Blackwell Reference Online

This Companion to America's greatest woman poet showcases the diversity and excellence that characterize the thriving field of Dickinson studies. The volume's original contributions are written by cutting-edge scholars and provide incisive interventions into current critical discussions as well as opening up fresh areas of critical inquiry. They feature new work being done in the critique of nineteenth-century American poetry, as well as new work being done in Dickinson studies.

The Companion is exceptionally broad in scope, covering biographical approaches to Dickinson, the historical, political and cultural contexts of her work, and its critical reception over the years. Unusually, the volume also emphasizes issues relating to the different formats in which Dickinson's lyrics have been published – manuscript, print, halftone and digital facsimile. In all areas, readers are able to benefit from using the volume alongside the Dickinson Electronic Archives, an online resource developed over the past ten years by one of the editors, together with teams of Dickinson critics, and markup and programming specialists.