April – August, 2021. For the 1t1h consecutive year, the National Endowment for the Arts has chosen Staten Island OutLOUD to present The Big Read in our community! From April through August 2021, we are proud to present a series of events exploring the life and work of Emily Dickinson. Though some may think of her as a shy, virginal recluse, she was a daring pioneer in American poetry. We’ll examine her life in Amherst, her family, her friends and significant influences, some of the major events in Emily’s 19th century world, her letters, her poetic themes and adventurous forms, and the work of writers who have been influenced by her work.

Throughout our series for the NEA/Big Read, we’ll feature The Essential Emily Dickinson, a poetry collection edited by Joyce Carol Oates.