An unknown poet during her lifetime to one of the greatest
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Emily Dickinson today is considered one of the most influential American poets. There are almost 1800 poems from her alone, and her work is now widely known internationally. Yet, she was not so known and was considered unusual during her lifetime. She was known more as a gardener and only published ten poems while alive.
Emily passed away in 1886 at the age of 55. Afterward, her younger sister Lavinia found almost forty notebooks of Emily's poems and worked hard to get them published in 1890. More than one hundred and thirty years later, people are still reading Emily's poems.
Quotes
I have had a ‘Joan of Arc’ feeling about Emilies [sic] poems from the first
Lavinia Dickinson
References
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The Posthumous Discovery of Dickinson’s Poems
What was done with them, how Dickinson went from unknown to internationally-famous poet, is a story fraught with emotional intensity, differing loyalties, and personal sacrifice. None of the principal characters, all of whom had personal connections to the poet, ever expected to be involved in such an effort.
Emily Dickinson Museum
