A Waltz at Midnight
Grade : B-

A Waltz at Midnight is a short story with an interesting premise of love through letters, even though the general plot is the Cinderella story. I guess it’s as plausible a way to find love as IMs and online ads.

Susanna Parkwell is a lady who has fallen down the ranks in American society due to her family losing their wealth and home in the war. She and her crippled brother have been taken in as a maid by an aunt who runs a boarding school. Charlotte, a student in the boarding school, receives a letter from suitor Theodore Blakely, dutifully reaching out to ask if he can see her when she returns home since their parents have arranged a financially convenient marriage between the two. Charlotte is in love with someone else and bribes Susanna to correspond with Theodore as Charlotte to discourage him with the hope that he will drop the idea of marriage.

Susanna starts corresponding, very angrily at first because she believes an arranged marriage commoditizes a woman. Gradually, however, the correspondence takes a personal turn and they start sharing personal stories, fears, personal details in letters. Charlotte’s family plans a meeting between Charlotte and Theodore at a ball, and Susanna goes to the masked ball as Charlotte in an attempt to break off the relationship with Theodore, but is unable to do so. The rest of the story is Theodore discovering the truth, seeking Susanna out, and declaring his love.

The correspondence between the two characters forms a significant part of the plot of this story. It is well thought out, and shows how they come to have emotions for each other - or as many as they can have in a short 19,000 word story. The growing tenderness is evident in their terms of endearment as well as how they sign their letters gradually over time (Theodore to Teddy). At the same time, the jump from a general "get lost" attitude to love was a little quick.

The length of the story seems to work against it in other ways. Ms. McHugh did her best to give us insight into the characters, but one has to pay attention to pick up the implied details. The story would have been much richer if more depth and explicit details were added about the characters lives, and more interactions (even if it was through letters) between them to get to know each other better. As an example, I would have loved to learn why Theodore could not stand up for himself to pursue his passion for art, or his plans to do so. A parallel story on Susanna’s crippled brother could also have easily been woven in as a subplot to lend the story more emotional depth.

There were some interesting description choices made by Ms. McHugh throughout the book. “Her knuckles blanched from holding the shovel so tightly, and her arm ached from keeping her temper in check.” Really? Her arm ached from her temper? There were also some inconsistencies in the language Susanna used to address those she was serving in the boarding school. It was ‘Ms. Charlotte’ some places and ‘Charlotte’ in others.

All of that being said, the story was poignant and touching in parts. Short and sweet fits the bill here.

Reviewed by Suzanna Gill
Grade : B-

Sensuality: Kisses

Review Date : February 17, 2012

Publication Date: 2012/03

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Suzanna Gill

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