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14th out of 51 books
—
30 voters
The Secret Life of Emily Dickinson
An astonishing novel that removes Emily Dickinson’s own mysterious mask and reveals the passions and heartbreak of America’s greatest poet.
What if the old maid of Amherst wasn’t an old maid at all? Her older brother, Austin, spoke of Emily as his “wild sister.” Jerome Charyn, continuing his exploration of American history through fiction, has written a startling novel abo...more
What if the old maid of Amherst wasn’t an old maid at all? Her older brother, Austin, spoke of Emily as his “wild sister.” Jerome Charyn, continuing his exploration of American history through fiction, has written a startling novel abo...more
Hardcover, 348 pages
Published
February 22nd 2010
by W. W. Norton & Company
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Historical fiction is a daring enterprise, which is a polite way of saying that it borders on the foolhardy at one extreme and the arrogant at the other. If attempting to recreate a time and place neither author nor reader can visit to verify smacks of foolhardy hubris, then fictionalized autobiography might be something worse. However, after reading The Secret Life of Emily Dickinson, the reader is glad author Jerome Charyn risked something worse to achieve something better: an engaging, intrig...more
Looking at this text solely as a work of fiction is easier said than done. I only suggest reading it if you already have a fair amount of background on ED. Elements to the story are probably true, but regardless the work functions only to OVER-embellish the few facts we know to be true of ED; additionally it poses romanticized theories on the poet's personal life that we'll never be able to prove, but are still interesting to entertain. Critics must realize the author's intentions here before ha...more
I really, truly did not like this book. Granted, I am not an Emily Dickinson scholar so I could be totally off base here, but Charyn, in an effort to portray the "real Emily" in the face of almost a century of her two dimensional portrayal as a prudish recluse, just seemed to take it to the opposite extreme. It seemed to me that Charyn blatantly ignored most of the known facts of Dickinson's life to the same extent as Dickinson's mistress-in-law (for want of a better title for her brother's mist...more
I have been a huge fan of Emily Dickinson since high school. In fact, I rejoiced when the poem given for interpretation on the advanced placement exam was one of hers. Easy money on that test. So I was intrigued to read this fictionalized account of Emily's life . Charyn spent much time studying Dickinson's poems and writings and did a wonderful job recreating her pattern of speech to create a glimpse into her wild mind. She was fearless and playoff and prone to grief and anxiety. Her relationsh...more
Up until I read this novel, I had no idea who Emily Dickinson was. I knew her name, I knew she was a writer but that was about it. I didn't know what to expect when I began The Secret Life of Emily Dickinson. What I learned was that Ms. Dickinson was a complicatedly simple woman with a deep desire to love and experience life.
I enjoyed the time I spend with her. Jerome Charyn had incredible skill to give her a voice. His descriptions were so vivid. I loved the moxie Emily had, the humor in which...more
I enjoyed the time I spend with her. Jerome Charyn had incredible skill to give her a voice. His descriptions were so vivid. I loved the moxie Emily had, the humor in which...more
Let me start by saying that while I enjoy reading poetry, I have never taken it upon myself to learn anything about any of the great poets - so I have no point of reference to tell you whether or not this fictionalized account of Emily Dickinson's life and the characters she encounters are real or not. Now I feel like I can tell you how I found the book.
The book in not written in a "modern" tone, but rather in Emily's voice as it would have been in the 1800's. This gave me a sense of being in...more
The book in not written in a "modern" tone, but rather in Emily's voice as it would have been in the 1800's. This gave me a sense of being in...more
Do you remember hearing that silent voice deep inside of you. The one that talks so often to no one else? I know that I am not the only one that has the chat going on. A complete life led in my very own head. Some days are busy and you only hear it at times. Other days the silence is so loud that if sounds as if it is roaring around and your shouting at the top of your lungs. But the words never make it past your own ears.
I feel that is how life had to be for Emily Dickinson. A voice that went o...more
I feel that is how life had to be for Emily Dickinson. A voice that went o...more
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For a woman who wrote nearly eighteen hundred poems, Dickinson spends remarkably little time actually writing or thinking about writing in this novel. Instead, she seems consumed with sexual desire for a whole cast of characters. This didn't bother me too much, as I read this as Charyn's attempt to expose and animate the inner workings of a woman's mind during the Victorian period of "piety, purity, domesticity, and submissiveness." Yet, of the relationships that Emily Dickinson must surely have...more
Charyn carefully adheres to the known facts of Dickinson's life, and he has a thorough knowledge of her poems and letters, the strains of which echo through his clever and elegant prose. Despite these qualities, the critics' reactions were tepid and unenthusiastic. They collectively took issue with his characterization of Emily as fickle, unstable, and promiscuous--hardly the makings of a perceptive and profound writer. The Washington Post denounced Charyn's choice to exclude Dickinson's poems f...more
Jerome Charyn's novel, The Secret Life of Emily Dickinson, describes Emily as michievous, witty,stubborn, brilliant and most astonishing, extremely interested in the male species. I love her poetry, but if you expect to read some of it in this book, get ready for disappointment. The author begins with her time at Mount Holyoke in the winter of 1847 where conditions were primative and emotionally numbing. There is nothing to do except chores and observing silence. Emily and a few other girls are...more
Not knowing anything about Emily Dickinson, not having ever read her poetry, I went into this book blind as to what to expect, but was immediately enthralled with her mind and her diction. Charyn does take liberties, he admits, in creating some characters, but they are so believable and in tune with the rest that I found myself forgetting who was real and who was imaginary. Emily's imagination is captivating and comforting, being a girl who had so many fantasy stories running through my head as...more
Source: Received from publicist as part of the Tribute Books blog tour for The Secret Life of Emily Dickinson. Many thanks goes to Nicole from Tribute Books for sending me a copy of this book for review. I received this book free of charge in exchange for an honest review.
