The Unraveling of Absence

Starting with her own familial research, writer Emmalie Dropkin explores the intersection of her family's genealogy, tracing back the various surnames of her family tree, and the tragic death of a late college friend. Dropkin blends genealogy with eulogy, travelogue with insight. She covers her trip to West Virginia, her friend's passing, the funeral and services at Amherst College, the years that followed and Dropkin's eventual return to Amherst.