QUIET FIRE

Emily Dickinson was unequivocally a literary icon of the 19th century. But who was she really?

Her poetry is world-renowned, yet she remains in many ways a mystery. Dickinson was born in 1830 and spent most of her life in Amherst, Massachusetts. She was a keen reader (something which was looked down upon by her overbearing father), a talented letter writer, and, of course, a brilliant poet who defied the verse forms of her time. Dickinson also made unique use of capitalization, spelling, and punctuation, even going so far as to create new punctuation marks, challenging publishers who print her work. Coupled with her difficult-to-decipher handwriting, Dickinson’s writing style has led to much speculation as to her intent. Since her death in 1886, scholars have tried endlessly to interpret her vast body of work; this beautifully designed and visually attractive volume delves into various interpretations, including queer and feminist analyses. Today, Dickinson is most famous for being a reclusive poet, but this biography mines what little information we’re privy to, giving readers a more complete image of her life. While relatively short, the accessible but detailed narrative containing excerpts of her writing provides a great overview of many historians’ theories and is a perfect stand-alone text for casual readers or an excellent jumping-off point for aspiring Dickinson-ian scholars.

A brief yet thorough glimpse into the life of one of the world’s most famous poets.