Sealed and delivered

No one defines marriage and deception better than Oscar Wilde, for he says, ”The one charm about marriage is that it makes a life of deception absolutely necessary for both parties.” Emma Donoghue plays the same card in The Sealed Letter, giving the readers a fantastically wicked treat

The book’s cover reads: A delicious tale of secrets, betrayal and forbidden love, and as promised Emma Donoghue writes an emotional and vividly scandalous tale for her readers. The Dublin-born author’s previous books Stir Fry (1994), Slammerkin (2000) and Hood (1995) have all been well rece­ived by readers. Buoyed by the success of her 2010 book The Room, which was shortlisted for the Orange and Man Booker prizes, The Sealed Letter, which was published in 2008 got a new birth this year.

The novel is based on a real-life incident in Victorian England set in the year 1860 and which in its time had become a national scandal. Probably what the author realised is that readers love scandals and gossip and Victorians at that time did have an appetite for such news. In short, stories of adultery and rape and lesbianism could never die out.

In this book, Emma recounts the Codrington divorce and what were the events that led to it. A chance meeting between two friends ‘reddens to life the grey ashes of a friendship’. Helen Codrington is the wayward wife of an ageing navy man and is looking for greener pastures (read toyboys), while Emily ‘Fido’ Faithful is a spinster who champions the cause of feminism. Emily and Helen share a love for Dickens and sometimes the bed as well. And while Emily distrusts her friend’s behaviour she can’t help but be drawn to support Helen’s sexual trysts. Her plight can be understood when she laments early on in the book that ‘the Codrington marriage disintegrated on her watch… she did her best and her best did no good at all.” Soon the affairs come to light and a very angry and cuckolded Henry Codrington applies for a divorce and the marriage is out there for the public to see. Helen too, decides to fight back and uses as her weapon the ‘unspeakable night’ through which she insinuates that Fido was raped. Henry then brings up ‘the sealed letter’, which holds the key to Helen’s undoing. An ugly courtroom drama ensues and Emily abandons fort when called to testify for her bosom pal. Accusations of infidelity and lesbianism fly forth and poor Emily becomes a nervous wreck with fear of being found. But will she testify? Whom will she testify against? Who will the court favour? Read to know how the story ends.

The author has researched on the divorce quite deeply as she manages to flesh out her flawed characters extremely well. As her previous offerings, The Sealed Letter too, plays up the psychological card. The writing does have an old Victorian feel to it in bits and places. Her language is simple and is enough to keep the reader engrossed till the final page. All in all, dangerous liaisons have always raked in the moolah and so does Emma.

BOOK: The Sealed Letter

Author: Emma Donoghue

Publisher: Picador; 398 pages

Category: Books