The beginning of a love story...     May 13, 2008     by LutePlay

Emma: Volume One, chronicles the meeting of William, the son of a rich merchant (the new upper-class) and Emma, the mild-mannered and charming maid of his retired governess. But rather than the cheesy love-at-first-sight crazy-in-love sort of thing, we get the very well thought out beginnings of romance. The characters both exemplify love and getting-to-know-each-other newness, and show simultaneously as products of their time- and slowly charm in you the process.

Obviously the Britain of Victorian-times was researched extensively for this manga- and it shows. We are from the start immersed in their world- which is more exciting than you'd think! Library porn! Elephants!

Kaoru Mori's greatest strength is her expressive faces, displayed wonderfully in William and Emma’s shy flirtations. This manga is drawn fairly realistically (no slapstick here), and the characters often do not freely verbalize their thoughts- but Mori clearly displays them in concise strokes. (The retired governess, Kelly Stowner really steals the show in this aspect with her playful faces as she observes the blooming crush between the two leads.)

A smart historical manga!

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