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Master Letters of Emily Dickinson
These three letters, which Emily Dickinson drafted to a man she called "Master," stand near the heart of her mystery. Although there is no evidence the letters were ever posted, they indicate a long relationship, geographically apart, in which correspondence would have been the primary means of communication. Dickinson did not write letters as a fictional genre, and these were surely part of a much larger correspondence yet unknown to us.
In the week following Dickinson's death on May 15, 1886, Lavinia Dickinson found what she described as a locked box containing seven hundred of her sister's poems. The Master letters may have been among them, for they were clearly not with the correspondence, which Lavinia destroyed upon discovery.
Of primary importance, the Master letters nevertheless have had an uncertain history of discovery, publication, dating, and transcription. This publication, issued at the centennial of Emily Dickinson's death, presents the three letters in chronological order, based upon new dating of the manuscripts, and provides their texts in facsimile as well as in transcriptions that show stages in the composition of each letter.
In the week following Dickinson's death on May 15, 1886, Lavinia Dickinson found what she described as a locked box containing seven hundred of her sister's poems. The Master letters may have been among them, for they were clearly not with the correspondence, which Lavinia destroyed upon discovery.
Of primary importance, the Master letters nevertheless have had an uncertain history of discovery, publication, dating, and transcription. This publication, issued at the centennial of Emily Dickinson's death, presents the three letters in chronological order, based upon new dating of the manuscripts, and provides their texts in facsimile as well as in transcriptions that show stages in the composition of each letter.
52 pages, Paperback
Published May 15, 1998
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636 people want to read
About the author
Emily Dickinson
1,558 books6,873 followersEmily Dickinson was an American poet who, despite the fact that less than a dozen of her nearly eighteen hundred poems were published during her lifetime, is widely considered one of the most original and influential poets of the 19th century.
Dickinson was born to a successful family with strong community ties, she lived a mostly introverted and reclusive life. After she studied at the Amherst Academy for seven years in her youth, she spent a short time at Mount Holyoke Female Seminary before returning to her family's house in Amherst. Thought of as an eccentric by the locals, she became known for her penchant for white clothing and her reluctance to greet guests or, later in life, even leave her room. Most of her friendships were therefore carried out by correspondence.
Although Dickinson was a prolific private poet, fewer than a dozen of her nearly eighteen hundred poems were published during her lifetime.The work that was published during her lifetime was usually altered significantly by the publishers to fit the conventional poetic rules of the time. Dickinson's poems are unique for the era in which she wrote; they contain short lines, typically lack titles, and often use slant rhyme as well as unconventional capitalization and punctuation.Many of her poems deal with themes of death and immortality, two recurring topics in letters to her friends.
Although most of her acquaintances were probably aware of Dickinson's writing, it was not until after her death in 1886—when Lavinia, Emily's younger sister, discovered her cache of poems—that the breadth of Dickinson's work became apparent. Her first collection of poetry was published in 1890 by personal acquaintances Thomas Wentworth Higginson and Mabel Loomis Todd, both of whom heavily edited the content.
A complete and mostly unaltered collection of her poetry became available for the first time in 1955 when The Poems of Emily Dickinson was published by scholar Thomas H. Johnson. Despite unfavorable reviews and skepticism of her literary prowess during the late 19th and early 20th century, critics now consider Dickinson to be a major American poet.
For more information, please see http://www.answers.com/topic/emily-di...
Dickinson was born to a successful family with strong community ties, she lived a mostly introverted and reclusive life. After she studied at the Amherst Academy for seven years in her youth, she spent a short time at Mount Holyoke Female Seminary before returning to her family's house in Amherst. Thought of as an eccentric by the locals, she became known for her penchant for white clothing and her reluctance to greet guests or, later in life, even leave her room. Most of her friendships were therefore carried out by correspondence.
Although Dickinson was a prolific private poet, fewer than a dozen of her nearly eighteen hundred poems were published during her lifetime.The work that was published during her lifetime was usually altered significantly by the publishers to fit the conventional poetic rules of the time. Dickinson's poems are unique for the era in which she wrote; they contain short lines, typically lack titles, and often use slant rhyme as well as unconventional capitalization and punctuation.Many of her poems deal with themes of death and immortality, two recurring topics in letters to her friends.
Although most of her acquaintances were probably aware of Dickinson's writing, it was not until after her death in 1886—when Lavinia, Emily's younger sister, discovered her cache of poems—that the breadth of Dickinson's work became apparent. Her first collection of poetry was published in 1890 by personal acquaintances Thomas Wentworth Higginson and Mabel Loomis Todd, both of whom heavily edited the content.
A complete and mostly unaltered collection of her poetry became available for the first time in 1955 when The Poems of Emily Dickinson was published by scholar Thomas H. Johnson. Despite unfavorable reviews and skepticism of her literary prowess during the late 19th and early 20th century, critics now consider Dickinson to be a major American poet.
For more information, please see http://www.answers.com/topic/emily-di...
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Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews
January 10, 2022
“have you the little chest — to put the alive — in”.
Dickinson's letters are a complete delight to read -- and I had never read these ones before. These letters were found when Lavinia cleared out Emily's room. Never sent, they are addressed to an unnamed "Master" for whom Dickinson expresses her love.
The fact they were not sent means we thankfully also have the manuscripts and these are put alongside the transcriptions.
Dickinson's letters are a complete delight to read -- and I had never read these ones before. These letters were found when Lavinia cleared out Emily's room. Never sent, they are addressed to an unnamed "Master" for whom Dickinson expresses her love.
The fact they were not sent means we thankfully also have the manuscripts and these are put alongside the transcriptions.
Read
August 4, 2012A slim little volume, so nicely done.
There are the 3 letters included with it, and also a facsimile of the letters is on the opposite page from the typed letter.
The letters written to the "Master" are presented with a facsimile on one page, and the type written version on the facing page.
A must have piece of literary history for those of us who love Dickinson's poetry, and the fascinating history surrounding it.
March 30, 2014
How could anyone give this any less than 5 stars? Though I guess some people have. And stars seem not quite right, anyway, as a rating system. Maybe galaxies?
August 21, 2013
"Have you the little chest--to put the alive--in?" Yikes, it doesn't get much sexier, seriously, than Dickinson's Master letters. Recently, I read one reflection that complained of Dickinson's submissive tone in these. Yes and no. In all three letters there's the game of it: submission and dominance. Oh, sure she asks, "What would you do with me if I came 'in white'?" But then the final letter ("If you saw a bullet hit a bird") says, "I didn't think to tell you, you didn't come to me 'in white'--nor ever told me why--"
To my mind the letters are a fusion of her letter writing and verse. The dashes are present at their most wonderfully disruptive, scoring sentences with new and unexpected meanings. Unlike the poems (more like the letters), these are epistolary in every sense (yes, I think the Master was Pastor Wadsworth). Because of their longer format, we get to see Dickinson use an overarching metaphor, like say the bird, that morphs and accrues new meanings as the missive goes on.
Finally, this edition is quite good. I like the introduction which discusses, among other things, previous publications of the letters and reasons for their current dating. Very affordable. It includes fascicles in a little envelope as well as facsimiles bound side-by-side with the typed versions of the letters.
To my mind the letters are a fusion of her letter writing and verse. The dashes are present at their most wonderfully disruptive, scoring sentences with new and unexpected meanings. Unlike the poems (more like the letters), these are epistolary in every sense (yes, I think the Master was Pastor Wadsworth). Because of their longer format, we get to see Dickinson use an overarching metaphor, like say the bird, that morphs and accrues new meanings as the missive goes on.
Finally, this edition is quite good. I like the introduction which discusses, among other things, previous publications of the letters and reasons for their current dating. Very affordable. It includes fascicles in a little envelope as well as facsimiles bound side-by-side with the typed versions of the letters.
May 23, 2024
Say I may wait for you
Say I need not go with no stranger
to the to me - untried fold -
I waited a long time - Master -
but I can wait more - wait
till my hazel hair is dappled
and you carry the cane -
then I can look at my
watch - and if the Day is
too far declined - we can take
the chances for Heaven.
What would you do with me
if I came "in white"?
Have you the little chest - to
put the alive - in?
I want to see you more - Sir -
than all I wish for in
this world [...]
Could you come to New England -
Would you come
to Amherst - Would you like
to come - Master?
Would it do harm - yet we both
fear God - Would Daisy disappoint
you - no - she wouldn't - Sir -
it were comfort forever - just
to look in your face, while
you looked in mine - then I
could play in the woods - till
Dark - till you take me
where sundown cannot find
us - and the true keep
coming - till the town is full.
Will you tell me if you will?
Say I need not go with no stranger
to the to me - untried fold -
I waited a long time - Master -
but I can wait more - wait
till my hazel hair is dappled
and you carry the cane -
then I can look at my
watch - and if the Day is
too far declined - we can take
the chances for Heaven.
What would you do with me
if I came "in white"?
Have you the little chest - to
put the alive - in?
I want to see you more - Sir -
than all I wish for in
this world [...]
Could you come to New England -
Would you come
to Amherst - Would you like
to come - Master?
Would it do harm - yet we both
fear God - Would Daisy disappoint
you - no - she wouldn't - Sir -
it were comfort forever - just
to look in your face, while
you looked in mine - then I
could play in the woods - till
Dark - till you take me
where sundown cannot find
us - and the true keep
coming - till the town is full.
Will you tell me if you will?
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January 15, 2025“I used to think when I died I could see you so I died as fast as I could”
Shout out Massachusetts!!!! Too personal to rate but it had a serious, sad impact on me. The kind of weird thing that makes me glad I do my degree (especially this American avant garde module) because I would have never read this otherwise.
Shout out Massachusetts!!!! Too personal to rate but it had a serious, sad impact on me. The kind of weird thing that makes me glad I do my degree (especially this American avant garde module) because I would have never read this otherwise.
September 15, 2007
A beautiful edition of the curious manuscripts known as the "Master letters," which may be drafts of actual letters (as most people think), but might be experiments in prose (as the great poet and scholar Susan Howe suggests in My Emily Dickinson. This edition presents the text in holograph and print, but includes facsimiles folded in an envelope.
July 5, 2016
This gorgeous edition, which I was lucky enough to buy in Emily's house (!!!), necessitated a reread. More and more I'm convinced that "Master" was never a real flesh-and-blood human being, which IMHO only makes these letters more stunning.
November 22, 2019
Tenderly solemn, deeply mysterious, and profoundly beautiful - Master Letters of Emily Dickinson demonstrates Dickinson's overwhelming genius.
Without question, reading Dickinson's Master Letters is a magnificent use of your time.
Without question, reading Dickinson's Master Letters is a magnificent use of your time.
March 15, 2025
“A love so big it scares her, rushing among her small heart — pushing aside the blood and leaving her faint (all) and white in the gusts arm.”
these letters were Pure. Gnawing. Poetry. I loved every second of reading them, and I will long for the feelings I had when reading them for the first time, for the rest of my life.
these letters were Pure. Gnawing. Poetry. I loved every second of reading them, and I will long for the feelings I had when reading them for the first time, for the rest of my life.
Read
January 19, 2023A fascinating curiosity of potentiality if you have any interest in Emily Dickinson.
February 19, 2024
Emily Dickinson really created some of the most breath-taking art in history, just because she embraced being delulu… and i think that’s beautiful
June 27, 2025
No Rose, yet felt myself
a'bloom
No Bird — yet rode in Ether —
a'bloom
No Bird — yet rode in Ether —
September 10, 2024
the only brat summer I’m interested in
May 22, 2008
Another way to gain insight into the amazing and mysterious Emily. Read this as part of a class on Dickinson, otherwise probably wouldn't have known about it. If you are an Emily fan, read this.
June 26, 2016
I am older - tonight, Master - but the love is the same so are the moon and the crescent
-Emily Dickinson, The Master Letters
-Emily Dickinson, The Master Letters
Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews