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Emily Dickinson, now recognized as one of the most significant and esteemed American poets ever, remained largely unnoticed for the majority of her life. Merely 10 of her poems were published while she lived, and it appears that she purposefully kept her interactions with the public to a minimum.
Dickinson had a decent social circle but preferred to maintain her relationships through letters rather than inviting guests into her home. For the last two decades of her life, she secluded herself on her family's Massachusetts homestead, rarely venturing outside and seldom receiving visitors.
Marcel Proust, the acclaimed writer of the expansive novel 'In Search of Lost Time' (also recognized as 'Remembrance of Things Past'), is widely regarded as the greatest novelist ever. However, in his early days, his focus was not on writing, but on establishing himself within the privileged social circles of Paris's salon scene.
After his parents passed away, Proust withdrew from society and seldom ventured outside his residence for the remaining 17 years of his life. He exhibited such an aversion to the outside world that he took measures to soundproof his bedroom, reportedly never stepping outside it for three years prior to his death. It was during these isolated years that Proust authored his magnum opus.
Emily Brontë, one of the famed Brontë sisters, is renowned for writing the English masterpiece 'Wuthering Heights.' Raised in seclusion on an English countryside estate, Emily's life remains a mystery to biographers, as she left behind scarce material for analysis.
Brontë's only novel, 'Wuthering Heights,' was her sole publication. It appears that she dedicated most of her time afterwards to wandering around her family's estate with her cherished dog, Keeper. She had a limited social circle beyond her family.
Bettie Page, the iconic model of the 20th century, became a superstar overnight and the most famous pinup model of all time. However, her time in the limelight came to an abrupt end.
Feeling that her photos were unfairly dominating the modeling scene, Bettie Page virtually disappeared overnight in 1957. She was rarely seen after retiring and allegedly began to face challenges with her mental health. Her sudden disappearance stunned the public, with some publications even offering cash rewards to anyone who could prove if she was dead or alive. When she passed away in 2008 it came as a surprise to many, as it was assumed she had already passed long ago.
J.D. Salinger, the author of the legendary novel 'The Catcher in the Rye,' maintained a reclusive lifestyle after his acclaimed work was published in 1951. Though his book gained attention for its alleged influence on John Lennon's killer, Salinger remained mysterious and avoided public appearances.
Salinger stopped giving interviews in 1980. Until his passing in 2010, the only proof of activity received by the public was the occasional lawsuit issued by his lawyers to prevent biographies from being written or personal correspondence from being copied and printed for circulation.
After sharing his groundbreaking theory of relativity with the world, Albert Einstein quickly became one of the most famous scientists in history, practically overnight. Now much more than just famous in the intellectual community, he reached a superstar level of celebrity status that resulted in being hounded by paparazzi and interviewed for things far outside the realm of science.
Despite, or perhaps because of, his level of fame, Einstein enjoyed the time that he was able to spend on his own. He made the decision not to have a telephone at home in order to protect his alone time. Though not the most isolated individual on this roster, Einstein was a very reluctant public figure.
Stanley Kubrick, the acclaimed director of '2001: A Space Odyssey' (1968) and 'A Clockwork Orange' (1971), is widely recognized for his exceptional filmmaking skills. However, little information is available about his personal life as he disliked interviews and rarely made public appearances.
During the 1990s, a man named Alan Conway impersonated Kubrick. Kubrick was so rarely seen in public that Conway managed to deceive people in the film industry for weeks. Conway tricked them into covering his expenses and even promised performers parts in future projects.
The famous American writer was remarkably reclusive throughout her long life. She only had two books published while she was alive, the most famous of which was 'To Kill a Mockingbird,' released in 1960.
Following a stroke in 2007, the Pulitzer Prize-winning author withdrew even more from society. She spent her remaining years in an assisted living center in her hometown. Wayne Flynt was one of the few individuals she maintained contact with during this period. A longtime friend, Flynt remained a confidant to Lee throughout her twilight years.
Yves Saint Laurent, one of the most recognizable names in fashion, was both admired and criticized for his fiery temperament and delicate nature. Despite being at the center of the Paris fashion world, Laurent sought solace in solitude whenever he could.
After years of vitriol, violence, and heartbreak, the fashion icon withdrew entirely. Pierre Bergé, Laurent's longtime partner, stated that Laurent "entered depression as one enters a religion."
Franz Kafka, the prolific Bohemian author famous for his short story 'The Metamorphosis,' experienced significant hardships throughout his life. Unlucky in love and lacking the necessary skills to handle life's demands, Kafka regarded his period of treatment for tuberculosis as the happiest of his life, as he was finally freed from the expectation to participate in society.
Kafka's persistent belief that others found him repulsive tormented him, leading him to spend most of his time alone, unless he was in the throws of one of his many ill-fated affairs.
Edgar Allan Poe, one of the most famous poets of the 19th century, is often credited for inventing the horror literary genre. Some of his most harrowing poems include 'The Raven' and 'The Tell-Tale Heart.'
Following the death of his wife Virginia, Poe sank into a deep state of depression and addiction to alcohol. He largely withdrew from society, scarcely being seen and severing all previous connections. He was found dead under mysterious circumstances in 1849.
Hunter S. Thompson, known for his work as a writer and journalist in the American counterculture movement, was anything but reclusive for most of his life. He spent a year following the Hell's Angels on the road and fully embraced the anti-establishment cultural shift taking place at the time. He even ran for sheriff, so it's unsurprising that Thompson rarely had any time to himself.
However, after an unsuccessful attempt to cover the well-known Rumble in the Jungle boxing match between George Foreman and Muhammad Ali in Zaire, Thompson began to spend increasing amounts of time on his Colorado ranch and less time in the public eye. Over the years, his struggle with alcoholism worsened and it ultimately led to his tragic suicide in 2005, where he ended his life in isolation.
Dr. Seuss, a renowned author for children, conveyed a vibrant and playful persona across his 60-plus published books. Nevertheless, the true nature of Dr. Suess was far from exuberant.
Theodor Geisel, known by his pen name Seuss, penned all his books in seclusion and declined any public engagements. Susan Cain, author of 'Quiet: The Power of Introverts in a World That Can't Stop Talking,' reveals how Seuss was "afraid of meeting the kids who read his books for fear they would be disappointed at how quiet he was."
Highly respected, Frederic Chopin led a generation of Romantic composers. However, despite the universal admiration and respect he gained throughout his life, Chopin did not lead a particularly happy life and spent most of his time in solitude.
Chopin, known for his melancholic piano movements, had no romantic relationship that lasted more than a year. This streak of unluckiness apparently took its toll on him, and he chose to spend most of his time in private. Despite his acclaimed career, Chopin only performed 30 live concerts.
Norwegian artist Edvard Munch, renowned for his masterpiece 'The Scream,' collected over 1,700 paintings during his life. He cherished his artwork like his own offspring, loathing the idea of selling or separating from them.
For the last 27 years of his life, Munch rarely left his Oslo home, unconcerned with the outside world, deciding instead to spend the latter part of his life surrounded by his beloved paintings.
Sources: (The New Yorker) (Virginia State University) (The Guardian)
See also: Mind your business: what to keep private at work (and why)
The untold secrets of famous reclusive geniuses
Franz Kafka, Albert Einstein, Dr. Seuss, and other enigmatic characters
LIFESTYLE Curiosities
Some of the most well-known names in history are individuals who actively avoided attention. Those who possess strong and courageous personalities, creating cherished and influential artistic works, often coexist with sensitive souls who chose to live apart from society. Whether their withdrawal was triggered by tragedy or they simply never entered the overwhelming world in the first place, their work's impact is impossible to disregard.
Curious to learn more about history's exceptional recluses? Continue reading to discover their stories.