Conrad Aiken was an American poet, short story writer, critic and novelist. Most of Aiken's work reflects his intense interest in psychoanalysis and the development of identity. As editor of Emily Dickinson's Selected Poems in 1924, he was largely responsible for establishing her posthumous literary reputation. From the 1920s Aiken divided his life between England and the United States, playing a significant role in introducing American poets to the British audience.He was the father of two gifted writers, Joan Aiken and Jane Aiken Hodge.