He adapted a number of popular novels into plays, including Janice Meredith, Richard Carvel, David Harum, Eben Holden, The Battle of the Strong, Alice of Old Vincennes, and The Rosary.
Rose was born in Stanstead, Canada East and graduated from Chauncy Hall School in Boston in 1881, and studied for two years at Harvard University.
[1] His numerous adaptions of best-selling novels into plays starting around 1900 to capitalize on their success were not necessarily intended to be productions of high quality.
In response to his adaption of Alice of Old Vincennes in 1901, for example, it was said that "the mills of Edward E. Rose, dramatizer, are not like those of the famous proverb, for they grind rapidly and not exceeding fine.
[3] His adaptation of a Richard Washburn Child story into the 1919 production The Master Thief was intended as satire of the melodramas which were popular in the early part of the 20th century.