"The Emperor's Children"

by Claire Messud

James Wood explains that the "novel exists to be affecting...to shake us profoundly. When we're rigorous about feeling, we're honoring that." The reader, then, should approach the text as a writer, "which is [about] making aesthetic judgments."

Claire Messud, the author of "The Emperor's Children" is married to James Wood, noted critic published in "The Guardian". His precise judgment of the purpose of the novel seemed like an interesting place to begin a review of Claire Messud's fourth novel, which has gained universal critical appreciation, even admiration. I don't believe that reading "The Emperor's Children shook me "profoundly", but more than once I found myself pausing to savor something like profound insights. What becomes apparent with the opening chapter is that Messud writes with a command of her art that is an important aesthetic achievement. I was not only drawn into the story of Murray Thwaite, the "emperor" of the title, and his "children", but found myself relishing a rare quality of tone and tempo created by the author's words.
Meghan O' Rourke, reviewing the book for the New York Times writes, "The Emperor's Children" is a masterly comedy of manners — an astute and poignant evocation of hobnobbing glitterati in the months before and immediately following Sept. 11." She is reminded of F. Scott Fitzgerald and Henry James by Messud's "uncanny" ability to limn her character's to epitomize a slice of current, upscale American life.
There is no doubt in my mind that the audience that will cherish "The Emperor's Children" is the current English majors, starry-eyed with hopes to be a part of the literary scene depicted in the novel.
Perhaps, the greatest praise this septuagenarian can give Claire Messud is that I can't wait for her next novel.

Review by Don Mac Brown