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Summary: Patron Saint of the Teenage Shut-in
Review: Patron Saint of the intellectually inquisitive Teenage Shut-in, Emily Dickinson's work is a treasure-trove of timeless poetry and verse. Initially introduced in a High School English class, I have often returned to this anthology for personal enrichment and enjoyment and would recommend this collection to any admirer of Dickensons' work. Highly Recommended.
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Summary: Johnson Edition
Review: So, here's the deal, boys and girls. There are two versions of the reading edition of Emily Dickinson's poems that are usable. And by usable, I mean that the texts (note the work "texts") are what Emily Dickinson wanted the texts to be. The first version is, as I read the description of the volume in question, is the Thomas H. Johnson text. Now, friends, (excuse me if I seem patronizing, but as a Dickinson scholar, long of tooth, and weary of stupidity, I have my prejudices), Johnson's text has been a fully acceptable and competent version since it was published as the authoritative Dickinson in 1955 (Belknap Press of Harvard University Press issued the variorum, three volume version of all the authoritative poems in the same year.) This is cool. The newest version of Emily Dickinson poems was edited by R.W. Franklin, and the readers' edition was published in 1999. There is also a new variorum edition published by Belknap Press of Harvard and edited by Franklin. So. I am boring you with all of this detail to tell you that the Johnson texts are good texts. If you are serious about Dickinson--meaning if you actually care about what she wrote on the page--the Johnson and the Franklin will give accurate texts. F.W. Franklin has been working on details where Johnson lacked insight since the '60's. He knows whereof he speaks, and he has done his utmost to reassemble Ms. Dickinson's original manuscripts in their proper order. Previous versions of the poems--those before Johnson and Franklin--regularized rhyme and otherwise abrogated the accuracy of the poems. They were cleaned up according to late 19th century standards, and the texts--despite editorial comments to the contrary--are corrupt. That means that they are inaccurate. So, dear friends, if you want Emily Dickinson with accuracy--despite the rapturous testimony of some reviewers--go for the Johnson or Franklin texts. The others are mostly fraudulent. And in case you actually care, my credentials are respectable, and I don't work for a publisher. Use Johnson if you have him with confidence. Franklin is most current and should be impeccable. Other texts, including some that are in supposedly respectable American literature anthologies, may be suspect. (One of the most respectable uses texts that derive from late 19th century texts that were declared corrupt some 40 years ago.) So--hope this is of some use.
Rating:
Summary: Johnson Edition
Review: So, here's the deal, boys and girls. There are two versions of the reading edition of Emily Dickinson's poems that are usable. And by usable, I mean that the texts (note the work "texts") are what Emily Dickinson wanted the texts to be. The first version is, as I read the description of the volume in question, is the Thomas H. Johnson text. Now, friends, (excuse me if I seem patronizing, but as a Dickinson scholar, long of tooth, and weary of stupidity, I have my prejudices), Johnson's text has been a fully acceptable and competent version since it was published as the authoritative Dickinson in 1955 (Belknap Press of Harvard University Press issued the variorum, three volume version of all the authoritative poems in the same year.) This is cool. The newest version of Emily Dickinson poems was edited by R.W. Franklin, and the readers' edition was published in 1999. There is also a new variorum edition published by Belknap Press of Harvard and edited by Franklin. So. I am boring you with all of this detail to tell you that the Johnson texts are good texts. If you are serious about Dickinson--meaning if you actually care about what she wrote on the page--the Johnson and the Franklin will give accurate texts. F.W. Franklin has been working on details where Johnson lacked insight since the '60's. He knows whereof he speaks, and he has done his utmost to reassemble Ms. Dickinson's original manuscripts in their proper order. Previous versions of the poems--those before Johnson and Franklin--regularized rhyme and otherwise abrogated the accuracy of the poems. They were cleaned up according to late 19th century standards, and the texts--despite editorial comments to the contrary--are corrupt. That means that they are inaccurate. So, dear friends, if you want Emily Dickinson with accuracy--despite the rapturous testimony of some reviewers--go for the Johnson or Franklin texts. The others are mostly fraudulent. And in case you actually care, my credentials are respectable, and I don't work for a publisher. Use Johnson if you have him with confidence. Franklin is most current and should be impeccable. Other texts, including some that are in supposedly respectable American literature anthologies, may be suspect. (One of the most respectable uses texts that derive from late 19th century texts that were declared corrupt some 40 years ago.) So--hope this is of some use.
Rating:
Summary: incredibly deep...
Review: Some of these poems are so HUMAN-easy to relate to, speaking of truth and beauty. I think that the person who gave it one star, well-they obviously have no intelligence or understanding of good writings.
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Summary: COMPLETE POEMS for thirteen bucks! Nuff said
Review: That's 1775 poems, one for every year from Christ to America, arranged "chronologically." Excellent
Rating: 
Summary: The Ultimate Collection
Review: The Complete Poems of Emily Dickinson, is the ultimate collection of poems. By organizing the poems into chronological order, Johnsonj has created a timeline of situations and emotions Dickinson went through in her life. Johnson provides the reader with two different indexes, a subject index and an index of the first lines. These prove to be very helpful in finding the exact poem or poems you are looking for.Dickinson captures the intense struggles of life, as well as the hard work and complicated aspects of society for a woman, in the late 1800s. Dickinson includes her personal feelings, which allows the reader to relate to the poet. The powerful wording Dickinson uses in her poems compels the reader to continue on. Along with the intense wording of the poems, there is a meaning to be found in each poem. It is obvious Dickinson had spent time on each poem, carefully selecting the proper words and phrases. Poems such as "Because I Could not Stop for Death," "This is My Letter to the World," and "Success is Counted Sweetest" are only a few of the impressive poems that can be found in The Complete Poems of Emily Dickinson. This collection was skillfully put together and is an amazing selection of poems.
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Summary: Delightfully primitive
Review: There was a time in the history of the world when great literature was for the rich - so those without means were impoverished twice over! But this is a remarkable example of how the work of poetic genius can touch the lives of every reader in an edition that is complete, exhaustive and affordable. For anyone who adores Emily or wants to learn what all the fuss has been, here's the best buy.
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Summary: Easy to buy & easier to read
Review: There was a time in the history of the world when great literature was for the rich - so those without means were impoverished twice over! But this is a remarkable example of how the work of poetic genius can touch the lives of every reader in an edition that is complete, exhaustive and affordable. For anyone who adores Emily or wants to learn what all the fuss has been, here's the best buy.
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Summary: An All-Time Favorite Of Mine
Review: This book and The Poetry Of Robert Frost were my introduction to poetry and I felt such a strong connection to both of them that it led to a life long love of this form of writing.
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Summary: The best American poet of all time
Review: This is a great collection of Emily Dickinson's poems. Every poem she ever wrote, from her earliest verses as a teenager to later, even unfinished fragments, is here, arranged in chronological order. I was first drawn to her work in high school and fell in love with this volume when I first came across it, a little later. The breadth of her work - as well as the themes and ideas she explores - is astonishing. A superb book, for anyone wishing to become fully acquainted with Dickinson.
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