Emily Dickinson #3
This may be my favorite in this series to date. The perfect blend of setting, character and story really sing in this novel, which takes place during a very cold and snowy winter in 1857 Amherst, Massachusetts. While Amherst is now famous as Emily Dickinson’s birthplace and home, in 1857 Emily was just an eccentric member of the prominent Dickinson family, with scraps of writing spilling out of her pockets. And, in these novels, a penchant for sleuthing.
While today we experience cold and snowy winters, in 1857, those things made a much bigger difference in people’s lives. The cold and snow meant there were fires going all the time which also meant a greater chance of house fires. The snow cut off train deliveries (and travel) so food stores were hoarded. For the poor, the situation was worse, as the cold meant their firewood supply may not have kept up with the need to keep warm.
As the Dickinsons are asked to help out a poor family in town, by taking them food and other supplies, they are also awakened in the middle of the night by the ringing of bells – a house fire is blazing in the middle of town. Thanks to Carlo, Emily’s Newfoundland dog (a real dog who followed Emily all over town), Emily and Willa, her maid, discover a child in the woods. Her family has perished in the fire and Emily’s sister in law, Susan, takes her in temporarily as they attempt to find relatives for her to live with.
Willa is Emily’s Watson, and she’s often in an uncomfortable household position as Emily demands she accompany her, which means she does not always get her work done, to the anger of her superior in the kitchen. Emily is blithely unaware of this dilemma, and thinks Willa’s duties are limited to cooking, but of course she’s cleaning, dusting, ironing, laying fires and serving at the table, among many other tasks. This tension in their relationship makes it an interesting one, as Willa realizes Emily has no idea of her work and what’s more is uncaring about her social status, which also makes things uncomfortable for Willa.
Despite this, however, the two women make a good detection team and when it becomes clear the little girl’s parents died as the result of a murder and not an accident, the two women’s activity ramps up as they question various people around town, many of them tied to Amherst College, where the girl’s father had worked. The mother was a seamstress, providing another network of information as the women investigate.
At no time during the novel is the weather situation neglected, as snow and cold continue to envelop Amherst, making detection difficult. So does the young girl’s reluctance to talk to anyone but Willa, who feels a growing attachment to her. The solution is a wowser, perfectly set up by Flower and a good oh my gosh moment as the pieces fall into place. Flower also never neglects illuminating the pull of Emily’s writing, a pull that takes her out of herself. It’s a fascinating facet of her character. This novel was simply perfection. — Robin Agnew
Emily Dicksinson’s poem
I died for Beauty – but was scarce
Adjusted in the Tomb
When One who died for Truth, was lain
In an adjoining Room –
He questioned softly “Why I failed”?
“For Beauty”, I replied –
“And I – for Truth – Themself are One –
We Brethren are”, He said –
And so, as Kinsmen, met a Night —
We talked between the Rooms –
Until the Moss had reached our lips –
And covered up – Our names –