Emily Dickinson was fairly reclusive starting in her forties, but she chose to be so, and may have done it partly because she was experiencing an extremely rich creative period, so that being interrupted or interrupting herself was annoying. There is likely more to it than that, but she did partly get to choose her state. Even then she occasionally went out and about, occasioning a great deal of gossip.
During the time she was mostly staying home and writing and rewriting poems, she also carried on a huge correspondence; and was reportedly always willing to talk to the neighborhood children, whom she is said to have greeted with gingerbread and other goodies.
If your friend does have any creative leanings, Emily Dickinson's story might be interesting and comforting, but you know more about your friend than I do.
It's hard to get firm information, since she asked her sister Lavinia to burn her papers. Lavinia missed some letters, and also decided, mercifully, that the poems didn't count as papers to be burned. But information is spotty and often comes from third parties.
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timeasmymeasure
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Date: 2021-10-28 10:42 pm (UTC)During the time she was mostly staying home and writing and rewriting poems, she also carried on a huge correspondence; and was reportedly always willing to talk to the neighborhood children, whom she is said to have greeted with gingerbread and other goodies.
If your friend does have any creative leanings, Emily Dickinson's story might be interesting and comforting, but you know more about your friend than I do.
It's hard to get firm information, since she asked her sister Lavinia to burn her papers. Lavinia missed some letters, and also decided, mercifully, that the poems didn't count as papers to be burned. But information is spotty and often comes from third parties.
P.