Fifty Poems of Emily Dickinson

Emily Dickinson was born into a prominent New England family. Sociable as a child, she grew increasingly withdrawn, and in later years became known as a recluse. Only seven of her poems were published during her lifetime. After Emily's death in 1886, her sister discovered the bulk of her poems and began publishing them, thus establishing Emily Dickinson as one of the greatest poets of the English language.

In "I'm Nobody! Who Are You?" Emily Dickinson notes, "How dreary to be somebody." Perhaps Dickinson's desire for anonymity was the driving force behind both her retreat into seclusion and her decision to keep secret an immense body of work (some 1,775 poems were discovered after her death). Two of her favorite themes, nature and loss, appear repeatedly in this collection, which includes "Each That We Lose Takes Part of Us," "Requiem," "Gone," and several floral-themed works ("The Tulip," "With Flowers," and "My Rose," to name a few). These beautiful poems are well read by a number of talented actors, including Glenda Jackson, Amy Irving, Meryl Streep, and Alfre Woodard. Of the three volumes in this series, this is perhaps the most moving. (Running time: 45 minutes, 1 cassette) --C.B. Delaney