Emily Dickinson: Poems and Letters

by Emily Dickinson, Alexandra O'Karma (Translation)

Emily Dickinson, born in 1830, was the granddaughter of the founder of Amherst College. Except for a few journeys when she was young, Emily lived the life of a recluse in her father’s house, spending her days writing poems and letters.

In 1862, she sent a few of her poems to a publisher. He replied that her work was too unusual, too different. This was her first and last attempt to reach the public ear. From then on, she bound her work in small hand-stitched collections that she kept in her bureau drawer. After Emily’s death in 1885, her sister discovered over a thousand poems hidden away in drawers and boxes.

Although Emily’s experiences were limited, her poems are profound, often playful, contemplations of life, love, nature, time, and eternity. Each exhibits her extraordinary talent for combining startling imagery and unexpected rhymes. In addition to commentary and a selection of Dickinson’s letters, this audioproduction includes 75 of her most treasured poems.

Genres: Poetry, Audiobook, Nonfiction, Classics, Biography

Audiobook

First published January 1, 1961

About the author

Emily Dickinson was an American poet who, despite the fact that less than a dozen of her nearly eighteen hundred poems were published during her lifetime, is widely considered one of the most original and influential poets of the 19th century.

Dickinson was born to a successful family with strong community ties, she lived a mostly introverted and reclusive life. After she studied at the Amherst Academy for seven years in her youth, she spent a short time at Mount Holyoke Female Seminary before returning to her family's house in Amherst. Thought of as an eccentric by the locals, she became known for her penchant for white clothing and her reluctance to greet guests or, later in life, even leave her room. Most of her friendships were therefore carried out by correspondence.

Although Dickinson was a prolific private poet, fewer than a dozen of her nearly eighteen hundred poems were published during her lifetime.The work that was published during her lifetime was usually altered significantly by the publishers to fit the conventional poetic rules of the time. Dickinson's poems are unique for the era in which she wrote; they contain short lines, typically lack titles, and often use slant rhyme as well as unconventional capitalization and punctuation.Many of her poems deal with themes of death and immortality, two recurring topics in letters to her friends.

Although most of her acquaintances were probably aware of Dickinson's writing, it was not until after her death in 1886—when Lavinia, Emily's younger sister, discovered her cache of poems—that the breadth of Dickinson's work became apparent. Her first collection of poetry was published in 1890 by personal acquaintances Thomas Wentworth Higginson and Mabel Loomis Todd, both of whom heavily edited the content.

A complete and mostly unaltered collection of her poetry became available for the first time in 1955 when The Poems of Emily Dickinson was published by scholar Thomas H. Johnson. Despite unfavorable reviews and skepticism of her literary prowess during the late 19th and early 20th century, critics now consider Dickinson to be a major American poet.

For more information, please see http://www.answers.com/topic/emily-di...

Reviews

[Kara · Rating 5 out of 5]

I listened to the audio version of this, and that is really the way poetry should be consumed - read out loud by someone who knows how to speak well, giving each word full attention. All poetry deserves this, and Dickinson's more than most. Her work is... beautiful.

The selected poems are arranged in sections around loose themes of subject matter (as ever, her poems defy any attempt to pin them down to any sort of catalog) and excerpts of some of her letters are included as well, with brief parts of her biography in between in section, covering mostly just the basics of her life.

An excellent introduction to the life and works of Dickinson.

[K.B. Krissy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Emily Dickinson is amazing an ahead of her time. This literally historical account is pieces of her life and personality. Recommended for historical fiction loves and poetry lovers.

[Holly · Rating 5 out of 5]

Love her.

[Ashley · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really liked this selected collection of Dickinson’s poems and letters. Each section is organized around a theme or period of Dickinson’s life, prefaced by a biographical sketch then followed by poems and letter excerpts. I liked this thematic structure, as it really helped to better understand the arc of her work. And the letters were just as well written and fascinating as her poetry!

[DW]

"My bare-foot rank is better."

Her response to a masculine friend who said her poems were too fragile to be worthy of publishing, she refuted the need for fame.

Her strength is self-assured and open-minded. The bare-foot rank is better.

[Jara · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ay Emily… ❤️

[Valerie · Rating 4 out of 5]

A great intro to Dickinson's life and poetry. The audiobook has facts from her life interspersed with her letters and poems. Though this book is barely the tip of the iceberg of her work, it has certainly made me excited to delve deeper into her poetry.

[rita · Rating 5 out of 5]

"To pile like Thunder to its close
Then crumble grand away
While Everything created hid –
This – would be Poetry –

Or Love – the two coeval come –
We both and neither prove –
Experience either and consume –
For None see God and live "

[Joy Slaughter · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent! GREAT background included that puts the poems in context. I'll probably listen again!

[Angie DePompeis · Rating 4 out of 5]

I’m slowly getting more into the genre of poetry. This collection of poems and letters really worked for me. This work of literature read like an autobiography in my opinion. I felt like I got to know Emily Dickinson as a poet and as a person through this combination of her poems and letters. Emily Dickinson’s personality and life piqued my interest. As described in this work, Dickinson was a true introvert and had such a rich inner world. It is clear that the poet had more creativity in her little finger than a hundred people do. Emily Dickinson was so eccentric and otherworldly that I’m not surprised Apple TV decided to create a series about her short life.

