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

This collection has historic significance in Dickinson studies not only because it highlights the interesting and complex relationship between Emily Dickinson and Susan Dickinson, her sister-in-law, but also because of the way the letter-poems appear here in print. Hart and Smith took pains to present as best they could in print the original line breaks and other features of Dickinson's manuscripts, and this causes the poems to run down the page in long narrow columns, in many cases. Like Johnson's restoration of the dashes did in 1955, this edition of letter-poems to one correspondent changes the way we "see" a Dickinson poem physically on the page. The form presented here is as equally fascinating as the content of the letter-poems themselves. Superb!

The best thing about this book is that it gives us Dickinson's poems to her best friend, Sue, in the form they actually appear on the page. For most people, seeing the manuscripts of her poems is something that will never happen so Smith and Hart do their best to give us an idea of what Sue would have seen when she opened the envelopes. The review from the reader in the desert southwest has not read this book as it was meant to be read--as another way of reading and seeing. Hart and Smith do not suggest that theirs is the only way to read the letters/poems, they suggest that there's another way to read them that has not been the tradtional way of reading. My graduate students loved this book, as do I, because it offers a fresh perspective. Few Dickinson books in the last 10 years have been truly original and different. Anyone with a true interest in Dickinson, not the passing interest some reviews here suggest, will read this book in conjunction with other Dickinson studies and will achieve her/his own perspective of the poet. Smith and Hart give us some wonderful ideas to ponder, whether or not we agree with them is not the point. The point is that we exercise our intellect and think.

This careful collection of amazing letters, and its informative introductions to each section, as well as its coda and notes, reinforces several things that fans of Dickinson likely already believe. Emily Dickinson's reputation was in many ways greatly distorted posthumously by her contemporary Mabel Loomis Todd, late-arriving dragon lady of the Dickinson menage (and eventual mistress of her brother Austin Dickinson, Susan's husband) and originator of "many of the fallacies that have since become Dickinson legend." (p.204) Emily Dickinson was capable of deep and durable friendship. She treasured her own company, and also that of a few close friends. She adored her brother's wife, Susan Huntington Dickinson, who lived next-door in Amherst. The feeling was mutual. They were attached to one another, and utterly loyal. There were no telephones then. Dickinson needed to 'talk' or at least - to write. Some of the letters - mere bits of writing - were on homely topics. I can guess with certainty that were they alive today, they would have thought nothing of communicating throughout the day via email. So we are all of us in good company.My only mild gripe about this book is the use of the word "intimate" in the subtitle, and the unsubtle choice of the (chaste yet suggestive) photograph by Imogen Cunningham for the cover. This material probably doesn't need to be marketed that way. Dickinson devotees will read this book without the implied promise of sex, and those who don't read Dickinson will be disappointed if they are expecting heated-up correspondence, or in any way sexualized letters from Emily Dickinson to her best friend. These letters are passionate, sometimes playful, and sometimes pedestrian. One reads them for a window on the writer - who was "intimate" with life.A thoroughly worthwhile read.

This collection of letters is essential to Dickinson studies and to anyone interested in the poet. Grouping Emily Dickinson's letters to her sister-in-law, Sue, who was also her best friend and only trusted editor, shows not only how close they were but also makes clear that they were intellectual peers. That is significant because so many of ED's peers did not understand her or did not recognize her importance as an intellectual and as a writer. Sue was fully appreciative of both and was able to engage in written conversation with ED about everything, including poetic advice. ED listened to advice from no one except Sue. The letters are printed as they appear on the written page without any editorial changes. This, too, is significant because it forces us to reread the letters--we have come to know the letters through the editorial work of T.H. Johnson and T. Ward, who regularized sentences and restructured paragraphs. Smith and Hart have wisely left the structure untouched so the effect for us is the same as it was for Sue all those years ago.The editors are also co-editors of the Dickinson Electronic Archive, in which further evidence of Susan's intellect is available. Their work is just the beginning of a reassessment of Dickinson and her creative process but this work is important and this book is a must for anyone who claims to have an interest in Dickinson, no matter how slight.

The authors are faithful to Emily Dickinson's life, not to a contrived history. Their gentle and sensitive handling of the letters and poems Emily shared with Susan Huntington Dickinson, give the reader insight into Emily's mind and heart. Where we once thought her reclusive, we now know she was exclusive. Because we don't have Susan's letters to Emily, we can never fully know the extent of their love. Still, with what we are given, it is obvious the sensitivity found in Emily was also alive in Susan, and theirs was a mutual love. It is right Susan be given credit for her role in Emily's life. Previous biographers have shied away from telling us that without Susan, we might not have Emily. I believe Susan was not only her editor, but her muse, the person who inspired her words, recognized her brilliance, and supported her work. This book is going to forever change the way we see Emily Dickinson.