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The Poems of Emily Dickinson
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. 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.
368 pages, Kindle Edition
Published December 28, 2012
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About the author
Emily Dickinson
1,555 books6,842 followersEmily 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...
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...
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Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews
October 4, 2024
Just my type of poetry. Wry, cynical, whimsical, melancholy, spirited, easy to read aloud or in the mind. I am so jealous she could write like this. What interesting company she had in herself.
December 27, 2024
Emily Dickinson is one of the greatest Poets in history for a reason. How short life is, for those who don't see a greater light. Bravo!
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January 21, 2025DNF at 22%
February 12, 2025
I've always enjoyed Emily Dickinson
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June 25, 2024Why is Emily Dickinson considered America's greatest and most original poet of all time?! I will ever understand.
I suffered through this entire collection hoping it might get better, but it did not. She sounds like a whiny and spoiled Victorian teenager who had never truly experienced any turmoil in her life, yet is trying to sound deep, moody and mature. And the few and far in between, extremely rare gems I did come across, read like pure luck.
I am beginning to understand why Arthur Schopenhauer had a distaste for women and their art during his time, if he only came across pointless rambling such as this.
I suffered through this entire collection hoping it might get better, but it did not. She sounds like a whiny and spoiled Victorian teenager who had never truly experienced any turmoil in her life, yet is trying to sound deep, moody and mature. And the few and far in between, extremely rare gems I did come across, read like pure luck.
I am beginning to understand why Arthur Schopenhauer had a distaste for women and their art during his time, if he only came across pointless rambling such as this.
January 22, 2021
This is the worst thing I’ve ever read in my entire life and I hated every second of it.
January 29, 2021
Just beautiful, filling my need for artistic beauty when I cannot go out to see art.
Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews