Overview

When Emily Dickinson died at her home in Amherst, Massachusetts, in 1886, she left a locked chest with hand-sewn notebooks and papers filled with nearly 1,800 unpublished poems. Four years later, her first collection was published and became a singular success. Today Dickinson is revered as one of America's greatest and most original poets. Using primary source materials, including the poet's own letters and poems, Quiet Fire presents the life and art of Emily Dickinson to a new generation.

Full Product Details

Author:   Carol Dommermuth-Costa ,  Anna Landsverk
Publisher:   Twenty-First Century Books (Tm)
Imprint:   Twenty-First Century Books (Tm)
Edition:   Revised ed.
Dimensions:   Width: 15.60cm , Height: 2.00cm , Length: 23.00cm
Weight:   0.522kg
ISBN:  

9781728416342

ISBN 10:   1728416345
Pages:   168
Publication Date:   01 March 2022
Recommended Age:   From 13 to 14 years
Audience:   Young adult ,  Teenage / Young adult
Format:   Hardback
Publisher's Status:   Active
Availability:   Temporarily unavailable  
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Table of Contents

Reviews

Emily Dickinson was unequivocally a literary icon of the 19th century. But who was she really? Her poetry is world-renowned, yet she remains in many ways a mystery. Dickinson was born in 1830 and spent most of her life in Amherst, Massachusetts. She was a keen reader (something which was looked down upon by her overbearing father), a talented letter writer, and, of course, a brilliant poet who defied the verse forms of her time. Dickinson also made unique use of capitalization, spelling, and punctuation, even going so far as to create new punctuation marks, challenging publishers who print her work. Coupled with her difficult-to-decipher handwriting, Dickinson's writing style has led to much speculation as to her intent. Since her death in 1886, scholars have tried endlessly to interpret her vast body of work; this beautifully designed and visually attractive volume delves into various interpretations, including queer and feminist analyses. Today, Dickinson is most famous for being a reclusive poet, but this biography mines what little information we're privy to, giving readers a more complete image of her life. While relatively short, the accessible but detailed narrative containing excerpts of her writing provides a great overview of many historians' theories and is a perfect stand-alone text for casual readers or an excellent jumping-off point for aspiring Dickinson-ian scholars. A brief yet thorough glimpse into the life of one of the world's most famous poets.--Kirkus Reviews -- Journal (2/15/2022 12:00:00 AM)

In this arrestingly redesigned reissue of the authors' 1998 biography that features new research and insight into the reclusive and elusive 19th-century poet, Emily Dickinson is presented as a passionate, and possibly queer, writer. The work is organized sequentially and the chapter openings include quotations from Dickinson's letters and verses. Background on the time period, her family history, and her relationships are included as interstitial sidebars to give students a better understanding of the world that the poet lived in. Her poetry is featured often, and reproductions of her letters are scattered throughout. Dommermuth-Costa and Landsverk's research on the nonreligious, nature-loving, and doting daughter is revelatory; their back matter is impeccable; and the fascinating portrait they paint of the often misunderstood author is mesmerizing. Coral, black, and white factor heavily in the dynamic design, making this an attractive volume for potential researchers. The authors serve as mythbusters, addressing Dickinson's mental health issues, unrequited love, the famous white dress, and her contentious relationship with her father. Dickinson was ahead of her time, and her individuality, feminism, and relationships with both men and women will draw in readers. VERDICT An excellent biography for all YA collections.--starred, School Library Journal -- Journal (4/1/2022 12:00:00 AM) Emily Dickinson was unequivocally a literary icon of the 19th century. But who was she really? Her poetry is world-renowned, yet she remains in many ways a mystery. Dickinson was born in 1830 and spent most of her life in Amherst, Massachusetts. She was a keen reader (something which was looked down upon by her overbearing father), a talented letter writer, and, of course, a brilliant poet who defied the verse forms of her time. Dickinson also made unique use of capitalization, spelling, and punctuation, even going so far as to create new punctuation marks, challenging publishers who print her work. Coupled with her difficult-to-decipher handwriting, Dickinson's writing style has led to much speculation as to her intent. Since her death in 1886, scholars have tried endlessly to interpret her vast body of work; this beautifully designed and visually attractive volume delves into various interpretations, including queer and feminist analyses. Today, Dickinson is most famous for being a reclusive poet, but this biography mines what little information we're privy to, giving readers a more complete image of her life. While relatively short, the accessible but detailed narrative containing excerpts of her writing provides a great overview of many historians' theories and is a perfect stand-alone text for casual readers or an excellent jumping-off point for aspiring Dickinson-ian scholars. A brief yet thorough glimpse into the life of one of the world's most famous poets.--Kirkus Reviews -- Journal (2/15/2022 12:00:00 AM)

This book tells the life story of the mysterious Emily Dickinson. Chapters are chronologically organized according to specific periods of her life, with each chapter also presenting examples of her letters and poems. The author includes multiple types of primary sources, including poems, letters, photographs, and portraits, to reflect and weave together the details of Dickinson's life. There are also additional pages of factual information such as letter writing etiquette and literature of Dickinson's day which provide readers with contextual details about the time period in which she lived. Emily Dickinson's poems were never published while she was alive, only becoming known to the world at large after her death when her sister Lavinia discovered a trunk of 1,800 poems Emily had written on scraps of paper. Overall, this is a well-researched book on the life of Emily Dickinson. Sources, further readings, and an index are included in the end pages. This title would be a great resource to highlight for Women's History Month and National Poetry Month. The author's research is exemplary and represents a necessary addition to the shelves of all school libraries. Nancy Jean Hawkins, School Librarian, Franklin County High School, Brookville, Indiana Highly Recommended --School Library Connection -- Journal (8/1/2022 12:00:00 AM) In this arrestingly redesigned reissue of the authors' 1998 biography that features new research and insight into the reclusive and elusive 19th-century poet, Emily Dickinson is presented as a passionate, and possibly queer, writer. The work is organized sequentially and the chapter openings include quotations from Dickinson's letters and verses. Background on the time period, her family history, and her relationships are included as interstitial sidebars to give students a better understanding of the world that the poet lived in. Her poetry is featured often, and reproductions of her letters are scattered throughout. Dommermuth-Costa and Landsverk's research on the nonreligious, nature-loving, and doting daughter is revelatory; their back matter is impeccable; and the fascinating portrait they paint of the often misunderstood author is mesmerizing. Coral, black, and white factor heavily in the dynamic design, making this an attractive volume for potential researchers. The authors serve as mythbusters, addressing Dickinson's mental health issues, unrequited love, the famous white dress, and her contentious relationship with her father. Dickinson was ahead of her time, and her individuality, feminism, and relationships with both men and women will draw in readers. VERDICT An excellent biography for all YA collections.--starred, School Library Journal -- Journal (4/1/2022 12:00:00 AM) Emily Dickinson was unequivocally a literary icon of the 19th century. But who was she really? Her poetry is world-renowned, yet she remains in many ways a mystery. Dickinson was born in 1830 and spent most of her life in Amherst, Massachusetts. She was a keen reader (something which was looked down upon by her overbearing father), a talented letter writer, and, of course, a brilliant poet who defied the verse forms of her time. Dickinson also made unique use of capitalization, spelling, and punctuation, even going so far as to create new punctuation marks, challenging publishers who print her work. Coupled with her difficult-to-decipher handwriting, Dickinson's writing style has led to much speculation as to her intent. Since her death in 1886, scholars have tried endlessly to interpret her vast body of work; this beautifully designed and visually attractive volume delves into various interpretations, including queer and feminist analyses. Today, Dickinson is most famous for being a reclusive poet, but this biography mines what little information we're privy to, giving readers a more complete image of her life. While relatively short, the accessible but detailed narrative containing excerpts of her writing provides a great overview of many historians' theories and is a perfect stand-alone text for casual readers or an excellent jumping-off point for aspiring Dickinson-ian scholars. A brief yet thorough glimpse into the life of one of the world's most famous poets.--Kirkus Reviews -- Journal (2/15/2022 12:00:00 AM)

Author Information

Carol Dommermuth-Costa is an author based in New York state. Anna Landsverk is a writer, editor, and publishing professional. She lives in Minnesota with her adorable dog and extensive children's book collection.

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