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Author Edith Wharton died before completing The Buccaneers, but the novel won't stay unfinished much longer if Amy Carson '02 (Pennington, N.J.) has her way.
A double major in English and psychology, Carson hopes to finish Wharton's book for her senior honors thesis, using research from the author's previous works and biography to keep it consistent with Wharton's style and vision for her characters.
In addition, Carson is penning an analysis of The Buccaneers, focusing on Wharton's writing and the ways in which it mirrored her life. The student is working on the thesis with Susan Blake, professor of English and head of the department.
“I chose to finish The Buccaneers because I always enjoyed the book,” says Carson. “The characters are very well drawn and they interact with each other in very interesting ways. I also chose to finish the novel because I enjoy creative writing and hope one day to publish my own writing.”
“I thought that by writing in the style of a great author,” she adds, “I could learn more about my own writing style and find my own voice. The challenge is exciting as well as more difficult than I expected.”
Blake describes Carson as an enthusiastic student who is getting the chance to reflect on choices made in writing and to practice writing in a style that is not her own.
“She's also getting a look at literature and the social conventions of the time, the 1930s as well as the 1870s,” says Blake. “The book was written at the time of the Wallace Simpson scandal and may reflect that.”
Carson says Blake “has been very patient with me and has also helped me divide the work into manageable segments. Without her help, I wouldn't have known where to start or how to narrow my topic. Her ideas have helped me to see Wharton as both a part of her late Victorian to early Modern time period and a forward-thinking individual interested in finding women's place in society.”
The student believes Lafayette has “a wonderful academic environment to write a thesis or to work independently.” As a transfer student from a university, she has found Lafayette to offer “far more opportunities,” with professors who “are more accessible and are happy to devote their time to students' interests.”
Carson notes that even several members of the English department whom she did not have as professors have critiqued her writing and offered suggestions.
“Everyone at Lafayette has been a tremendous help and encouragement, and I am grateful to be at a small school where I know that my interests and works are valued,” Carson adds.
A graduate of Hopewell Valley High School, Carson is a member of the Forensics Society as well as Hillel Society, for which she is mitzvah (volunteer) chair. She also is a peer counselor and a member of the costume committee for the Marquis Players, a student group that produces and performs an annual musical to raise money for huunger and homelessness causes.
Amy Carson wrote a proposed ending for Edith Wharton’s unfinished novel The Buccaneers for her honors thesis advised by Susan Blake, professor of English.