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Courting Emma Howe
In 1905, Emma Howe is plain and at the threshold of spinsterhood. When she receives an unexpected marriage proposal from a man she has never seen, and knows only through his letters, she breaks painfully with her uncomprehending family and crosses the country by train to meet him in person.
After the long journey from her home in quiet Vermont to a homesteading settlement in Washington state, she finally comes face-to-face with Arthur Smollett, a stubborn, single-minded man who has created a vision of Emma as the perfect wife.
In this tender novel of a turn-of-the-century courtship, Margaret Robinson carefully evokes the sights and smells of rural America while weaving a sensitive story of two unlikely lovers.
After the long journey from her home in quiet Vermont to a homesteading settlement in Washington state, she finally comes face-to-face with Arthur Smollett, a stubborn, single-minded man who has created a vision of Emma as the perfect wife.
In this tender novel of a turn-of-the-century courtship, Margaret Robinson carefully evokes the sights and smells of rural America while weaving a sensitive story of two unlikely lovers.
Mass Market Paperback
First published November 1, 1987
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Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews
February 25, 2008
This is a fun book that is out of print but definitely worth finding at a library. I am still hoping to find a copy to buy for myself. It is a story that takes place in the early 1900s about a plain woman named Emma Howe who is afraid she is becoming a spinster. She meets a man through correspondence and then travels across country by train to be with him. When they meet each other they realize that neither reaches the others expectations. The story takes the reader through the courtship and marriage of this unlikely couple. I found it to be entertaining, enjoyable and thought-provoking.
October 12, 2022
3.5 Stars
In 1905, plain-looking Emma Howe is looking down the barrel of spinsterhood when she receives an unexpected marriage proposal from a platonic male pen pal, Washington state homesteader Arthur Smollett. Emma decides to give up her comfortable life in Vermont to be with Arthur and help him work his acreage. The government had given him a stretch of swampland in Puget Sound, 35 miles north of Seattle, and it had taken Arthur 7 long years to cultivate it into anything remotely useable.
They feel like they have solid common ground between them, both having East Coast roots (Arthur originally being from Massachusetts) and Emma, a trained seamstress having formerly run her own shop, brings an industrious spirit to the union. But when they meet in person, reality doesn't really line up with what each had imagined regarding the other. After some back & forth struggle, they decide to give things a go anyway.
Arthur and Emma originally meet through correspondence after Arthur reads and responds to a poem of Emma's that has been published in a nature magazine. Though she's quick to describe herself as "no beauty" in their early letters, Arthur takes it as her just being modest. He prided himself on looking beyond appearances, and in Emma's letters he had seen sympathy and wit. What really drew him to her had nothing to do with looks."* Yeah, except a lot of this goes out the window when he meets her in person and finds she has pretty pronounced buckteeth. But in the looks department, Arthur is no "10" himself --- receding hairline, overly long nose, small ears, massive forehead. Reality sets in for Emma, doubts consume her for a time. She thinks to herself, "How can I marry a man I've never smelled?" I think it's natural to have momentary doubts or fears just prior to a wedding, but it cracked me up that THAT was her first thought in all this.
Arthur is mostly content with his bachelorhood (largely thanks to memories of an overbearing mother), but a trip to the town general store one day suddenly has him changing his tune. When he witnesses the happy, loving interactions between shopowners Mr. and Mrs. Snow, a wave of envy has him adding a quick P.S. to a letter to Emma, "Why don't you give this place a try? I'll send you money for a train ticket... If you like what you see, we'll get married."
Emma mentions the offer of marriage to her family. The only voices of support or approval come from her friend Noland and her aunt Clothilde (whom the family considers a little 'off in the head'). Emma's father says her rightful place is as a caretaker for her aging aunts and parents, her mother adding, "a fancy letter don't make a good husband".
After Arthur and Emma decide to push past disappointments and make an effort at their relationship, Arthur actually comes off as a little chauvinistic at times. Most of his thoughts / daydreams seem to be about opportunities to "show off the wife" while also "keeping her in line with a strong hand". Prior to marrying Emma, there's a recollection of a night at a bar where he refers to the female bar owner as a "short, chunky, half-breed". When his best friend expresses interest in dating the bar owner, Arthur goes so far as to denounce her as a wh*re!
After marrying Emma, there's a night where he gets mad at her for daring to suggest such an idea as women needing pleasure in the bedroom as well as the men. There's the line,"He thought in the matter of bed, she'd know how to behave, know that there at least, a man had to have things his way." Well, at this point in the story I was struggling to finish the book (and it's a short book!) because I was convinced Arthur was such a garbage human being, but I'm glad a stuck with it because he ends up having a pretty impressive redemptive arc!
In 1905, plain-looking Emma Howe is looking down the barrel of spinsterhood when she receives an unexpected marriage proposal from a platonic male pen pal, Washington state homesteader Arthur Smollett. Emma decides to give up her comfortable life in Vermont to be with Arthur and help him work his acreage. The government had given him a stretch of swampland in Puget Sound, 35 miles north of Seattle, and it had taken Arthur 7 long years to cultivate it into anything remotely useable.
They feel like they have solid common ground between them, both having East Coast roots (Arthur originally being from Massachusetts) and Emma, a trained seamstress having formerly run her own shop, brings an industrious spirit to the union. But when they meet in person, reality doesn't really line up with what each had imagined regarding the other. After some back & forth struggle, they decide to give things a go anyway.
Arthur and Emma originally meet through correspondence after Arthur reads and responds to a poem of Emma's that has been published in a nature magazine. Though she's quick to describe herself as "no beauty" in their early letters, Arthur takes it as her just being modest. He prided himself on looking beyond appearances, and in Emma's letters he had seen sympathy and wit. What really drew him to her had nothing to do with looks."* Yeah, except a lot of this goes out the window when he meets her in person and finds she has pretty pronounced buckteeth. But in the looks department, Arthur is no "10" himself --- receding hairline, overly long nose, small ears, massive forehead. Reality sets in for Emma, doubts consume her for a time. She thinks to herself, "How can I marry a man I've never smelled?" I think it's natural to have momentary doubts or fears just prior to a wedding, but it cracked me up that THAT was her first thought in all this.
Arthur is mostly content with his bachelorhood (largely thanks to memories of an overbearing mother), but a trip to the town general store one day suddenly has him changing his tune. When he witnesses the happy, loving interactions between shopowners Mr. and Mrs. Snow, a wave of envy has him adding a quick P.S. to a letter to Emma, "Why don't you give this place a try? I'll send you money for a train ticket... If you like what you see, we'll get married."
Emma mentions the offer of marriage to her family. The only voices of support or approval come from her friend Noland and her aunt Clothilde (whom the family considers a little 'off in the head'). Emma's father says her rightful place is as a caretaker for her aging aunts and parents, her mother adding, "a fancy letter don't make a good husband".
After Arthur and Emma decide to push past disappointments and make an effort at their relationship, Arthur actually comes off as a little chauvinistic at times. Most of his thoughts / daydreams seem to be about opportunities to "show off the wife" while also "keeping her in line with a strong hand". Prior to marrying Emma, there's a recollection of a night at a bar where he refers to the female bar owner as a "short, chunky, half-breed". When his best friend expresses interest in dating the bar owner, Arthur goes so far as to denounce her as a wh*re!
After marrying Emma, there's a night where he gets mad at her for daring to suggest such an idea as women needing pleasure in the bedroom as well as the men. There's the line,"He thought in the matter of bed, she'd know how to behave, know that there at least, a man had to have things his way." Well, at this point in the story I was struggling to finish the book (and it's a short book!) because I was convinced Arthur was such a garbage human being, but I'm glad a stuck with it because he ends up having a pretty impressive redemptive arc!
