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American Novels #5
The Wreckage of Eden
When U.S. Army chaplain Robert Winter first meets Emily Dickinson, he is fascinated by the brilliance of the strange girl immersed in her botany lessons. She will become his confidante, obsession, and muse over the years as he writes to her of his friendship with the aspiring politician Abraham Lincoln, his encounter with the young newspaperman Samuel Clemens, and his crisis of conscience concerning the radical abolitionist John Brown. Bearing the standard of God and country through the Mexican War and the Mormon Rebellion, Robert seeks to lessen his loneliness while his faith is eroded by the violence he observes and ultimately commits. Emily, however, remains as elusive as her verse on his rare visits to Amherst and denies him solace, a rejection that will culminate in a startling epiphany at the very heart of his despair.
Powerfully evocative of Emily Dickinson's life, times, and artistry, this fifth, stand-alone volume in The American Novels series captures a nation riven by conflicts that continue to this day.
Powerfully evocative of Emily Dickinson's life, times, and artistry, this fifth, stand-alone volume in The American Novels series captures a nation riven by conflicts that continue to this day.
288 pages, Paperback
Published June 5, 2018
About the author
Norman Lock
46 books41 followersLibrarian Note: There is more than one author in the GoodReads database with this name.
Norman Lock has written novels, short fiction, and poetry as well as stage plays, dramas for German radio, a film for The American Film Institute, and scenarios for video-art installations. His plays have been produced in the U.S., Germany, at the Edinburgh Theatre Festival, and in Turkey. His work has been translated into Dutch, German, Spanish, Turkish, and Japanese.
He received the Aga Kahn Prize, given by The Paris Review, the Literary Fiction Prize, given by The Dactyl Foundation of the Arts & Humanities, fellowships from the New Jersey Council on the Arts, the Pennsylvania Council on the Arts, and from the National Endowment for the Arts. (source: http://www.normanlock.com/)
Norman Lock has written novels, short fiction, and poetry as well as stage plays, dramas for German radio, a film for The American Film Institute, and scenarios for video-art installations. His plays have been produced in the U.S., Germany, at the Edinburgh Theatre Festival, and in Turkey. His work has been translated into Dutch, German, Spanish, Turkish, and Japanese.
He received the Aga Kahn Prize, given by The Paris Review, the Literary Fiction Prize, given by The Dactyl Foundation of the Arts & Humanities, fellowships from the New Jersey Council on the Arts, the Pennsylvania Council on the Arts, and from the National Endowment for the Arts. (source: http://www.normanlock.com/)
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Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews
June 25, 2018
I have to admit that the main reason I wanted to read this book was because of Emily Dickinson. Although it’s been a long while since I’ve read any of her poetry, I read quite a lot of it years ago in college. The mysterious enigmatic recluse is brought to life in this novel. The narrator Robert Winter, an army chaplain has fallen for Emily, but of course his love is unrequited as Emily will offer him her friendship and be his confidant, but will not marry him. The letters he writes her and his recounting of their conversations comprise this novel while giving a view of historic events in the mid 19th century. Even though I read this because Emily was one of the main characters, it’s clear from the beginning that this is not just her story but the story of a man whose life reflects the events of the times in which he lived. He’s an army chaplain and we follow him through the Mexican War and lesser known conflicts that definitely showed my deficiency of this period of American history such as the Mormon Rebellion or Bleeding Kansas, then moving towards the end of the book to the Civil War. While his letters and conversations with Emily were enticing, clever, earnest and sometimes funny, he also briefly encounters Samuel Clemens, Henry David Thoreau, and Ralph Waldo Emerson. Winter’s friendship with Abraham Lincoln and his connection to John Brown made for some of the important moments in his life, as his faith wanes on his journey of self discovery as moral questions arise about freedom of religion and slavery and the wars and the other conflicts that are depicted.
I had not heard of Norman Lock so I wasn’t aware that this is one of a series of his American Novels. I understand that they are stand alone each reflecting a different period in American history. I may have to look into the other books as well to see what might have been left out of my history books. This is well written and I think will appeal to history lovers as well as fans of Emily Dickinson.
I received an advanced copy of this book from Bellevue Literary Press through Edelweiss.
I had not heard of Norman Lock so I wasn’t aware that this is one of a series of his American Novels. I understand that they are stand alone each reflecting a different period in American history. I may have to look into the other books as well to see what might have been left out of my history books. This is well written and I think will appeal to history lovers as well as fans of Emily Dickinson.
I received an advanced copy of this book from Bellevue Literary Press through Edelweiss.
June 6, 2018
War--The War with Mexico, the Mormon Rebellion, and the Civil War-- crushed any remaining faith held by U. S. Army Chaplin Robert Winter.
He clings to the memories of the few meetings he had with Emily Dickinson, his first love, although she has always kept him at a distance. When Winter married a pleasant but common girl he loved her in a way. When she dies, Winter relinquishes their daughter's care to his maiden aunt who lives in Amherst, calling on the Dickinson family to befriend her. He makes a poor father, the army sending him across the country and far from Amherst.
Winter does his duty to his country, reciting prayers for the benefit of the dying and over the bodies of the dead who died for the sacred cause of Manifest Destiny, mouthing words to a God he no longer believes in.
The Wreckage of Eden by Norman Lock spans decades of the 19th c and the awful carnage deemed necessary to America's destiny. Along his journey, Winter befriends Abe and Mary Lincoln in Springfield and meets a young Sam Clemens in Missouri. He sees the horror of war and the death camp at Andersonville. Required to visit imprisoned John Brown, their conversation challenges Winter's core beliefs.
Lock reproduces the era with period details and references to writers, politicians and military leaders, but it is Winter's internal world that captured my attention. Winter's spiritual crisis reflects the country's loss of idealism and its corruption, justifying slaughter while annexing Mexican lands. murdering Mormons and Native Americans, and profiting from the labor of enslaved people.
Meanwhile, in Amherst, Emily battles her own war against her dictatorial father who insists she can never marry. She speaks to Winter in cadences right from her poetry, with imagery and 'slant' insight.
Winter learns that he must perform his pastoral duty and endure. Sometimes that is all we can do. Our youthful idealism crumbles under the burgeoning knowledge of the evil men commit, we lose faith and mouth the words expected of us--prayers or pledges become empty symbols.
I wanted to note an epigram or sentence or insight on nearly every page. The issues Winter struggles with demonstrate that the roots of America's problems were planted in our early years.
I am eager to read more books in the American Novel Series by Norman Lock.
I received a free ARC from the publisher through a LibraryThing giveaway.
He clings to the memories of the few meetings he had with Emily Dickinson, his first love, although she has always kept him at a distance. When Winter married a pleasant but common girl he loved her in a way. When she dies, Winter relinquishes their daughter's care to his maiden aunt who lives in Amherst, calling on the Dickinson family to befriend her. He makes a poor father, the army sending him across the country and far from Amherst.
Winter does his duty to his country, reciting prayers for the benefit of the dying and over the bodies of the dead who died for the sacred cause of Manifest Destiny, mouthing words to a God he no longer believes in.
The Wreckage of Eden by Norman Lock spans decades of the 19th c and the awful carnage deemed necessary to America's destiny. Along his journey, Winter befriends Abe and Mary Lincoln in Springfield and meets a young Sam Clemens in Missouri. He sees the horror of war and the death camp at Andersonville. Required to visit imprisoned John Brown, their conversation challenges Winter's core beliefs.
Lock reproduces the era with period details and references to writers, politicians and military leaders, but it is Winter's internal world that captured my attention. Winter's spiritual crisis reflects the country's loss of idealism and its corruption, justifying slaughter while annexing Mexican lands. murdering Mormons and Native Americans, and profiting from the labor of enslaved people.
Meanwhile, in Amherst, Emily battles her own war against her dictatorial father who insists she can never marry. She speaks to Winter in cadences right from her poetry, with imagery and 'slant' insight.
Winter learns that he must perform his pastoral duty and endure. Sometimes that is all we can do. Our youthful idealism crumbles under the burgeoning knowledge of the evil men commit, we lose faith and mouth the words expected of us--prayers or pledges become empty symbols.
