The Letters of Emily Dickinson

by Emily Dickinson

The 1,304 surviving letters written by Emily Dickinson, are—in their essence—like her poems: a radically visionary offering. Here is a universe contained and concentrated in epistolary gestures—a sort of autobiographical gardening, cadenced into gnōsis. They contain a force that is often concealed beneath the surface & camouflage as familial, local, and social asides. Dickinson’s writings radiate and resonate as “a miracle for all,” and we are beckoned to submit to the tone and forms of it. This volume, in its 900 plus pages of glory, is meticulously edited from archival sources and annotated with immense care by Dickinson scholars Cristanne Miller and Domhnall Mitchell. Its importance as a collection and publication cannot be overstated. — Herbert Pföstl, Book Consultant for the New Museum Store.

Emily Dickinson was a letter writer before she became renowned as a poet. Through her letters, she shared humorous, provocative, and philosophical reflections with her extensive community. These letters reveal her as a multifaceted individual—reader, writer, thinker, social commentator, friend, and family member.

The Letters of Emily Dickinson is the first collected edition of her correspondence since 1958, presenting all 1,304 extant letters, including nearly 300 previously unpublished ones. This edition provides updated annotations, offering a fresh perspective on Dickinson's engagement with the political and literary currents of her time, and highlighting her connections to national and international events. This collection sheds new light on Dickinson's complex mind and her expansive relationships.

2024; hardcover; 6.125 x 9.25 inches; 976 pages; ISBN: 9780674982970.