The Translator of The Collected Poems of Emily Dickinson

Introduction

The Collected Poems of Emily Dickinson, also known as the Emily Dickinson Poems, is a collection of poems by American poet Emily Dickinson. It was first published posthumously in 1955 and has since been considered one of the most important works of American literature. However, not many people know who translated this famous work into English.

The Translator

The translator of The Collected Poems of Emily Dickinson is none other than Thomas H. Johnson. Johnson was an American literary scholar who was born on November 29, 1902, in Auburn, Maine. He studied at Bowdoin College and Harvard University, where he received his PhD in English. Johnson's interest in Emily Dickinson began when he was a graduate student at Harvard. He discovered a collection of Dickinson's manuscripts in 1950 and began working on a definitive edition of her poems. He spent the next ten years studying Dickinson's life and work, collecting and transcribing her poems, and organizing them into a comprehensive collection. Johnson's edition of Dickinson's poems was published in 1955 and was an instant sensation. It contained over 1,700 poems, many of which had never been seen before, and included extensive notes on Dickinson's life and work. The edition was praised for its scholarly accuracy and its ability to capture the unique voice of Dickinson's poetry.

The Legacy

Thomas H. Johnson's translation of The Collected Poems of Emily Dickinson has had a profound impact on American literature. It has helped to establish Emily Dickinson as one of the most important poets of her time and has influenced countless poets and scholars in the years since its publication. Johnson himself has been hailed as a scholar and translator of the highest caliber. His dedication to the study of Dickinson's life and work has helped to shed light on her poetry and has inspired new generations of readers and scholars to study her work. In conclusion, Thomas H. Johnson is the translator of The Collected Poems of Emily Dickinson. His work on this definitive edition of Dickinson's poems has had a lasting impact on American literature and has helped to establish Dickinson as one of the greatest poets of all time. His legacy continues to inspire new generations of readers and scholars to discover and appreciate the beauty and poignancy of Dickinson's work.