A "war between two houses" stemming from the love affair of Emily Dickinson's brother and Mabel Todd might be the only reason we have Emily Dickinson's poetry and letters. Excerpts of letters between Austen and Mabel trace their love affair. After the introduction and some biographical background, the author mostly lets the letters speak for themselves to reveal this fascinating intersection of literary and societal battles. Photos, index, bibliography, epilogue covering the lawsuit over the posthumous publication of Emily Dickinson's works.  Jacket has some tears, corners are bumped. Farrar, Straus, Giroux. NY, 1984. Hb, Dj. USED. $3.00