The Secret Life Of Emily Dickinson *Giveaway*

The Secret Life Of Emily Dickinson by Jerome Charyn

About The Book:

Jerome Charyn continues his exploration of American history through fiction with The Secret Life of Emily Dickinson, hailed by prize-winning literary historian Brenda Wineapple as a "breathtaking high-wire act of ventriloquism." Channeling the devilish rhythms and ghosts of a seemingly buried literary past, Charyn removes the mysterious veils that have long enshrouded Dickinson, revealing her passions, inner turmoil, and powerful sexuality. The novel, daringly written in first person, begins in the snow. It's 1848, and Emily is a student at Mount Holyoke, with its mournful headmistress and strict, strict rules. Inspired by her letters and poetry, Charyn goes on to capture the occasionally comic, always fevered, ultimately tragic story of her life - from defiant Holyoke seminarian to dying recluse. Book includes 9 black-and-white illustrations.

My Thoughts:

I've always loved Emily Dickinson as a poet. I have several of her books. And in this book, the author pulls you into the world of Emily Dickinson. In first person, you are reading as if you are her. It is very interesting to think of this side of her, of the "real" Emily Dickinson. The writing is impeccable, and it is a romantically beautiful story. This book is fiction, but after reading it, you may think that you really know what may have been inside of Emily Dickinson's head!

About The Author:

I was born in the mean streets of the Bronx and have remained a city wolf, dividing my time between New York City and Paris. I grew up reading comic books and watching movies; you can see their influences in my books. I started writing novels at the age of eleven; Amazon carries 40+ titles, fiction and non-fiction. For the past fourteen years I taught film at the American University of Paris. I love Emily Dickinson's poems and William Faulkner's novels. I also love Quentin Tarantino's "Pulp Fiction," which has the feel of a novel. (I wrote a book about Tarantino, "Raised by Wolves," after the film's release.) My novel "The Secret Life of Emily Dickinson," published in 2010, inspired a community of more than 3500 Emily Dickinson Facebook fans dedicated to the poet's place in the 21st century. "The Secret Life of Emily Dickinson" is now available in paperback in a reading group edition with online reading guide. My most recent book, "Joe DiMaggio: The Long Vigil," was released on March 8, 2011, part of the Yale University Press series on American Icons. More than 1000 fans are already registered on its Facebook page. I invite you to join me on Facebook for "The Secret Life of Emily Dickinson" or "Joe DiMaggio: The Long Vigil." Or visit my website: www.jeromecharyn.com

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Giveaway ends November 14th. Good luck!

I received a complimentary review copy of this book from JC Press. All thoughts and opinions are my own.