Bolts of Melody New Poems of Emily Dickinson
Edited by Mabel Looms Todd and Millicent Todd Bingham
Originally published in 1945.
Emily Dickinson’s work was never published in her lifetime (other than 7 printed anonymously). Emily attempted to have her work published in her 30’s but was unsuccessful (she was considered ahead of her time). It wasn’t until after her death that her sister, Lavinia, found her poems and the family decided to organize her work and have them placed in book form for the world to enjoy.
Bolts of Melody was just one of many, many books released, as it was a later book it was eagerly anticipated by Emily’s admirers.
Emily was born in 1830 and died in 1886, a mere 56 years in a world that now sees many living to the ripe old age of 100. She was said to have been a strange character at best. Some have described her as having a normal childhood, while others say she changed in her 30’s, becoming a recluse. It had been said that in her 50’s she was so withdrawn that even her family could only speak to her through her door that stood ajar. She never married and never left her family home (Amherst, Massachusetts, USA) Strange, odd, recluse, whichever label one chooses to describe her life, she continues to astonish people 115 years after her death. She has been studied by many a poetry student, even to this day.
Many have tried to capture her style; few have accomplished such a feat. When Bolts of Melody was released, many thought her best work had already been exposed for the world to read; yet it was proven, otherwise.
Out of the 666 poems (either in whole or in part), many have proven to be exceptional, memorable pieces. It wasn’t an easy task for the editors of this book to arrange Emily’s work. She was a poet with unusual writing habits. She would write on everything from brown paper bags to grocery lists. Some of her work was one continuous line and had to be arranged in poem form. With painstaking effort, it was done, so as to maintain Emily’s style. And her style was indeed, unique. She was known to break all the rules when composing line after line of sheer magic.
The book offers pictures of Emily’s original writings as they appeared on various torn-out pages, paper bags, old bills, etc. Bringing an air of familiarity between reader and poet. The book is divided into categories (themes). The editor felt the arrangement of this book was needed to show Emily’s wide range or scope, of her insight and abilities. This task was indeed accomplished. The book flows from section to section, cover to cover.
The 666 pieces of Emily’s work are divided into 2 sections. Part one, of this book, is made up of completed poems (1-599) whereas part two is incomplete, unfinished poems, fragments and personal pieces (600-666). All of the poems in this book were written in Emily’s later years, all were written in pencil and most were first drafts. One such poem was written on a chocolate wrapper, another was written on a page dated 1824, yet Emily was born in 1830, all these tidbits are written in the forward of the book providing the reader with insight into Emily’s diverse world.
I purchased Bolts of Melody on Dec.14/1972 (as I signed and dated it on the front cover of the book). Both the book and myself have aged over 28 years since that time, yet the poems mean as much if not more today, as they did when I was 16.