosamund's own resolve to do what is right, and he shows himself her faithful friend time and time again.

For her part, Rosamund has a hard time moving past the love she once felt for Tempest. She is determined not to voluntarily engage in the dishonorable conduct in which she was previously an unwitting participant (that is, living with a man who is not her husband), but her heart is traitorous and she is still drawn to the vile and selfish Philip even after she learns of his deceit and wickedness--an attraction that empowers Philip greatly in his efforts to manipulate and control her. Fortunately, her interaction with other men gradually teaches her the difference between this corrupt and diseased 'love' and actual regard and concern for another.

Of course, ridiculous plots like this are a dime a dozen, and litter the romance aisle of any bookstore. However, this novel benefits from nineteenth century literary standards (which means scandalous behavior, though present, is not explicitly discussed) and Alcott's prodigious skill as a writer. Alcott, fresh from her own European adventure as the paid companion of an invalid, describes the places and people with style and flair, and manages to tell an outlandish story with a fair amount of subtlety and restraint. I have no idea if Alcott intended this book to be funny or not, but I like to think she got the joke. After all, this is a novel that Jo March might well write, and Alcott mocked Jo mercilessly (though good-humoredly) for her penchant for sensational writing in Little Women. I mean, the story isn't subtle--not at all. But the writing is excellent, and never detracts from the preposterous events Alcott describes. By writing so seriously (and well), the sheer bonkers quality of the plot shines through undisturbed.

I had a feeling I would enjoy this book--they had me at 'from monastery to asylum', and at the laughably obvious moniker of 'Tempest'--but I never expected it would be such an unmitigated pleasure to read. If you delight in the ridiculous and improbable and appreciate a crazy romance cocktail full of over-the-top characters and sensational plot developments, well, drink up, because this one's delicious.

What a tragically beautiful gothic story.

What did I learn from this book? Well, I learned that I like history a lot more than deboned Victorian gothic novels. I learned that I'm into Lousia May Alcott the same way I'm into Emily Dickenson--which is to say, I like their lifes and biographies a bit more than their writing.

This was my pick for book club, my first, and I felt like a jack ass because I didn't like it. I liked it LESS than everyone else, actually, which is a bummer, because I felt a little deflated during the meeting on Sunday.

To compensate I did Louisa May 101 and contrasted her life, upbringing, transendentalists parents and Little Women--and, two hours later? I'm pretty sure every one wanted me to shut up (a little, at least)and I was wishing I would have just saved myself and them some time and just picked Little Women.

I'm a big fan of Little Women--novel, film, you name it. You pick a version, I will do long stretches of different scenes. I can make my chin quiver like Clare Danes or over enunciate like Margaret O'Brien. And the point of all this: just because you LOVE LW and you love Jo's ramblings about Sir. Hugo and Lady Violet, it doesn't mean you'll actually like two hundred plus pages of her wildest fantacies. No wonder Professor Beher tells her that's probably not "what's in her soul." I hope not, at least.

In terms of literary criticism: the book was heavily edited in the hopes of earning profit and becoming "publishable" material. I think Alcott got distracted and couldn't keep up with the numerous trips to the chopping block, because many of her threads weren't so finely woven.

There were too many characters, and the men, in particular, were really two dimentional. I'm not sure if Alcott simply felt uneasy about her knowledge of men in a romantic sense, or didn't know anyone she found dark and brooding, but Laurie is a much better character. So is Mr. Brook, Grandpa Lawrence...you name it.

She also didn't trust the reader to follow her and over does her forshadow.

Do I sound harsh? I don't mean to. Really. In fact, I had to go back with my red pin. Originally I was pretty forgiving and, even of the ultimate sin: finding myself skipping pages, paragraphs, etc. But then I thought: Jane Eyre is good, The House of Mirth is good--others? Well, sure. There are lots. People, Sarah Orne Jewitt is good. I liked Ambrose Bearce better than this silliness.

It didn't have to be believable, but it did have to be interesting...this didn't do it for me. So I will save you time: read Rebecca by DuMaurier, instead. Read the 13th Tale, the Shadow of the Wind, even read ANNE RICE if you want a gothic brew-ha-ha...but save Alcott for Little Women and grab a kitten and your rag bag and eat some pop-overs while you read it and leave fair Rosamond on her isolated island.

Badass Louisa May

I've never read anything like it. I couldn't put it down, but I did have issues with Rose's feelings toward Tempest throughout, and I hated the ending. It just kind of ended really suddenly.

Sooo, this was a book that Alcott wrote to try to help her family with some financial trouble. To bad for her, the book was too bold they didn't publish it in her time!
It was edited to be more boring and printed under the name "Fair Rosamond", but this version is supposed to be the first one in all it's "boldness" glory.

The main woman, Rosamond, is surprisingly bold and independently minded for that time I think. I had no qualms with her, and actually found the story pretty believable. She falls in love with Tempest, gets together with him, finds out some not-so-nice things about him and runs-and he keeps chasing her, over, and over, again. So at times, a little repetitive, but, kept me interested for the most part and was a refreshing read just because of the time it was written in caused it to be something different to read.

I am putting it on paperbackswap, however, instead of keeping it for myself.

I absolutely loved this book! A historical romance/suspense and so beautifully written.