Customer Reviews

Emily Dickinson: A Biography

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This book is for young adults of the early 21st century what the National Book Award-winning Richard B. Sewall account was for adults 30 years ago--the definitive biography of the poet's life, including updated and new research that dispels many long-held Dickinson myths. Emily Dickinson sought advice on her writing and even collaborated with a close friend on at least one poem; she traveled; she had a circle of friends and family who meant a great deal to her and who received hundreds of letters from her; she loved her dog and hated housecleaning. She was not only aware of the Civil War during her most prolific years, but she also wrote poems about the war's soldiers and suffering. This is the living, breathing Emily Dickinson as a woman young people of today need to read about and think about in relation to her extraordinary poetry. Adults wishing to read a shorter account will also find much fresh and well-researched information here about a great American poet.

Kirk states that this is a book written for beginners, when it comes to Emily Dickinson. If you're a beginner, you couldn't ask for a better introduction. She helps the reader understand why a poem by Dickinson is printed in various ways using different words and punctuation. Kirk writes just enough about Dickinson's life to ruin your delight when reading pre-2005 biographies. I had no success reaching the website Kirk gives to find photographic copies of Dickinson's originals. But she's upped my interest and I'm still searching.

I can't get enough of Dickinson biographies recently. Connie Ann Kirk's portrait of Emily Dickinson is very worthwhile; not sensationalistic but very grounded.

This book was supposed to be in good condition, but when I received it the edges were so worn the front and back top sheets were pulling away. The binding was okay, but I would not recommend taking the condition description at face value from this seller.