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Greenwood Biographies
Emily Dickinson: A Biography
Using updated scholarship and never before published primary research, this new biography peels away the myths surrounding Emily Dickinson and takes a fresh look at the complex and busy life of this genius of American letters. As a research tool, the volume is also useful for its explanation of current nomenclature for the poems, mysteries and controversies, and the poet's influence on American poetry and culture.
Emily Dickinson saw fewer than a dozen of her poems published in her lifetime, but she has since become one of the most revered and beloved of all American poets. As a shy woman living in 19th century New England, Dickinson wrote about large subjects through close observation of small, everyday details. After her death, her sister found more than 1,775 poems and solicited help in seeing them into print. Dickinson preferred to live most of her life at home among those she loved, but over time, some of the more unusual facts of her life became mythologized and distorted. Using updated scholarship and never before published primary research, this new biography peels away the myths surrounding Emily Dickinson and takes a fresh look at the complex and busy life of this genius of American letters.
As a research tool, the volume is also useful for its explanation of current nomenclature for the poems, mysteries and controversies, and the poet's influence on American poetry and culture. A chronology is set alongside significant historical and cultural events of the period. Also included are locations of major holdings for Dickinson study, a listing of poems published in her lifetime, and a full bibliography of primary and secondary sources.
Emily Dickinson saw fewer than a dozen of her poems published in her lifetime, but she has since become one of the most revered and beloved of all American poets. As a shy woman living in 19th century New England, Dickinson wrote about large subjects through close observation of small, everyday details. After her death, her sister found more than 1,775 poems and solicited help in seeing them into print. Dickinson preferred to live most of her life at home among those she loved, but over time, some of the more unusual facts of her life became mythologized and distorted. Using updated scholarship and never before published primary research, this new biography peels away the myths surrounding Emily Dickinson and takes a fresh look at the complex and busy life of this genius of American letters.
As a research tool, the volume is also useful for its explanation of current nomenclature for the poems, mysteries and controversies, and the poet's influence on American poetry and culture. A chronology is set alongside significant historical and cultural events of the period. Also included are locations of major holdings for Dickinson study, a listing of poems published in her lifetime, and a full bibliography of primary and secondary sources.
- GenresBiographyNonfiction
216 pages, Hardcover
First published May 30, 2004
65 people want to read
About the author
Connie Ann Kirk
17 books2 followersConnie Ann Kirk is an American author. Her books cover a range of subjects including concise literary biographies for students, bio-critical literary studies, and references. She has also written a fiction picture book for children. Her articles, both in print and online, address topics in literature, poetry, popular culture, history, education, art, television, science, sports, and film.
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Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews
September 9, 2014
Clean, simple account of the life of the great Emily Dickinson. Written for young adults, but I found it very engaging and interesting. Sometimes she makes a few more jumps than I feel are legit in assuming what we can know about EED (i.e., let's think of all the reasons why she wore only white in her middle age), and she also has the usual academic bias against organized religion (why would anyone we respect believe all that stuff?). While it's indisputable that EED avoided attending church (as Kirk points out, who wouldn't in the midst of all that revivalism and peer pressure of the mid 19th century? yikes!) but she also was, obviously, influenced by the KJ Bible, listed the Book of Revelation as one of her favorite books read *The Imitation of Christ*, and otherwise was influenced artistically by Christianity. Not sure, however, that we can surmise that she would have been "relieved" to read science books at college because they would've made so much more sense to her than religion. OK, getting off hobby horse now.
A great biography, not too long, but still with meat in it.
A great biography, not too long, but still with meat in it.
August 22, 2011
After reading "The Secret Life of Emily Dickinson" a few weeks ago, I realized that I didn't know much about Emily. It was hard for me to differentiate what might or might now be true. This short book did the trick. It is written for students but is not a children's book. Very readable and added to my understanding of Emily.
January 9, 2018
This 2004 biography, written for a young adult audience, handles Dickinson's biography and historical context with grace, concision, but also complexity. Key debates, such as the mystery and significance of Dickinson's anonymous boyfriend(s) and the extent of Dickinson's supposed illnesses, are handled sensitively. The writer is careful to not endorse unsubstantiated claims. BUT NOTHING IS CITED! Following each chapter are about four footnotes that cite a SMALL FRACTION of the letters, poems, and other historical context the author draws upon---This is annoying because there were a few details I was unfamiliar with and would like to check them out with primary sources, but I will have to begin the search from scratch.
July 11, 2022
What sort of a person was Emily Dickinson to produce so notable a body of semi-private poetry?
