Yesterday’s post (HERE) referenced an article in 2025’s “The Emily Dickinson Journal” by editor Margaret Dakin entitled “Cushing-Tuckerman-Esty Family Letters Concerning Emily Dickinson” in which she discussed letters of members from three families of Amherst where they mentioned their neighbors, the Dickinsons – especially Emily Dickinson.
In a June 1884 letter from Julia Goddard, a cousin of Edward Tuckerman’s, to Martha “Mattie” Esty, Goddard mentioned Emily Dickinson’s poetry, a sample of which Mattie must have shared with her.
Again, the letter was written in 1884, and as a reminder, Dickinson died in 1886, and the first volume of her poems was not published until 1890.
In her letter to Etsy, Goddard included this audacious paragraph:
“I am sorry to say so, but I have a strong conviction that I have read that poetry of Miss Emily Dickinson’s, somewhere; she may have thought she made it up herself, but I have my doubts –, not that it matters particularly.”
No, Ms. Goddard, it does not matter. LOL.
By the way, Julia Goddard lived until 1920. I wonder if she ever read the posthumously published series of “Poems” by Dickinson edited by Mabel Loomis Todd and/or if she ever recanted her statement.
In a June 1884 letter from Julia Goddard, a cousin of Edward Tuckerman’s, to Martha “Mattie” Esty, Goddard mentioned Emily Dickinson’s poetry, a sample of which Mattie must have shared with her.
Again, the letter was written in 1884, and as a reminder, Dickinson died in 1886, and the first volume of her poems was not published until 1890.
In her letter to Etsy, Goddard included this audacious paragraph:
“I am sorry to say so, but I have a strong conviction that I have read that poetry of Miss Emily Dickinson’s, somewhere; she may have thought she made it up herself, but I have my doubts –, not that it matters particularly.”
No, Ms. Goddard, it does not matter. LOL.
By the way, Julia Goddard lived until 1920. I wonder if she ever read the posthumously published series of “Poems” by Dickinson edited by Mabel Loomis Todd and/or if she ever recanted her statement.
NOTE: I’ve touched on the idea of “plagiarism” before, HERE.
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