Inflections of the Pen, although a scholarly work, makes fascinating reading even for those of us not particularly schooled in the mystical work of Emily Dickinson. Crumbley combines masterfully poetic detective work with his own elegance of language to create a piece of work that both honors its subject and offers a first-ever look inside the mind of an ever-elusive writer. Even those untrained in the academics of poetry will find entrancement here. Additionally, I found it inspired me to look at other poets' work with a refreshed and inquiring eye. Thank you,Dr. Crumbley, for this remarkable tome.