Rose Daughter Summary
Robin McKinley

Rose Daughter Summary

The classic version of "Beauty and the Beast" was written by Madame le Prince de Beaumont in 1756. This story of learning to look beyond surface appearance, of a young girl coming to see that her beast bridegroom is really a prince, has resonated throughout Western culture. Rose Daughter is a much richer version of this tale than McKinley's earlier Beauty. The characters are more fully developed, there is an atmosphere of genuine mystery, and the love that develops between Beauty and the Beast is more mature. Some have found the lengthy discussions of roses and gardening a distraction from the plot, but the rose is a complex symbol, and Beauty's love affair with the earth is deeply connected with her love for the Beast. Rose Daughter is a satisfying exploration of the necessity of love, faith, and kindness. It received acclaim as both an ALA Best Book for...

(read more from the Short Guide)