My rating: 4/5
The Secret Life of Emily Dickinson takes on the task of deciphering just what makes Emily tick, and gives us a glimpse of the reclusive life that she led. Although this is a work of fiction, it is a plausible inte...more
My rating: 4/5
The Secret Life of Emily Dickinson takes on the task of deciphering just what makes Emily tick, and gives us a glimpse of the reclusive life that she led. Although this is a work of fiction, it is a plausible inte...more
Split into seven parts and 48 chapters, the 348-page novel is written from Emily’s point of view. If you want to get to know Emily Dickinson intimately, read this book and you’ll observe how imaginative and flirtatious she can be! You’ll also find yourself delved into her innermost thoughts and following her on daring adventures (daring for women of her time). Remember that it is her secret life and secrets can be scandalous, can’t they?
There exists a fascination with Emily Dickinson. A genius in a tiny bedroom scribbling poems that would become legendary. A mythological recluse writing about life, but not participating in it. Is it possible to tell a compelling story about an eccentric living in the recesses of her mind? Jerome Charyn draws out different aspects of her personality by peopling her life with his created characters. THE SECRET LIFE OF EMILY DICKINSON reads more like fiction than biography. While dutifully researc...more
Cover: Despite the simplistic cover, I still enjoy looking at it. Showing the silhouette of a lady beneath her dress and petticoats makes one wonder if the outer formality of a lady is somehow hiding an inner rebellious and free spirit. It initiates thoughts of what the story within could be like.
Plot: This novel fictionally covers the life of Ms. Emily Dickinson, from her time at Holyoke until her death. She is depicted as somewhat of a free spirit who tends to go where she wants despite the ru...more
Plot: This novel fictionally covers the life of Ms. Emily Dickinson, from her time at Holyoke until her death. She is depicted as somewhat of a free spirit who tends to go where she wants despite the ru...more
Very imaginative look at Emily Dickinson's life, fairly straight on the few general facts we know but highly fanciful in the more intimate details. Of course much of what we feel we know about Dickinson's life is largely speculative, and the novel is as much about our romanticization of Dickinson as it is about the reclusive poet herself. Excellently written. What's most interesting is your opinion of the book probably will largely depend on how closely you feel the author comes to duplicating y...more
It started out so promisingly, enticing me by hinting that it would reveal the venerable Miss Dickinson's inner heart... And it did, I suppose, to a point. The prose degenerated as Emily's life went on, but I'm going to assume this is the author's way of portraying the inevitable eccentricities that accompany a lifetime of inner genius without outlet other than writing missives to her sister-in-law and pining for the handyman from her young womanhood at Holyoke. I hate that it was written by a m...more
The truth can be hard to discern from fiction in this well written novel as it is apparent when taking a look at Ms. Dickinson’s life. Great care was taken to incorporate accurate details regarding places, times, people, and the like, making it almost an extension of those accounts we deem biographic in nature instead of a work of mere fancy. I for one am not usually for history laden stories; this time around I found the accuracy refreshing as I took a walk through a short history of the author...more
If you want to get to know Emily Dickinson then this is the novel for you. However mainly due to the title I thought that this book would be more scandalous with some hidden truths that Emily Dickinson would not want the world to know. However this wasn’t the case we are given the picture that Emily Dickinson is a ‘timid old maid’ and this wasn’t what I was expecting.
This novel is told from the point of view of Emily Dickinson and the language and the text is true to what Emily Dickinson would o...more
This novel is told from the point of view of Emily Dickinson and the language and the text is true to what Emily Dickinson would o...more
First of all, I have to admit some things up front. I have never been the world's biggest poetry fan, and I know next to nothing about Emily Dickinson's poetry. I know absolutely nothing about her life. So, I definitely did not open this book with the POV that I would in any way critique or chime in on whether or not the details of the story (or even the overall picture) are historically accurate.
The one thing I do know about her life is that as she aged, she grew increasingly eccentric without...more
The one thing I do know about her life is that as she aged, she grew increasingly eccentric without...more
The book's cover shows a woman in silhouette, her pencil poised over a book. Her skirt is translucent, tantalizingly revealing the outline of her legs and knickers. The title is The Secret Life of Emily Dickinson.
Is it any surprise I expected something a little more shocking, even scandalous?
Instead, author Jerome Charyn gives us an Emily Dickinson that is pretty much what you'd expect: a timid old maid. Her "secret life" exists mainly in her mind, where she lusts after many men (and perhaps a...more
Is it any surprise I expected something a little more shocking, even scandalous?
Instead, author Jerome Charyn gives us an Emily Dickinson that is pretty much what you'd expect: a timid old maid. Her "secret life" exists mainly in her mind, where she lusts after many men (and perhaps a...more
I'm another one who is unfamiliar with Dickinson's poems and life, so I don't know how much was made up and what was real. Charyn writes in the style of Dickinson and her times and covers lots of everyday details, down to the black cakes and raisins (chocolate?). I would have expected some of her poetry, but perhaps there were copyright problems? Before reading this I read The Gods of Gotham which was also placed in the mid 1800's but in New York City so some of the scenes when she was in a bigg...more
The author, Jerome Charyn, miraculously captures the vivid, startling voice of Emily Dickinson in this first person narrative novel. The pages literally read as though they could have been torn from Emily’s diary. Crafting words into sentences that sparkle, the author offers an intimately absorbing glimpse into Emily’s secrets, fears, and passions. We meet Emily as a mischievous and ferociously intelligent young woman at Mount Holyoke Female Seminary, and enter her world to see the places, peopl...more
Jan 15, 2011
lee lee
rated it
4 of 5 stars
·
review of another edition
Recommends it for:
students, teachers, writers, those just wanting to read a good book
Shelves:
2011,
fathers-daughters
If there can be a book that successfully, but fictionally fills in the missing details of the life of our dear "Queen Recluse" than this it. This book is a tribute to Emily Dickinson, but the story itself is contemporary. Thus, it would appeal to both lovers of history, and those who just want to read a good book. Told from 1st person POV, the language of the text is true to Emily's own lexicon and distinct style, without feeling copied or cliched. You'll read words you've never heard before (un...more
Like many people.Emily Dickinson is one of my Favorite Poets;so,of course I was eager it to read it. The fact that it was written by a male author was a bit surprising but if he could successfully capture Dickinson's voice,why not? My opinion? Yes,I really believed the author's writing as a women , especially one as complex & gifted as she was. However, I found quite a bit of this book overwritten,in fact,self-indulgently so. Also,where was her poems? Alot was written about different men she...more
Aug 02, 2011
Melissa
added it
I think the cover image tells you everything you need to know about this one. While Charyn has clearly read everything Dickinson has written and most everything written about her and creates a convincing "voice" for her in this novel and a reasonable facsimile of the spaces she lived and wrote in, the prurience with which he imagines her unbridled sexual urges for pretty much anything in pants is just sort of icky. However, don't rush out and buy a copy hoping for titillation. There isn't any, r...more
What a brilliant idea - a novel from the point of view of the mysterious Emily Dickinson. Such a fascinating historical figure must make a complex and intriguing protagonist, yes? No.
Unfortunately, while Charyn begins with a wonderful idea and makes a (sadly uneven) attempt to imitate Dickinson's diction and syntax, he reduces the Belle of Amherst to a silly, flighty character who suffers from one girlish crush after another - and well past the phase of girlhood.
Another sad omission is that, a...more
Unfortunately, while Charyn begins with a wonderful idea and makes a (sadly uneven) attempt to imitate Dickinson's diction and syntax, he reduces the Belle of Amherst to a silly, flighty character who suffers from one girlish crush after another - and well past the phase of girlhood.
Another sad omission is that, a...more
It appears that people either like this book a lot or hate it--mainly, it seems, for the implausible narrative and too-sassy voice. The author writes in the first-person as 'Dickinson', which is kind of neat, actually. Corny title notwithstanding, I liked this book. A "fan" seeking a kind of 'authenticity' will be sorely disappointed (I gather). But this is good writing. Who knows whether she indeed laughed inside, taking secret pleasure in her wickedness, or picked at the scabs of her sadness a...more
Emily Dickinson is a favorite poet of mine and as a teen, I carried her verses with me as I wandered in the woods. When I bought this novel, I was eager to spend late nights inside Emily's imagined life. That I did, but with sadness and disappointment. It was as if a treasured friend became someone I had never really known. I felt duped and injured, but perhaps I've had Emily on a huge pedestal? There are so many invented love interests in Emily's life in this book that I began to think she was...more
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| Great review of this book | 1 | 7 | Mar 19, 2010 09:33am |
Jerome Charyn has been teaching film for the past fourteen years at the American University of Paris. His novel, The Green Lantern, was a finalist for the PEN/Faulkner Award and he has also received the Rosenthal Award from the American Academy of Arts and Letters. Charyns new novel, The Secret Life of Emily Dickinson, an astonishing work that reveals the passions and heartbreak of Americas greate...more
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