While Emily Dickinson was known to her family and friends for her poetry, she chose not to publish it during her lifetime. After her death, Austin discovered her poems and, with the help of his wife, Susan Huntington Dickinson, and Mabel Loomis Todd, Emily's friend, they compiled and edited her poems for publication.
It's important to note that the process wasn't straightforward:
* Editing and Selection: Austin, Susan, and Mabel had different ideas about which poems to include and how to present them. This led to some disagreements and ultimately to multiple editions of Dickinson's poems.
* The "Master" and "Final" Edits: Mabel Todd, in particular, was accused by some of taking liberties with Emily's work, particularly in the "Final" version of the poems. There are still ongoing debates about the extent of her edits and whether they were justified.
Even though there were challenges, it's undeniable that Austin Dickinson's role was pivotal in bringing Emily Dickinson's poetry to the world. He was the one who recognized the significance of her work and took the initiative to make it public.