Though Dickinson’s poems are hard for me (an amateur poetry reader) to understand, I enjoyed reading them for some reason or other. I truly enjoy thinking about them and hearing other readers’ analysis of her poems. Often, Dickinson’s poems can be interpreted in a variety of ways. Rather than discourage me, this intrigues me and compels me to read more of Dickinson’s poems.

Even if you are not an avid poetry reader, I urge you to read this collection of poems and letters by Emily Dickinson.

[Jesse Ward-Bond · Rating 3 out of 5]

I was trying to learn a little more about Emily Dickinson, and accidently listened to this whole book. What a curious person: although a lot of her poems concern more metaphysical subjects (death, fame, love) they all feel distinctly physical. I don't understand how someone who questions so much and appreciates so much about the world around her could have possibly shut herself in to her house for 25 years. How can someone be so reclusive but also so passionate, so expressive and kind to her friends and family?

I enjoyed how the organization of the poems/letters/narration was done in sections, so that I was able to apply the context I had just learned to gain a deeper understanding of the poems. I disliked how the poems were read immediately after one another, so that they often blended together. One or two lines of narration between them might have helped, although such context might have been impossible to give as all the poems were published posthumously.

[Theresa · Rating 4 out of 5]

Emily Dickinson: Poems and Letters (Audiobook)
by Emily Dickinson
an explicative book of verse and prose that shows the unique nature of this remarkable poet, showing how her nature causes her raw innovation in verse and chorus. She was so reclusive that her poetry was gathered in volumes that she kept under lock and key in her life. Her verse were not published until after her death. This book attempts to look at when, and how she created her poetry, and how it was rarely shared in her life time. I found so much explanation of the rare courage of writers particularly poets to share their work.

[Patricia N. McLaughlin · Rating 4 out of 5]

The title should read Selected Poems and Letters, for only a dozen or so of her 900 poems and fragments and a mere fraction of her voluminous correspondence are included in this audiobook. Nonetheless, the judicious selection gives listeners a sense of Dickinson’s singular genius and why she emerged as the one of the greatest, idiosyncratic talents in American literature. The Audible edition contains no liner notes, so it lacks biographical information about the poet, a list of poems and letters, and a selected bibliography, which would have been so helpful for reference. O’Karma’s portrayal of Dickinson is excellent, as is Guidall’s general narration and representation of Higginson, making this audiobook such a pleasurable and educational experience.

[M. M. Sana · Rating 5 out of 5]

I listened to this on Audible, I really enjoyed that there were two readers. The never published letters gives a real insight into how Emily Dickinson lived and how she nurtured her relationships with friends and family. The poetry that was selected for this collection fits perfectly in with the letters, which I am sure was intentional. Overall, she is still one of my favorite poets.

[Billy Sheppard · Rating 5 out of 5]

This audiobook is a collection of Emily Dickinson’s poems read by Alexandra O’Karma, with biographical material and letters read by George Guidall. I found it a little gem of an introduction to the life and work of Dickinson.

[Amanda Pierson · Rating 5 out of 5]

While working on school things, I listened to Dickinson’s poetry and letter collection. As a favorite poet of mine, Dickinson has themes of death, immortality, and atmospheric tones that put you in the fall mood in October.

[A · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was difficult as an audiobook, and I tend to prefer audio fiction and poetry. The information about her life was interesting. I wish they had found a way to better indicate the transition from poem or letter to poem or letter, etc. I already knew several of the poems, which helped.

[Tina · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoy listening to Emily's poems along with the information about her life interspersed between many of the poems.

[Jen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Glad I listened to this vs reading. Hearing the poems read sounded so beautiful. I am not sure I could have read them myself so poetically.

[Dona · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fantastic collection of poems and letters.

[Tatiana Styliari · Rating 3 out of 5]

Liked the few poems and letters and getting to know a few basic details about Dickinson but that was really short. Raised my appetite to look for more of her work.

[TheBookbytheRiver · Rating 5 out of 5]

Amazing poems. Listening to her poetic genius is truly inspiring.

[Stephan Anstey · Rating 4 out of 5]

Really interesting and moving and fun

[Mary · Rating 4 out of 5]

I listened to this as an audio book. I enjoyed hearing her letters and works- but I feel like there is more to her history that was glossed over here.

[Isabela · Rating 5 out of 5]

She wrote the poems that anyone can really lose themselves into; so cryptic, intimate, pure and mystical.

[Laura · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a lovely introduction to the eccentric and fascinating life and poetry of Emily Dickinson. I can’t wait to learn more about her and experience more of her poetic genius!

[Nadya Ichinomiya · Rating 5 out of 5]

Beautifully read. I loved also the bit of biographical information about what stage of life Emily Dickinson was experiencing as she wrote the poems and letters, very insightful.

[joanamel · Rating 4 out of 5]

Poderíeis dizer-me como crescer - ou é intransmissível - como a Melodia - ou o Bruxedo?

muito bonito!

[kat · Rating 5 out of 5]

EMILY — FOREVERMORE!!! ❤️❤️❤️

[Danee]

DNF - 30%
Not putting a star rating because this dnf was a me problem lol