Much has been made of Dickinson’s departure in her early thirties into the family grounds, the house and her own bedroom, almost like a nun. She talked to visitors through a half-closed door. She came to be regarded as unconventional, if not cracked.
But the fact remains that she grew up usually enough with good schooling, much letter-writing, boy-friends, gardening, and household work. Her day-to-day life cannot be understood in such simple terms as a neurotic withdrawal.
The house where she lived was filled with relatives and visitors all through the year. She cooked and cleaned and gardened; she composed, drafting and revising letters to an extensive circle of friends.
Up to the end, Emily Dickinson remained a “private” poet. Being ill-fated in her literary advisers and harshly limited in her experience of getting her work printed, the choice of remaining a private poet was forced upon her.
She preferred the poverty of the artist in his garret, not only unsold but uncreating, to the investment of her immortal spirit in marketable product. She felt a deep bitterness against what she called the “auction of the mind”.
Miss Dickinson’s life was completely devoid of outward event. She did not choose to avail herself of whatever social life was available to her. Such an approach slowly but surely made her life one of an almost total solitude.
In a letter dated 1853 when she was twenty-three years old, she remarked, “I do not go from home.”
By the time she was thirty, the habit of leading an isolated existence had become very strong, and a subject on which she was explicit and emphatic in her letters to T.W. Higginson.
Crucially, with the backing of Austin and Benjamin Newton and Susan, she came early to know that she was a poet, so that when the crisis came, in 1861 and 1862, she sustained herself writing a poem a day; and from 1861 to 1864 she wrote over 750 poems. Such a rate of composition not only demands a serious spending of psychic energy; it must have also yielded her “a radiant happiness” within the heart of her misery.
A most wonderful biography!
Much has been made of Dickinson’s departure in her early thirties into the family grounds, the house and her own bedroom, almost like a nun. She talked to visitors through a half-closed door. She came to be regarded as unconventional, if not cracked.
But the fact remains that she grew up usually enough with good schooling, much letter-writing, boy-friends, gardening, and household work. Her day-to-day life cannot be understood in such simple terms as a neurotic withdrawal.
The house where she lived was filled with relatives and visitors all through the year. She cooked and cleaned and gardened; she composed, drafting and revising letters to an extensive circle of friends.
Up to the end, Emily Dickinson remained a “private” poet. Being ill-fated in her literary advisers and harshly limited in her experience of getting her work printed, the choice of remaining a private poet was forced upon her.
She preferred the poverty of the artist in his garret, not only unsold but uncreating, to the investment of her immortal spirit in marketable product. She felt a deep bitterness against what she called the “auction of the mind”.
Miss Dickinson’s life was completely devoid of outward event. She did not choose to avail herself of whatever social life was available to her. Such an approach slowly but surely made her life one of an almost total solitude.
In a letter dated 1853 when she was twenty-three years old, she remarked, “I do not go from home.”
By the time she was thirty, the habit of leading an isolated existence had become very strong, and a subject on which she was explicit and emphatic in her letters to T.W. Higginson.
Crucially, with the backing of Austin and Benjamin Newton and Susan, she came early to know that she was a poet, so that when the crisis came, in 1861 and 1862, she sustained herself writing a poem a day; and from 1861 to 1864 she wrote over 750 poems. Such a rate of composition not only demands a serious spending of psychic energy; it must have also yielded her “a radiant happiness” within the heart of her misery.
A most wonderful biography!
June 1, 2017
In wanting to read a biography a month, getting to know some of the more relevant women in history, I picked up this book about the poet from Amherst, MA. It reads more like a textbook than an interesting description of Dickinson's life but I know more about her now than I did before. There were no poems contained in the telling so now I'll have to pick up a book of her poetry.
Read
January 4, 2015This 143-page biography is from Greenwood Press which publishes accessible reference books for high school students. I am on an “E.D. kick” lately and was eyeing the 1963 seminal work on the poet’s life by Richard B. Sewall, but did not want to commit to its two volumes and 900+ pages at this time. Organized mostly chronologically, Kirk’s version is more of an overview of major events and people in the poet’s life. Still, Kirk’s storytelling makes each chapter a compelling vignette. One thing missing is the poetry and literary criticism. Kirk explains that Greenwood’s permissions are limited with regard to reprinting the poet’s work, but in Kirk's own prose, she nods to those who might recognize an E.D. turn of phrase. Also of value are the chapters where Kirk dispels several myths surrounding Dickinson’s legacy based on the most up-to-date information available. This is a worthwhile read for anyone interested in gaining a deeper understanding of Dickinson and her work.
March 1, 2011
It was very helpful, because I had to do tons of research for a paper I was writing. :)
Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews