Open Me Carefully: Emily Dickinson's Intimate Letters to Susan Huntington Dickinson

The collected letters between Emily Dickinson and her sister-in-law Susan Huntington Dickinson span over three decades, from 1850 to 1886. This correspondence represents one of the most significant literary and personal relationships in Emily Dickinson's life. The volume includes transcriptions of original letters, many published for the first time, along with historical context and biographical details about both women. Martha Nell Smith's editorial work preserves the letters' original spelling, punctuation, and line breaks while providing necessary annotations for modern readers. The collection contains both short notes and lengthy exchanges, revealing the development of their relationship through different life stages and circumstances. Their correspondence covers topics from daily life in Amherst to discussions of poetry, literature, and social expectations in 19th century New England. These letters offer insight into Dickinson's creative process and the role of female friendship in Victorian-era intellectual life. The exchanges demonstrate how personal relationships and artistic expression intertwined in ways that shaped American literary history.

Readers appreciate this collection for revealing the depth of Emily Dickinson's relationship with Susan through their letters and poems. Many note how the book challenges traditional narratives about Dickinson's isolation and brings Susan's influence on her work to light. Positive reviews highlight: - The intimate glimpses into Dickinson's personality and daily life - Clear organization and helpful scholarly context - Quality reproductions of original manuscripts Common criticisms: - Some letters feel repetitive - Missing context for certain references and events - High price point for length Ratings: Goodreads: 4.3/5 (234 ratings) Amazon: 4.6/5 (48 ratings) Notable reader comments: "Shows a completely different side of Emily than what's taught in schools" - Goodreads "The annotations help decode 19th century social contexts" - Amazon "Made me rethink everything I knew about Dickinson's relationships" - LibraryThing

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🌟 Despite living next door to each other for most of their adult lives, Emily Dickinson and Susan Huntington Dickinson exchanged over 1,000 letters and poems across several decades. 📝 Susan Dickinson was not just Emily's sister-in-law, but also her first reader and literary confidante, offering critique and feedback on Emily's poems before anyone else saw them. 💌 Some of the letters in this collection were discovered with corners torn off or words deliberately erased, suggesting that certain content was too private even for preservation. 🏠 The two women could see into each other's bedroom windows from their respective homes in Amherst, Massachusetts, and often used their windows to signal to each other. 📚 The publication of this book in 1998 helped reshape scholarly understanding of Emily Dickinson's work, highlighting Susan's crucial role in Emily's creative process and challenging previous interpretations of their relationship.