'Dickinson: Selected Poems and Commentaries' by Helen Vendler discusses 150 poems -- Readers, students, and Dickinson scholars alike have read, thought about, and discussed the nearly 2,000 extant poems by Emily Dickinson for generations. What respected Harvard literary critic, Helen Vendler, has done in her new book Dickinson: Selected Poems and Commentaries published this week, is offer interpretations for 150 of the poems that may serve as a starting point for readers who find themselves stumped as to where to begin to "unpack" the poems for themselves.
The book was published by Harvard University Press, the same publisher as the Ralph W. Franklin edition of the poems. The Franklin edition has become the currently accepted print edition of the poems among most Dickinson scholars. It should be noted that Ms. Vendler uses the Franklin edition, but that the variants in the poems as the poet left them in her orignial manuscripts complicate any published edition of the poetry. As a consequence, the variants make a book of commentaries about the poems likewise problematic.
For each entry, the poem is printed followed by commentary by Ms. Vendler. Occasionally, she cites Dickinson scholar, Domhnall Mitchell, who was the reader of her book in manuscript form. Poems addressed in the book include those most often presented in classrooms -- "Safe in Their Alabaster Chambers - , " "Some keep the Sabbath going to Church - ," "Wild nights - Wild nights!," "I dwell in Possibility - ," and "Because I could not stop for Death - ."
The book also includes an introduction to "Dickinson the Writer," a listing of primary sources cited, acknowledgments, and an index of first lines.
Helen Vendler is A. Kingsley Porter University Professor at Harvard University. Though she has written several books on poets and poetry, she is perhaps best known for her analyses of William Shakespeare's sonnets, The Art of Shakespeare's Sonnets.
In his review of the book in the The Washington Post, Michael Dirda writes, "Emily Dickinson is certainly never going to be an easy poet to understand, but her dense, poignant lyrics are now a lot more accessible to ordinary readers thanks to Vendler's unravelings."
Readers of Dickinson may watch for future reviews of the book by Dickinson scholars who have specialized in her work, many for their entire careers. One of the cautions that professors, poets, and teachers alike would also give to readers of a book like Ms. Vendler's is that it, or any other, should not be accepted as the one and only "authoritative" reading of a Dickinson poem -- each poem has its own qualities, surprises, and realities that unfold for each individual reader on his/her own. These discoveries may also change over time and with subsequent readings. That's the beauty of the written word.
Dickinson: Selected Poems and Commentaries runs 560 pages and lists for $35.00. Though academic and public libraries will likely purchase this book, discounts are available at various booksellers that make the book accessible for individuals as well.
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Connie Ann Kirk is a published author of more than 10 books and holds a Ph.D. in English. She is currently working on a novel and a screenplay. See all of Connie's National Examiner Arts & Entertainment columns at these pages: Books on Film, Literature, Emily Dickinson, and Young Adult Pop Culture. Feel free any time to also check out her website, www.connieannkirk.com.
Email Connie any time at: ConnieAnnKirkOnExaminer@gmail.com.
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