I wanted to note an epigram or sentence or insight on nearly every page. The issues Winter struggles with demonstrate that the roots of America's problems were planted in our early years.
I am eager to read more books in the American Novel Series by Norman Lock.
I received a free ARC from the publisher through a LibraryThing giveaway.
March 11, 2026
I enjoyed the language and writing style of the books in this series: American Novels. This is the 5th book, I have not read all of them, and do not intend to, they are all standalone books. They all evolve around American writers, so far in the 19th Century. This one has Emily Dickinson as a character.
The book is written like it is speaking to Emily, perhaps as a letter to her. Robert Winter, a US Army Chaplain of the Lutheran faith, who is in love with Emily, although he does not say it so plainly. Winter asked Emily to marry him but she refuses, staying put in her Homestead with her Father. Yet they remain good friends, she writing to Winter, and him visiting her whenever he is in Amherst.
While I do like the language, it is not direct at times. It does obscure meaning occasionally, and yet I feel like this matches the time period a little more closely than our language of today.
Despite all that I do like, a large part of the book is taken up with Robert Winter serving as a chaplain in several wars or skirmishes. First it is with the Mexican War, then The Mormon Rebellion, and finally with Harper’s Ferry. The descriptions of some of these war scenes and what is taken by these periods of violence were not pleasant for me. Otherwise this was wonderful.
So what should have been a quick read, as this was not a long book, for me was not. I set it aside often. Although I also was away on a work trip then a vacation but I could have found time for the book if I found it more engaging. Perhaps the book deserves a bit more than my rating of 3.5 stars, so I’m rounding up.
The book is written like it is speaking to Emily, perhaps as a letter to her. Robert Winter, a US Army Chaplain of the Lutheran faith, who is in love with Emily, although he does not say it so plainly. Winter asked Emily to marry him but she refuses, staying put in her Homestead with her Father. Yet they remain good friends, she writing to Winter, and him visiting her whenever he is in Amherst.
While I do like the language, it is not direct at times. It does obscure meaning occasionally, and yet I feel like this matches the time period a little more closely than our language of today.
Despite all that I do like, a large part of the book is taken up with Robert Winter serving as a chaplain in several wars or skirmishes. First it is with the Mexican War, then The Mormon Rebellion, and finally with Harper’s Ferry. The descriptions of some of these war scenes and what is taken by these periods of violence were not pleasant for me. Otherwise this was wonderful.
So what should have been a quick read, as this was not a long book, for me was not. I set it aside often. Although I also was away on a work trip then a vacation but I could have found time for the book if I found it more engaging. Perhaps the book deserves a bit more than my rating of 3.5 stars, so I’m rounding up.
June 24, 2019
U.S. Army Chaplain Robert Winter had the misfortune of meeting the young Emily Dickinson, for whom he developed a lifelong attachment, one that endured years of separation while he served in several wars, his short marriage, and Emily’s determined resistance. The Wreckage of Eden is his narrative of their history and addressed to Emily. Winter himself decribes it as an argument in the case of Winter v. Dickinson, a sort of Airing of Grievances in their relationship.
Winter is the saddest sort of sad man, a chaplain who has lost his faith. He recounts his service in the Mexican War, the Mormon Rebellion, and at Harper’s Ferry, the abortive slave rebellion led by John Brown. In many ways, he is a man of his time, indifferent to the genocide of the indigenous tribes and while he may note the hypocrisy of calling atrocities by the enemy a massacre while calling our own atrocities a battle, nothing leads him to challenge the presumptions of Manifest Destiny.
He is honest in describing his relationship with Dickinson, a very assymmetric relationship. He is infatuated and made inarticulate by passion. She is oblivious and treats him as a friend and confidante. She is brilliant, her facility with language leaving him tongue-tied and resentful. The reader can only be relieved that Dickinson avoided what would have been a hideous marriage with a man who was made angry by her quicker, brighter wit.
Winter is also the Era of Good Feelings very own Zelig, living in Springfield, Illinois, and befriending Abe and Mary Lincoln. He takes a trip with his wife and has a conversation with a young Mark Twain. He meets Robert E. Lee and John Brown. The movers and shakers of the era show up everywhere in the book. His meeeting with John Brown the night before Brown is hung for his insurrection is critical because it helps him understand his role as a chaplain without faith.
I enjoyed the writing in The Wreckage of Eden. I think Norman Lock did a good job of evoking that time with his use of language. He also did a great job of mirroring the thoughts and phrasing of Dickinson. She came alive in the story.
Nearly ninety years ago, Miguel de Unamuno wrote about a priest who lost his faith but continued to serve his community, giving sermons, leading prayers, baptisms, and last rites while never betraying his loss of faith to the townspeople who got so much succor and security from their religion. Winter is another San Manuel Bueno, Martir, but a resentful martyr, not a willing one like Manuel and Lazaro, his friend who takes over for him after his death. John Brown makes an argument that San Manuel might have made, but for Winter, his continued service as a chaplain does not feel like that of a martyr for his flock, but more the kind of slogging in place of a person who made a bad career choice, but lacked the imagination to change.
I did not like Robert Winter, he does not hide his weaknesses and failings in his narrative, but I sure did like The Wreckage of Eden.
I received a copy of The Wreckage of Eden from the publisher.
The Wreckage of Eden at Bellevue Literary Press
Norman Lock author site
The American Novels series at Bellevue Literary Press
★★★★
https://tonstantweaderreviews.wordpre...
Winter is the saddest sort of sad man, a chaplain who has lost his faith. He recounts his service in the Mexican War, the Mormon Rebellion, and at Harper’s Ferry, the abortive slave rebellion led by John Brown. In many ways, he is a man of his time, indifferent to the genocide of the indigenous tribes and while he may note the hypocrisy of calling atrocities by the enemy a massacre while calling our own atrocities a battle, nothing leads him to challenge the presumptions of Manifest Destiny.
He is honest in describing his relationship with Dickinson, a very assymmetric relationship. He is infatuated and made inarticulate by passion. She is oblivious and treats him as a friend and confidante. She is brilliant, her facility with language leaving him tongue-tied and resentful. The reader can only be relieved that Dickinson avoided what would have been a hideous marriage with a man who was made angry by her quicker, brighter wit.
Winter is also the Era of Good Feelings very own Zelig, living in Springfield, Illinois, and befriending Abe and Mary Lincoln. He takes a trip with his wife and has a conversation with a young Mark Twain. He meets Robert E. Lee and John Brown. The movers and shakers of the era show up everywhere in the book. His meeeting with John Brown the night before Brown is hung for his insurrection is critical because it helps him understand his role as a chaplain without faith.
I enjoyed the writing in The Wreckage of Eden. I think Norman Lock did a good job of evoking that time with his use of language. He also did a great job of mirroring the thoughts and phrasing of Dickinson. She came alive in the story.
Nearly ninety years ago, Miguel de Unamuno wrote about a priest who lost his faith but continued to serve his community, giving sermons, leading prayers, baptisms, and last rites while never betraying his loss of faith to the townspeople who got so much succor and security from their religion. Winter is another San Manuel Bueno, Martir, but a resentful martyr, not a willing one like Manuel and Lazaro, his friend who takes over for him after his death. John Brown makes an argument that San Manuel might have made, but for Winter, his continued service as a chaplain does not feel like that of a martyr for his flock, but more the kind of slogging in place of a person who made a bad career choice, but lacked the imagination to change.
I did not like Robert Winter, he does not hide his weaknesses and failings in his narrative, but I sure did like The Wreckage of Eden.
I received a copy of The Wreckage of Eden from the publisher.
The Wreckage of Eden at Bellevue Literary Press
Norman Lock author site
The American Novels series at Bellevue Literary Press
★★★★
https://tonstantweaderreviews.wordpre...
July 24, 2018
The Wreckage of Eden by Norman Lock
An opening letter of snarky remorse to Emily Dickinson, whose affections were sought, but not found, by Robert Winter, a chaplain in love during the nineteenth century.
Several times during this book, I stopped, reread, savored, and fully enjoyed a sentence in all its eloquent flow. I love the proper use of language, unadulterated and pure. I am so saddened by our slang and text-altered rendering of communication. Here, in this delicious book, I am treated with the proper, the educated, the long lost vocabulary of English.
Set first in Huamantla, Mexico, after a pillage and plunder “incident” as Emily narrates to Robert, her encounter with a Lieutenant involved in the fore mentioned massacre.
But in a confusing style, Robert will jump in with a paragraph or more, ruminating his thoughts on Emily. No segue, no quotation, no hint as to why he is now reflecting in the middle of Emily’s reflection to him.
Still, the eloquence, even when the rage of battles roar, is evident.
Stateside, he marries and they have a daughter, yet he still pines, but respectfully. She still coyly pens letters and hints upon visits. He writes of his friendship with the Lincoln’s and short-lived marriage to Ruth before (and after) she dies.
Their letters, his mostly, convey history and it’s pertinent characters. Through the Mormon Rebellion civil war, and abolition, all while maintaining an air of slight indifference to their distance, physically and emotionally, he grapples with his own faith and unending love for Emily.
An opening letter of snarky remorse to Emily Dickinson, whose affections were sought, but not found, by Robert Winter, a chaplain in love during the nineteenth century.
Several times during this book, I stopped, reread, savored, and fully enjoyed a sentence in all its eloquent flow. I love the proper use of language, unadulterated and pure. I am so saddened by our slang and text-altered rendering of communication. Here, in this delicious book, I am treated with the proper, the educated, the long lost vocabulary of English.
Set first in Huamantla, Mexico, after a pillage and plunder “incident” as Emily narrates to Robert, her encounter with a Lieutenant involved in the fore mentioned massacre.
But in a confusing style, Robert will jump in with a paragraph or more, ruminating his thoughts on Emily. No segue, no quotation, no hint as to why he is now reflecting in the middle of Emily’s reflection to him.
Still, the eloquence, even when the rage of battles roar, is evident.
Stateside, he marries and they have a daughter, yet he still pines, but respectfully. She still coyly pens letters and hints upon visits. He writes of his friendship with the Lincoln’s and short-lived marriage to Ruth before (and after) she dies.
Their letters, his mostly, convey history and it’s pertinent characters. Through the Mormon Rebellion civil war, and abolition, all while maintaining an air of slight indifference to their distance, physically and emotionally, he grapples with his own faith and unending love for Emily.
May 26, 2018
This is the story of the journey of U.S. Army Chaplain Robert Winter throughout various turbulent times in US history. Robert is the narrator of the story and a lot of the book is addressed to Emily Dickenson, whom he is a friend and admirer of. He’s also a friend of young Abraham Lincoln and has encounters with Samuel Clemens, Henry David Thoreau and John Brown. The story covers the Mexican War, the battle with American Indians and the Mormon Rebellion. Robert struggles to keep his faith amidst the violence that he finds around him, especially when he himself commits an act of violence.
While reading this book, I truly felt as though I was living in that time period. The author does an excellent job of re-creating history. From what I know of the famous people that the main characters encounters, the author also does an excellent job of bringing those people to life and his depiction of them seems very accurate, especially that of Emily Dickinson. I’ve gotten away from reading historical novels because they seem more fiction than fact these days but this author will be one that I’ll be looking forward to reading more of.
This is the fifth book in the author’s American Novels series. Other books in that series touch on the lives of Edgar Allan Poe, Henry David Thorwau, Ralph Waldo Emerson and Herman Melville and are all highly acclaimed. With my long-time fascination with Edgar Allan Poe, that will be the next one I want to get my hands on.
Intelligently written historical novel. Recommended.
I won this book in a giveaway contest with no obligation to write a review.
While reading this book, I truly felt as though I was living in that time period. The author does an excellent job of re-creating history. From what I know of the famous people that the main characters encounters, the author also does an excellent job of bringing those people to life and his depiction of them seems very accurate, especially that of Emily Dickinson. I’ve gotten away from reading historical novels because they seem more fiction than fact these days but this author will be one that I’ll be looking forward to reading more of.
This is the fifth book in the author’s American Novels series. Other books in that series touch on the lives of Edgar Allan Poe, Henry David Thorwau, Ralph Waldo Emerson and Herman Melville and are all highly acclaimed. With my long-time fascination with Edgar Allan Poe, that will be the next one I want to get my hands on.
Intelligently written historical novel. Recommended.
I won this book in a giveaway contest with no obligation to write a review.
July 12, 2018
This was my first read of anything by Norman Locke, and I was pleasantly surprised. Emily Dickinson is the focus of this particular book, which is part of a series this author has written featuring different historical figures. Robert Winter, also an authentic figure from the nineteenth century, narrates this volume, as he serves as an Army Chaplain. The book contains letters Mr. Winter writes to Emily, often professing his affection for her, and his hope for a deeper relationship than the friendship they share. He also reflects on conversations they have had, and writes to her often of his experiences with the Army. He bears witness to many of the conflicts of that time, giving focused attention to the border wars between Missouri and Kansas prior to the Civil War, as well as massacres of Mexicans, Indians, and Mormons. While Reverend Winter and his wife (married after Emily repeatedly ignores his pleas for a more intimate relationship) are living in Illinois, he becomes a close friend of Abraham Lincoln. Later he also meets Samuel Clemens, Thoreau, Emerson, and Nat Turner.
The friendship between Reverend Winter and Emily Dickinson extends for many years, throughout his marriage, and after the death of his wife. He discusses her endless battles with her father, and bemoans her ever increasing isolation and hermit type existence.
This author writes in a voice that sounds straight out of the nineteenth century, making this a compelling read, and makes these historic figures come alive through these pages. I hope to read more books by him.
I wish to thank the author, Bellvue Literary Press, and LibraryThing First Reviewers program, for the free copy of this book I was furnished, in exchange for an honest review.
The friendship between Reverend Winter and Emily Dickinson extends for many years, throughout his marriage, and after the death of his wife. He discusses her endless battles with her father, and bemoans her ever increasing isolation and hermit type existence.
This author writes in a voice that sounds straight out of the nineteenth century, making this a compelling read, and makes these historic figures come alive through these pages. I hope to read more books by him.
I wish to thank the author, Bellvue Literary Press, and LibraryThing First Reviewers program, for the free copy of this book I was furnished, in exchange for an honest review.
June 19, 2018
This book is the same quality read as the author's other books in the series, The American Novels, historical fiction. Much research goes into these stories. This is my third, and I found all of them somewhat hard at the beginning -- I'm not sure why. It's possibly because things that may be clear to the author are not to a cold reader. When Robert Winter, an army chaplain meets Emily Dickson, the reclusive poet, he is fascinated by her intellect even though she has sharp words at times and an unusual mindset for a woman of that time. They stay in touch infrequently over the years. This is the chaplain's story and the story of his relationship with Emily.
The author writes highly intelligent, literary and involved books, with details as authentic as he can make them. Woven within is the story of how the civil war began and the early history of other well known public people.
The book came to me via Library Thing early reviewers.
The author writes highly intelligent, literary and involved books, with details as authentic as he can make them. Woven within is the story of how the civil war began and the early history of other well known public people.
The book came to me via Library Thing early reviewers.
June 2, 2018
I received this book through Librarything.com Early Member Giveaway for an honest review. This book was great!!!! It takes place during the Civil War, and the main characters are an Army Chaplain and Emily Dickinson. I love the out come of the book. The book was well written and very interesting to read.
August 16, 2018
If you like Emily Dickenson maybe you'll like this novel. I received an advance review copy through LibraryThing. I should not have requested it, I don't feel capable of reviewing it. I'm not a Dickenson fan. Three stars because it's well written.
April 8, 2019
Read it for the subject, stayed for the language. The story of Winter, Dickinson, et al is an interesting frame onto which Lock shapes a wonderfully wandering narrative, rich with description, emotional nuance, and beautiful turns of phrase. The kind of book you read just for the love of reading!
September 7, 2018
Quick read. I just visited Gettysburg, so I was interested in period he wrote about. I fell in love with Emily Dickinson, but not with the story.
April 30, 2023
A fictionalization of the relationship between Emily Dickinson and US Army chaplain Robert Winter. I wanted to like it, but my mind kept straying.
Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews