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| The August Zoom |
Dear Bookclub,
Lidian Jackson Emerson, imagined by Amy Belding Brown in "Mr. Emerson's Wife", brought forth a variety of bookclub observations. Being married to Ralph Waldo Emerson jettisoned Lidian into our imaginations as a woman to be admired and studied, yet the reality of 19th century life in Massachusetts dragged her into the trenches of drudgery, popping our happy, little thought-bubbles. Val commented on the pace slowed with the detail, yet the writing, very good. The pace and detail may accentuate the mundane in daily existence illustrating the obstacles for travel, exchanges, growth and development. As Trudy noted, Lidian, being an activist for abolitionism, was also enslaved(not equating of course!)* in household management which allowed for Mr. Emerson to do his work along with hosting colleagues in their home. We really wondered how much was true, noting that Brown did strongly state that this is a work of fiction. At the forefront of that wonder, was Lidian's relationship with Henry David Thoreau. Much is illuminated on that topic in the article from Terrie below.
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| Lidian Emerson with son Edward, circa 1847 |
This is an excellent history although strangely, found on a blog "History of American Women" with
Lidian being a 'famous wife', it ends up mostly being about Ralph Waldo Emerson. Note in the first paragraph: *'She opposed slavery, supported women’s rights, and considered marriage to an unfit mate to be tantamount to slavery.'
Please enjoy:
The link below to the home of Ralph Waldo Emerson just makes me long to go to Concord! Click on the link, 'People' ..'who lived here'.... to see some great pix of the cast of characters.
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| Bush |
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| Lidian |
Terrie shared a New York Times article from November 1987 reviewing Delores Bird Carpenter's "The Selected Letters of Lidian Jackson Emerson", the book Brown encouraged readers to explore in her Acknowledgements:
I
weakened and bought the book! I love it of course. The letters do
provide a much deeper understanding of Lidian for me, her letters
portraying scenes, many familiar, others an enhancement to Brown's
telling. Layering these letters with our book does Lidian's charm and intelligence much justice.
Check out this dear picture of Waldo, placed by Lidia's letter to her sister Lucy, the first after Waldo's death. Just a week after he died of scarlet fever, the letter is heartbreaking to read.
Trudy's suggestions for an upcoming read:
“Women Rowing North” Mary Pipher
“The Splendid and The Vile” Erik Larson
“Things We Cannot Say” Kelly Rimmer *chosen
Please note that our next book was to be Aja Raden's "Stoned" coordinated with a visit to the GIA. Wanda suggested three more selections to replace that choice until the GIA reopens:
"The Yellow House" by Sarah Bloom *chosen
"Overstory" Richard Powers
"The Vanishing Half" Brit Bennett
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| Val off to her coif |
Up next:
Happy reading,
LK
PS My sleuthing found this interesting long ago lecture (well March 2015 - not 1895) about Ellen and Edith Emerson entitled:
"For the Love of Your Sister’: Ellen Tucker Emerson, Edith Emerson Forbes, and the Emerson Legacy”
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| Edith and Ellen |
We are endeared to sisters! Kate Culkin's book is still forthcoming.
