Publication History
Emily Dickinson faced many obstacles, both in her family and in the world at large, that prevented her from gaining fame during her lifetime. Her father, while he believed in the necessity of a good education for every girl, thought poetry frivolous and unimportant. Dickinson was likely cognizant of the fact that her innovative poetry would baffle most editors and publishers. The poetry of her day followed a series of strict conventions, all of which her own poetry flouted. Dickinson's almost shockingly unconventional work struck Thomas Wentworth Higginson, for one, as sloppy and inept. For a time, Higginson, whom Dickinson admired, actively discouraged Dickinson from seeking publication. Dickinson had no obvious outlet for her work. Only seven of her poems were printed during her lifetime, most in the local newspaper. Seven was a miniscule percentage; Dickinson produced around 1,800 poems in total. The fact that Dickinson persevered in the face of such discouragement shows that either pure love of art, a conviction of her own genius and future fame, or a combination of both, spurred her to keep writing.