Josephine Lawrence began her career as a journalist and then switched to writing books for children. She later branched out into adult fiction. Rosemary is a story written for girls. The character of Rosemary appears later in Rainbow Hill and Rosemary and the Princess. Rosemary's mother is ill and is sent to a sanitarium to recover. Rosemary and her siblings must cope with this change in their lifestyle and learn to take on more of the household chores. It is hard at first to live with their strict uncle.