The Gorgeous Nothings: Emily Dickinson's Envelope Poems

"We see from The Gorgeous Nothings the way [Dickinson's] art and life were not separate endeavors. Dickinson wrote poetry every time she addressed or received an envelope. Whenever there was paper around, she put quill or pencil right to it. Dickinson, master of paradox, started these un-conversations with nobody, and so many years after her death, now ― in curled script, with their sweet, perfect Ms and half-formed Ys, unpublished and unseen until now ― they speak to us. And they have so much yet to say."― Brenda Shaughnessy, Los Angeles Times

The Gorgeous Nothings ― the first full-color facsimile edition of Emily Dickinson’s manuscripts ever to appear ― is a deluxe edition of her late writings, presenting this crucially important, experimental late work exactly as she wrote it on scraps of envelopes. A never-before-possible glimpse into the process of one of our most important poets.The book presents all the envelope writings ― 52 ― reproduced life-size in full color both front and back, with an accompanying transcription to aid in the reading, allowing us to enjoy this little-known but important body of Dickinson’s writing. Envisioned by the artist Jen Bervin and made possible by the extensive research of the Dickinson scholar Marta L. Werner, this book offers a new understanding and appreciation of the genius of Emily Dickinson.