Afternoons with Emily, by Rose MacMurray

I’ve always been a fan of Emily Dickinson, so when I read an early review of Afternoons with Emily, a fictional work featuring the intriguing poet, my interest was piqued.  I devoured the novel during a weekend vacation at the beach, and, even though Emily is ultimately characterized as flawed (aren’t we all?), I was not disappointed in what I read.  (Sadly, there will be no more novels by the accomplished Rose MacMurray. She passed away shortly after completing this book’s manuscript.)

Although Emily is a prominent figure in the storyline, she’s not the main character.  That honor falls to the fictional Miranda Chase, a young woman growing up in intellectual society.   At a young age, Miranda befriends Emily, whose character serves as both a complement and a counterpoint during Miranda’s development.  MacMurray obviously did her research; it shows in her detailed portrayal of the enigmatic Emily Dickinson, and her faithful rendition of nineteenth century society (although the character of Miranda is slightly more liberated than one might expect.).   The writing is lyrical and enchanting, but admittedly there is one notable fly in the ointment:  MacMurray (or her editors) chose to let Emily emphasize certain words by speaking them in capital letters.  This quickly becomes an ANNOYING feature of the book.  One WONDERS why they simply couldn’t have used italics.   This minor annoyance is a small price to pay, though, considering the overall quality of the text.  A book like Afternoons with Emily, with its poignant writing style and well-developed characters, is something to be savored.

I’m going to leave you with a Dickinson poem.  Nothing fancy—it’s quoted often, and you have probably all heard it before.  Even if you don’t care for the woman’s poetry, readers of this blog should understand the sentiment behind her words:

There is no Frigate like a Book
To take us Lands away
Nor any Coursers like a Page
Of prancing Poetry—
This Travers may the poorest take
Without oppress of Toll—
How frugal is the Chariot
That bears the Human soul.

Check the WRL catalog for Afternoons with Emily.