Emma, vol. 1 by Kaoru Mori

Emma, vol. 1, Kaoru Mori, CMX, 2002.
ISBN: 978-1401211325

Plot Summary

When wealthy William pays an overdue social call to his former governess he meets, and is instantly intrigued by, her lovely maid Emma. As soon as he leaves, he tries to think of socially acceptable ways of seeing her again, knowing that their class differences will keep them apart. Fortunately, he happens upon her while she is running errands and manages to convince her to accept a lace handkerchief from him. Soon, however, William must put Emma out of his mind as his good friend Prince Hakim Atawally of India surprises him with a weeklong visit with elephants and servants in tow. But as William tries to entertain the spoiled prince he quickly learns that he has more than elephants in his courtyard to worry about as Hakim decides to join Emma’s admirers and try to win her affections. William’s potential overtures to Emma are further complicated by his family’s approval of the young Miss Elenor with her family connections and wealth.

Critical Evaluation

Kaoru Mori’s Emma, vol. 1 is a breathtaking manga filled with tender moments and stunning illustrations. Each panel is exquisitely drawn with particular attention being paid to historically accurate costuming. Indeed, the elaborate costuming, Prince Hakim’s entrance, and the ballroom scene towards the end of the novel make for a lavish feast for the eyes. Fortunately, Mori’s characters are just as delightful as her illustrations, particularly put-upon William and demure Emma. Readers cannot help feeling sorry for shy William as he struggles for make his feelings known and readers will feel equally sympathetic towards Emma as she loyally serves her ill mistress despite not knowing what will become of her if her mistress were to die. Even Miss Eleanor who unwittingly serves as an obstacle to William’s love for Emma, is a wonderful character. Full of naiveté and nervousness, readers cannot help but root for her as she tries to make a success out of her first ball. Certainly Mori’s Emma, vol. 1 will leave readers breathless and eager to learn the fate of British maid Emma and wealthy William.

Reader’s Annotation

When rich William first sees humble British maid Emma it is love at first sight for him. But how can he make his intentions known to her when class differences and multiple would-be suitors stand in the way?

About the Author

“EMMA is the creation of Kaoru Mori, a relatively young mangaka…who harbors a real love for all things British, but particularly for the England of the Victorian era…She has carefully researched her material, and every illustration is meticulously drawn to create as accurate a depiction of London circa 1885 as possible. In fact, she even brought in an historical consultant to assure the series’ accuracy….

Ms. Kaoru has been publishing the serialized adventures of Emma in a Japanese monthly anthology called Comic Bean…since 2002. In that short time, the series has captured an intensely loyal following and a highly praised anime series was spun out from this manga. EMMA…concluded its run in Japan in early 2006” (Chadwick, 2002). Mori’s most recent U.S. release is A Bride’s Story. Published in May 2011 it follows the tale of Amir, a young woman who has just married a boy eight years her junior.

Chadwick, J. (2002). The woman behind EMMA. In Mori, Kaoru. Emma, vol. 1 (pp. 189). La Jolla, CA: WildStorm Productions.

Genre

Historical fiction, Romance

Tags

Emma, class structure, maids, libraries, reading, India, 19^th century, Industrial Revolution, governesses, elephants, suitors, Victorian England

Curriculum Ties

This would be a wonderful addition to any unit discussing England in the late 19^th century. It would also pair well with any literature or poetry from that time period.

Booktalk Ideas

--Dress up in period costume to give your booktalk

--Give a few interesting facts about the late 19^th century British class structure before beginning the booktalk.

Reading Level/Interest Level

Reading Level: 5^th grade

Interest Level: 9^th -12^th grade (14-18 yrs.)

The reading level is according to the Flesch-Kincaid Reading Level tool found in Microsoft Word.

Challenge Issues

N/A

Why Was This Included?

I wanted to include more manga and historical fiction in my blog so I decided to include Emma, vol 1. I first encountered this series several years ago and became completely enchanted by it. It’s clear that the author did a lot of research before she wrote the series and the illustrations are simply stunning.