For example, when Mabel Loomis Todd, the vivacious and talented wife of Amherst College astronomer David Todd, was invited to play the piano for Dickinson and her younger sister, Lavinia, in September of 1882, she received a startling warning from their sister-in-law, Susan Dickinson, next door. The Dickinson spinster sisters, Sue informed her, "have not, either of them, any idea of morality." Sue added darkly, "I went in there one day, and in the drawing room I found Emily reclining in the arms of a man."

What Benfey neglects to mention is that Mabel Loomis Todd, apparently a woman with a healthy sexual appetite, had an affair with Emily Dickinson’s brother Austin while he was married to Susan and she was married to Mr. Loomis. Yet Emily Dickinson continued to invite Mrs. Loomis to the house (although Mabel never saw Dickinson because Dickinson sat in another room).

And then there is the cottage industry of writers who try to prove that Susan and Emily, who were childhood friends, became Lesbian lovers.

I don’t care who Emily Dickinson did or did not love and/or have sex with. As Cole Porter once opined,

…………… birds do it, bees do it
Even educated fleas do it
Let's do it, let's fall in love

Cold Cape Cod clams, 'gainst their wish, do it
Even lazy jellyfish do it
Let's do it, let's fall in love
…
Some Argentines, without means do it
I hear even Boston beans do it
Let's do it, let's fall in love
…
The most refined lady bugs do it
When a gentleman calls
Moths in your rugs they do it
What's the use of moth balls

The chimpanzees in the zoos do it,
Some courageous kangaroos do it
Let's do it, let's fall in love….

I care. I like reading about the lives of famous human writers. I also like reading their work. It's all good.

To be honest, I don't care either. But, if people are going to write about the life of a famous writer, shouldn't they actually report the reality of things, rather than ignoring anything that doesn't fit the established preconceptions of the person?

To be honest, I don't care either. But, if people are going to write about the life of a famous writer, shouldn't they actually report the reality of things, rather than ignoring anything that doesn't fit the established preconceptions of the person? I agree, Sundown, which is why I don't think Benefy's article is any more valid than rumors of her lesbianism. We know as much of her life as we're ever going to know. All else is speculation.

I'm not up on the lesbian rumors, but the Penniman diary entries from the period are safely this side of speculation, I'd argue. Granted, her information could have been incorrect, but as Emily's music teacher she likely would have been in a position to know such details. And she'd have had no reason to lie in her own diary about someone who at the time was so unremarkable she's identified repeatedly as "the lawyer Dickinson's daughter."

I agree. Why lie about someone who is NOT YET a famous poet (just a glimmer in Literature's eye)? I think this diary entry is compelling.