“In introducing the life and poetry of Emily Dickinson (1830-1886), Bouson (English, Loyola U., Chicago) notes scholars’ continuing attempts to solve the biographical mysteries of her reclusive life and enigmatic poems— most discovered and published posthumously. In 18 critical essays, contributors to the new web-facilitated Dickinson manuscript studies situate this “priestess of the imagination” and her metaphors within the contexts of 19th century culture, poetry, and criticism, and the American literary canon. Perspectives include those from The Paris Review, psychological, feminist, and postmodern literary criticism. The volume includes a chronology of Dickinson’s life, list of her works, and general notes about The Paris Review.”