The Diary of Emily Dickinson [Hardcover]

Jamie Fuller (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: October 1, 2000

The discovery of Emily Dickinson's poetry after her death unleashed a series of mysteries and revelations that astonished those who knew her and continue to intrigue readers today. Who was the reclusive woman who wrote these wise and beautiful verses? Slowly answers came and, with them, more questions. Why did Emily continue to seek the advice of Thomas Wentworth Higginson when he never recognized her genius? To whom were the mysterious "master" letters, written at the height of her poetic creativity, addressed? Why did she keep most of her writing secret from her family? Did she hope for eventual fame? Answers to such questions could have been suggested in 1916, when, during reconstruction of the Dickinson house in Amherst, Massachusetts, a worker discovered Emily's secret diary hidden in a crevice of the wall of the conservatory. Unfortunately, he kept the discovery to himself for many years. Only now has this remarkable document, edited and annotated by Jamie Fuller, become available to Dickinson admirers. Such is the premise of this unique fictional work. The diary begins in March 1867 and ends in April 1868. During this span Dickinson recounts the revelations and trials of her day-to-day life, from burnt puddings to professions of undying love. With discriminating insight, Fuller helps extract from Dickinson's cryptic style her views on God, family, nature, death, love, poetry, fame, and her role as a woman in a patriarchal society. Most of all, The Diary of Emily Dickinson is an exquisite account of what it means to live the writing life, to live for poetry. Author Jamie Fuller has given us a fictional diary based on close readings of Dickinson's writings and contemporaneousmaterials, that is so sensitive and sympathetic, so delicately and smoothly written, in a style so closely resembling Emily's own, that one could well believe it contains the private musings of the enigmatic poet. In it, Emily Dickinson comes alive.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

The most glaring difference between the work of Emily Dickinson and this novel "in the style of" the belle of Amherst can be simply put: offered the real McCoy, the reader never wonders if his time is being wasted. Fuller brings an unmistakable talent for research and an ear for language to her first book, but she doesn't demonstrate much purpose. Here, she simulates entries and poems in a diary "kept" by Dickinson from 1867 to 1868, then "annotates" these with factual material and published verse. While her use of language is reasonably convincing, she doesn't interpret Dickinson's life with much imagination. Essentially, she unravels Dickinson's correspondences and Dickinson research, then threads her findings into diary entries. For example, Emily reports returning a copy of Nicholas Nickleby to her sister-in-law, although she does not comment upon it; the appended note reveals that the book is part of the Dickinson family library now at Harvard. Elsewhere, this Emily schoolgirlishly appraises Aurora Leigh ; comments on newspaper items; and, unavoidably, issues passionate declarations about poetry and cryptic statements about those she loves. If anything, Fuller has made an already circumscribed life seem even narrower. Illustrations not seen by PW.
Copyright 1993 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From Library Journal

A translator of Russian poetry, Fuller sets herself a difficult task in this fictional diary of Dickinson's life in the years 1867-68, since the work must mimic the richly metaphorical and highly idiosyncratic style that characterizes Dickinson's poetry and prose. The book is constructed as a scholar's analysis, containing commentary and references to Dickinson's life and work after the diary entries. Fuller, however, rarely manages to echo Dickinson's style or make the reader believe that she would have written this diary. The entries read not as those of an utterly unique mind but rather as those of a typical 19th-century housewife, complete with discussions of cooking, sewing, and ailing parents. This is equally true of the 25 poems that Fuller has inserted as Dickinson's long-lost work. A sincere and attractively designed book, this is nevertheless too deeply flawed to be recommended.
- Ellen Finnie Duranceau, MIT Lib.
Copyright 1993 Reed Business Information, Inc.

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Product Details

• Hardcover: 240 pages
• Publisher: Mercury House (October 1, 2000)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 156279048X
• ISBN-13: 978-1562790486
• Product Dimensions: 7.1 x 5.4 x 0.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 6.4 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 3.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,494,488 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

21 of 21 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars from a person who is in her own way a Dickinson scholar..., September 8, 2000

By A Customer

This review is from: The Diary of Emily Dickinson (Paperback)

Customer reviews prior to this one here, as well as the author and publisher's manner of presention of this book blatantly titled THE DIARY OF EMILY DICKINSON, present a kind of ethical dilemma to this reader and lover of Dickinson's poetry.

Unless literary history has changed mightily while I, like a modern Rip Van Winkle, slept right through it, the fact is that IF Emily Dickinson ever kept a diary or journal, it was either suppressed or destroyed. Probably the latter, by the same friends and family members who heavily edited (and had the audacity to change Emily's words in) the first printings of her poems.

You will note, if you read the reader reviews posted here before this one, that two out of three amazon.com readers believed they were reading a diary actually written by Emily Dickinson herself.

I am frankly distressed by the publication of a book that does not make its fictional nature more obvious and upfront.

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars It's a great work of HISTORICAL FICTION, July 25, 2000

By 

T-Ling "Act1nup" (New York, NY) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Diary of Emily Dickinson (Paperback)

I just bought this book to help me do some research on Emily Dickinson and did not realize the "diary" is actually fictional. The "novel" is so well done that you will believe that you are reading actual diary entries written by Emily Dickinson. There are even editorial notes throughout the diary to help clarify the entries. The prologue doesn't even clue you in to this "April Fool's". I was flabbergasted when I was halfway through the book and so happened to glance at the back cover and realized this diary was actually fictional! Very well done! Very well done! No matter, it has helped me understand Emily Dickinson's poetry a lot better . . . Jamie Fuller threads throughout the diary actual events with likely events . . . oh it's brilliant. Absolutely brilliant! Bravo! I am laughing hard still from the shock of discovering my error.

3 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars Deceptive title and even more deceptive content!, September 16, 2002

By A Customer

This review is from: The Diary of Emily Dickinson (Paperback)

This book is fiction and yet when I picked it up I thought I was getting the actual diary of Emily Dickinson! The writing is similar to what Emily might have written in her diary but she did not write any of this. The author takes way too many liberties with this title and deceives those of us who are true fans of the immortal Emily Dickinson. Read Emily's poetry instead and you will find a living diary directly from this beautiful woman's life.