Emma: Volume 4

Volume #4 of Kaoru Mori's "Emma series," finds our heroine venturing back to London while accompanying her employers on a family trip. The first half of the book feels slightly disjointed mostly due to the fact that it exclusively follows the travails of William and his melancholic heartbreak and how he attempts to 'numb the pain.' The 2nd half closes out this volume very nicely as Emma becomes the story focus. As always, the writing is briskly paced and the intricate art provides plenty of material to pore over.

...as Emma makes an unintended return trip to London. Of course, in a city with that many people, what are the odds that the two would run into one another. Astronomical, I'd say. As the Molders head to town with Emma in their retinue, our young heroine finds herself once again in the place she wished so desperately to be away from. A quick stop to an old friend's final repose and she finds that her mistress has met her eccentric friend from the country, Mrs.Trollope, who finds herself in need of an escort to her son's engagement party. And then there's William... as the pressures of living under his assumed face of societal duty begins to wear, Eleanor finally gathers the courage to confess her love... at the opera, no less. This, of course, comes as a surprise to a new character added to the dramatic mix... Eleanor's sister, Monica, who is none too happy with her dear little angel's good news. Mori once again does plenty to flesh out the people of her story, be they large or small, and aptly use them to educate the reader on the means, manners, and subtleties of Victorian/Edwardian living. Equal time is given both to the decadent (yet, proper... they ARE British, you know... well, most of them) Upstairs folk and to the down to earth Downstairs servants and clerks, all of whom are wonderfully real, even if they only have a few frames to appear in. The art is crisp and clean, as we've come to expect from Ms.Mori, and her attention to detail is exquisite. Speaking of the art, remember my warning from Vol.1? Well, parents, this is where it starts, but I consider it to be perfectly tasteful and in fitting with the character... but, I thought you should know. Enjoy this volume as things are about to become much more dramatic for our two star-crossed lovers. Will their feelings be able to overcome the obstacles forming ahead...? Only time, and three more volumes (by my tally), will tell.