Emily Dickinson: At the Morgan
The Morgan Library and Museum is having a wonderful exhibition entitled “I’m Nobody! Who are you?”, the life and poetry of Emily Dickinson, the Belle of Amherst. It will be on until May 21 and you really should see it. The exhibition is part of the ongoing efforts to make the full range of Dickinson’s manuscript and editorial history more widely available and better understood.
Dickinson is one of the most popular and enigmatic American writers of the 19th century. She wrote almost 1,800 poems.
Unfortunately, her work was essentially unknown to contemporary readers since only a handful of poems were printed during her lifetime, and a vast trove of her manuscripts was not discovered until after her death in 1886.
Often considered a recluse who rarely left her Amherst home, Dickinson was, in fact, socially active as a young woman and maintained a broad network of friends and correspondents even as she grew older and retreated into seclusion. Bringing together nearly 100 rarely seen items, including manuscripts and letters in the poet’s hand and unique photographs and portraits, the exhibition explores a side of Dickinson’s life that is seldom acknowledged: one filled with rich and long-lasting friendships.
Miriam Silverberg is a freelance journalist and owner of Miriam Silverberg Associates, a boutique publicity agency in Manhattan. She may be reached at silverbergm@mindspring.com
New York City has some of the best museums in the world, large and small. Exploring NYC's cultural activities is highlight of living or visiting here.
