Pink Heart Reviews
The Education of Mrs. Brimley
Donna MacMeans
Berkley, October 2007, 325 pp
ISBN-10: 0425218309
ISBN-13: 978-0425218303
Victorian
$6.99 (US) $7.99 (CDN)
Reviewed by Maria
July 2008
After running to escape a cruel uncle's home & assuming an identity, Emma Brimley applies for a teaching position at the Pettibone School for Young Ladies in Yorkshire. Claiming to be a widow when she'd never been married, Emma is hired to instruct the young female students in the subject of marital relations between a husband and wife. Emma is thrilled to be hired on by the sisters that run the school. There's one problem though. Ms. Brimley has very little experience in the field she is supposed to be teaching. Emma must do some serious studying in the delicate subject and soon comes up with a plan she hopes will aide in the dilemma.
Upon arriving in Yorkshire, Emma meets up with the likes of a certain Lord Nicholas Bedchambers - er Chambers. Seems that Lord Chambers has quite the reputation in Yorkshire, extremely popular with the ladies about town. When Emma learns of the lord's claim to fame, she decides that Chambers' vast knowledge in the topic at hand will aide in her research.
Chambers has his own reasons for helping Emma. Hoping to have one of his paintings accepted by the Royal Academy, Nicholas envisions Emma as the fairylike beauty he hopes to paint. Striking a bargain with the desperate school teacher, Chambers coaxes her into a proposed scenario. He will answer as many questions as Emma cares to ask - for the price of one piece of clothing per question. Seeing no alternate in gaining the necessary knowledge, Emma agrees to the bargain.
The story plays out with a mixture of tenderness and humor. Emma's need to be accepted and loved, Lord Chambers' somewhat misunderstood reputation of being insensitive and lacking of morals, and a notably funny scenes involving the students and their 'exercises' all bring distinctive qualities to the novel.
Donna MacMeans debuts a noteworthy novel . Though a bit languid in pace, THE EDUCATION OF MRS. BRIMLEY is well written and tender. Coupled with a splash of humor, the novel offers a glimpse of what is to come in the author's future work.
