Customer Reviews

Poems & Letters of Emily Dickinson

5 star:		(2)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(0)
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1 star:		(0)

 

 

I owned this on vinyl but it wore out, because I have been kind of obsessed with Emily for 25 years. Julie Harris is a great choice to voice the reclusive poet. Also good is Julie's original cast performance of the one-woman play, "Belle of Amherst". Somebody needs to issue a CD (or two of them) with that play, by William Luce, and this cassette included. There have been a few recorded readings of Emily's poems and/or letters over the decades which were not particularly well-done, but Caedmon was always a classy label and did projects right.

I have just spent some weeks in Emily Dickinson territory and actually met several young women who ressembled her in various ways. For me her tragically short life has always been a mystery.

Hearing the letters and many poems read so beautifully, with so much empathy, is better than just reading her poems to oneself. Most of the most important material is covered here. Perhaps a 15 minute introduction to her life would be a fine addition.

I have to confess that I love audio books and have many (poetry and/or Shakespeare and Joyce, mostly.) The Caedman collection is one of the best. I hope they will bring this out on CDs or include it in some type of DVD project, since this wonderful material would be perfect for the class room and for hours of enjoyment at home.

These are great tapes. I've listened to these and read Emily for years and it just does not seem like anyone wants to put these tapes out on CD. Not cost effective I guess. 2010 and still no CD's oh well. This is my letter to the world and the world doesn't write back...