📚 Book Review: The Secret Life of Emily Dickinson by Jerome Charyn
A bold, imaginative reimagining of America’s most enigmatic poet—told in her own voice, with all its wit, longing, and eccentricity.
Jerome Charyn’s The Secret Life of Emily Dickinson is a literary novel that dares to step inside the mind of one of history’s most private and mysterious figures. With a Goodreads rating of 3.21/5, the book has sparked both admiration and debate for its audacious approach: Charyn writes in the first person as Emily Dickinson, blending fact, fiction, and poetic flair to explore the emotional and romantic life she never publicly revealed.
🧠 Plot & Style Overview
Rather than a traditional biography, this novel is a fictional memoir, imagining Dickinson’s inner world—from her time at Mount Holyoke Seminary to her reclusive years in Amherst. Charyn draws from her letters and poems to craft a voice that is sharp, playful, and deeply introspective.
Key figures from Dickinson’s life appear throughout:
- Susan Gilbert, her sister-in-law and emotional confidante
- Reverend Charles Wadsworth, a possible muse for her poetry
- Judge Otis Phillips Lord, a late-life romantic interest
- Tom the Handyman, a fictional rogue who haunts her imagination
The narrative is rich with literary allusions, sensual undertones, and psychological complexity. Charyn’s Dickinson is not the quiet spinster of legend, but a woman full of desire, rebellion, and poetic fire.
💬 Critical Reception
- “[An irreverent novel—at turns both comic and febrile—that connects us to Dickinson’s longings and eccentricities.]” — Kirkus Reviews
- “A lovely tribute to a glorious, bold-hearted woman who also happened to be a great poet.” — Bookreporter
Some readers found the fictional liberties unsettling, especially the imagined romantic entanglements. Others praised the novel’s daring and emotional resonance, calling it a fresh lens on a literary icon.
🏁 Final Verdict
The Secret Life of Emily Dickinson is not for purists seeking historical accuracy, but for readers who crave a poetic, emotionally rich portrait of a woman whose genius was cloaked in mystery. If you’re drawn to literary fiction that blurs the line between biography and imagination, this novel offers a provocative and lyrical journey.
