The Essential Emily Dickinson

Really pretty little pocketbook with an interesting forward by Joyce Carol Oates. The selection of poems is small but a good introduction to Dickinson’s poetry. Although there are huge swaths of info to read about her, her life and her works online, I like owning my own personal copy.

I decided to read Dickinson after watching the terrific Apple+ series of the same name. This is a great introduction to the poet—nicely selected. Joyce Carol Oates is NOT a favorite of mine (she’s actually deeply conservative, to the point of being reactionary), but the introductory essay here was written before she turned the corner into her current point of view, and is quite illuminating.

NOTE: Contents are from the edition edited by Thomas H. Johnson (Cira 1951) and not the first three volumes edited by Todd and Higginson in 1890, after her death. This is an important distinction to some, but not to me. Without the publication (and well meaning editing) of those first three volumes, Emily Dickinson may never have been discovered and become the beloved poet she is today.I would imagine it is difficult to try to select poems by universally loved poets that will please the majority of buyers. In my opinion, Joyce Carol Oates did a good job. While not all my personal favorites made the cut, enough did that I don’t regret my purchase.This slim book is perfect for slipping into a purse or backpack for reading when a few unexpected minutes become available away from home. So many of the Dickinson poems are relaxing and calming, the perfect antidote during a stressful day.

I enjoyed this little book. I’m new to Emily Dickenson, and this was a good place to start.

Very nice selection. I could not put it down until I finished the first poem on Valentine week.

Beautiful book, great size for traveling. Can’t wait for my friend to receive it as a gift.

I very much enjoyed this book.

Own the complete works of Emily D. Teach a course -- every wo years -- on modern a poetry.Purchase the "essential ..." as a gift to my 13 and 16 year old nephews as an intro to Emily D.