November 14, 2024
I consider myself a very picky reader and I loved every single thing about this book. It's so unusual to find a novel with completely plausible characters, dialogue, and plot, but here it is. Ok, maybe the title character is a little too capable in every situation, but she is still believable and I couldn't help but root for her to overcome her insecurities. There is nothing extraneous, nor does it ever feel rushed or as if something were missing. The best part of the story is the fact that the romance and the obstacles to love are realistic, rather than contrived, as in 95% of all romance novels.
November 17, 2024
This slim volume is packed with interesting personalities and Emma Howe is one of them!
The setting is early-1900, and Emma and Arthur have been corresponding for quite some time and now Arthur is ready to get on with meeting and marrying Emma.
The meeting does not go well, then it does and they marry, then it doesn't work and they intend to separate and it's Arthur's fault, right? Well, yes and no. Because it just might be about sex.
The setting is early-1900, and Emma and Arthur have been corresponding for quite some time and now Arthur is ready to get on with meeting and marrying Emma.
The meeting does not go well, then it does and they marry, then it doesn't work and they intend to separate and it's Arthur's fault, right? Well, yes and no. Because it just might be about sex.
December 11, 2020
I liked this little book. A great story about 2 people who met through letters and imagined each other as a marriage partner but upon meeting felt differently. I had a situation like that while writing a friend in the military when in my youth - it didn't work out like in the book. I enjoyed the story and it made me realize that all relationships need work to be successful.
January 10, 2022
This was a quick read with characters that I enjoyed getting to know.
November 12, 2015
I'm torn about this book. I 'stole' it from my Mom's book shelf a long time ago. I read it once or twice when I was young. I just reread it (looking back, some of it was a bit mature for my age!) and I'm disappointed.
It's solid writing. There's something enjoyable and intimate about the tone. But what's frustrating is that we have 100 pages of build up and then just 75 pages of story left over. I'm all for character development. But the thing is, the characters don't begin to grow, change, and develop until they meet. The first 100 pages is mostly Emma on a train. Again, all the writing is good, but man, the author really missed a great opportunity. She fit into 75 pages what could have made a really fantastic, engrossing 200 page book. And that first part could have been dispensed with in 25 pages.
Additionally, both characters are pretty unlikeable until the very, very end. Again an opportunity wasted.
I give it 2 1/2 stars.
It's solid writing. There's something enjoyable and intimate about the tone. But what's frustrating is that we have 100 pages of build up and then just 75 pages of story left over. I'm all for character development. But the thing is, the characters don't begin to grow, change, and develop until they meet. The first 100 pages is mostly Emma on a train. Again, all the writing is good, but man, the author really missed a great opportunity. She fit into 75 pages what could have made a really fantastic, engrossing 200 page book. And that first part could have been dispensed with in 25 pages.
Additionally, both characters are pretty unlikeable until the very, very end. Again an opportunity wasted.
I give it 2 1/2 stars.
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November 9, 2010Emma Howe is a Vermont spinster, buck-toothed and plain, trapped in her family home caring for two elderly, cantankerous aunts. Arthur Smollett is a homesteader in Snohomish county, enduring the wet and the mud, slowly improving his claim. The two begin a correspondence when Arthur writes to Emma admiring a poem that she wrote for Nature’s Friend magazine. Finally, just after Christmas 1904, Arthur off-handedly proposes in a postscript. Emma, battling the stern disapproval of her family, determines to go to him. The road to true love is certainly not smooth for these two, but entertaining for us and vastly satisfying as well. It’s Sarah Plain and Tall for grownups.
July 3, 2014
Overall, a disappointment. I felt like the author had an agenda to be non-religious and I didn't appreciate all the little mentions and details of past immorality in the people's lives. I almost stopped reading it halfway through but really wanted to know what happened once Arthur and Emma finally met. Fortunately, the last half was much, much better (and I liked the realism of their first impressions of each other) and there were even moments of exquisite sweetness. But, to me, the last half didn't entirely make up for the first half...
July 31, 2011
A sweet, realistic love story.
July 12, 2012
Absolutely love this book- have read and re-read it several times and enjoy it every time. It is such a realistic story about how love and respect really develops in a relationship.
Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews