مقدمۀ کمبریج بر امیلی دیکنسون

Cambridge Introductions to Literature

by Wendy Martin, مریم سربندی‌فراهانی (Translator)

Emily Dickinson is best known as an intensely private, even reclusive writer. Yet the way she has been mythologised has meant her work is often misunderstood. This introduction delves behind the myth to present a poet who was deeply engaged with the issues of her day. In a lucid and elegant style, the book places her life and work in the historical context of the Civil War, the suffrage movement, and the rapid industrialisation of the United States. Wendy Martin explores the ways in which Dickinson's personal struggles with romantic love, religious faith, friendship and community shape her poetry. The complex publication history of her works, as well as their reception, is teased out, and a guide to further reading is included. Dickinson emerges not only as one of America's finest poets, but also as a fiercely independent intellect and an original talent writing poetry far ahead of her time.

Genres: Poetry, Nonfiction, Biography, Essays, Literature

248 pages, Paperback

First published March 1, 2007

Reviews

[Deborah Markus]

I'm working on a YA novel involving a serial killer and one heck of a lot of Emily Dickinson references. (No, I'm not writing Dickinson into the role of serial killer. Sorry. That's too weird even for me.)

Anyway. I checked this out from the library because I'm reading a full-length biography of ED and it's good but a little overwhelmingly analytical at times. I wanted a good brief overview. I figured this book would be a basic, even generic look at Dickinson's life and work

I was kind of a judgmental jerk, it turns out. This book is a great brief overview, and it's anything but generic. I learned so much, and I'm everlastingly grateful to Wendy Martin for tipping me off to what I'll call Dickinson's Irish connection. It gave me an idea for a future YA novel.

If you're interested in Dickinson's life or work but don't want to make a career out of learning about her, or have always wondered why different collections have different versions of what's supposedly the same Dickinson poem, read this book. (Yes, I took a long time to finish it, but only because I was taking copious notes.)

[John]

One of the better introductions to Emily Dickinson. A variety of essays that cover her life and dominant themes and legacy. The chapters on the editing history make for interesting reading because her writing was unique and baffling to people with Victorian sensibilities. Fortunately later editors restored her poems to their original language — and beauty.

[Bahman Bahman]

"کتاب حاضر به زندگی، آثار، بسترهای اجتماعی و سیاسی دوران زندگی دیکنسون و نقد آثار او از نگاه منتقدان برجستۀ معاصر و منتقدان کنونی می‌پردازد. فصل دوم به طور ویژه بررسی و تفسیر اشعار را مد نظر قرار می‌دهد و به خوانندگان کمک می‌کند به خوانش عمیق‌تری از اشعار و نامه‌های او دست یابند و آن‌ها را با توجه به بسترهای اجتماعی و عواطف شخصی حاضر در روزگار امیلی دیکنسون درک کنند. همچنین فصل آخر به ذکر پژوهش‌های صورت گرفته در مورد دیکنسون، مقالات، کنفرانس‌ها و کتاب‌هایی می‌پردازد که به نوعی کتابشناسی مفیدی را برای دانشجویان و ادیبان انگلیسی، پژوهشگران ادبی و علاقه‌مندان فراهم می‌کند. آگاهی از رویکردهای مناسب برای نقد آثار او به خوانندگان کمک می‌کند با دانش کافی و اطلاعات کارآمد به تحلیل این آثار بپردازند."

[lottie❀]

a good introduction!!! very interesting but also easy to read and touched on key themes and poems in a lovely way. also i love reading praise of my faves. however the part when it quoted her letter to sue being like i literally am having palpitations my face is going red i’m hot i’m feverish in anticipation of seeing u can you kiss me like before then it’s like “their committed friendship”😘😝

[F;]

3.5/5⭐
چندین صفحه ی اخر رو زدم جلو چون دیگه برام جالب نبود ولی فکر میکنم برای اشنایی با امیلی و اشعارش میشه روی این کتاب حساب کرد

[Rob]

It was recommended that I research Dickinson's life so I picked up this book. It read more like a Cole's Notes on her biography than anything else. Too short though I get a sense from what was said that there has never and will never be a definitive biography done on her due to too little source material left.

[Bruce]

This is a concise and readable introduction to the poet’s life, the world she lived in, her poems and letters, and their posthumous publication, editing, and scholarly reception and interpretations. It's an excellent companion to a reader new to Dickinson's writing.

[Andreea]

A bit too no homo, good introduction otherwise? It has a very useful guide to further reading at the end.