The Bookshelf ~ September 2024

lectori salutem

Sep 10, 2024

Beth Brower is the author of twelve books, including The Unselected Journals of Emma M. Lion, The Q, the Books of Imirillia, and The Beast of Ten. She also writes here on Beth Brower Scribbles Away.

September, September! Month of parched, summer-strewn gold, proven dust, and matured, mellowed green as canopy to this overturning of one season to another. A month that lingers in heat but promises the gathering of clouds and the increase of a pale, aurous slant of autumnal light. Harvest, come! Of field, of orchard, of human effort.

*The Veteran in a New Field* by Winslow Homer, 1865

In a few weeks, I will be sharing information regarding the release of The Unselected Journals of Emma M. Lion: Vol. 8. I’m so very excited to share May and June of 1884 with you.

Many of you gather—in person, online, or over the phone—to discuss Emma, combing over the details and endlessly debating this or that. As it is impossible for me to be with all of you, I thought I would put together a few entertaining questions for such events. If you want to leave your answers in the comments, I’d love to see what you choose!

In which part of St. Crispian’s do I live?
a) Whereabouts Lane
b) Sterling Street
c) Traitors Road
d) Baron’s Square

If I were going out for afternoon tea, I would stop by…
a) The Reed & Rite
b) Everett’s
c) Skip tea and head straight to The Cleopatra

For an evening out in St. Crispian’s, I would choose to…
a) Spend time in The Cleopatra
b) Throw all caution to the wind and follow The Reprobates Ten
c) Sit for a read and a chat in Islington’s library
d) Hear all the gossip in Mrs. Morrow’s parlour

When going on a walk, I am most likely to be found…
a) Heading to Primrose Hill
b) Strolling in Regent’s Park
c) Walking up and down the streets of St. Crispian’s
d) Striking out into greater London
e) Wandering the graveyard behind the church

My idea of good company is…
a) Aunt Eugenia in the First Drawing Room
b) With Jack playing cards in a gambling hell
c) At the Lapis Lazuli drawing room having tea with Mary and Emma
d) Reading a newspaper with Pierce in his studio
e) Chatting with Agnes and Parian in the kitchen

The book I would borrow first from Emma’s green bookcase is…
a) Shakespeare’s Comedies, in Full
b) Meaning of Flowers
c) Latin Phrases for the Unrepentant
d) Essays by Ralph Waldo Emerson
e) Jane Eyre

My preferred holiday in St. Crispian's is…
a) All Hallows’ Eve
b) Christmas
c) Guy Fawkes Day
d) May Day
e) Julius Caesar Day

If I found myself in front of the fountain on St. Valentine's Day, I would deposit a coin in which manner?
a) A backwards, left-handed flick
b) An open-handed, right palm toss
c) Placing it between both hands, let it slip into the water
d) Opening my left hand over the water, let it fall in
e) Throw it at Perseus with my might

The side-character I would most like to have a conversation with is…
a) Ben Chambers
b) Saffronia March
c) Edward Norriage
d) Lord and Lady Trewartha
e) The Roman

If I were presented with Emma's romantic prospects, I would choose:
a) Pierce
b) Charles Goddard
c) Roland
d) Islington
e) Hawkes
f) Jack
g) George West

I love an opportunity to gather with readers, and this last month I thoroughly enjoyed meeting readers in the Northwest. Thank you to all who traveled to be there and make me feel so welcome! (Special shoutout to Nancy who drew Portland in last year’s drawing. It was great to meet you and your family!) It was memorable and delightful.

I also had a chance to speak over zoom with a group of students from the Dominican Republic. They touched my heart with their goodness, their intelligence, and their kindness. We spoke of The Beast of Ten, which led to a conversation about light. May it ever burn bright in this world of ours.