The Private Lives of Authors: Emily Dickinson

Emily Dickinson (1830 – 1886) was an American poet born in Massachusetts, USA. She grew up in a wealthy family, and was by all accounts a good child, causing no trouble and spending her time playing piano and reading.

Emily was a very bright young woman, and studied hard, but was plagued by morose thoughts of death. After a close friend died of typhus, Emily’s troubling thoughts of death deepened commenting a couple of years later: “it seemed to me I should die too if I could not be permitted to watch over her or even look at her face.”

As a young woman, Emily dove into poetry, reading Wordsworth and Ralph Waldo Emerson, finding influence in Charlotte Brontë’s Jane Eyre and work by William Shakespeare.

Her melancholy increased and drove her to lead an ever-more secluded life.

“…some of my friends are gone, and some of my friends are sleeping – sleeping the churchyard sleep – the hour of evening is sad – it was once my study hour – my master has gone to rest, and the open leaf of the book, and the scholar at school alone, make the tears come, and I cannot brush them away; I would not if I could, for they are the only tribute I can pay the departed Humphrey.”

While spending much her time alone Emily would read, write, and bake. Her passion for baking is not well known, but Emily would feature recipes in many of her letters to friends and family. In an obituary of Dickinson by her sister-in-law, it is quoted: “Very few in the village … know Miss Emily personally … (but) there are many houses among all classes into which her treasures of fruit and flowers and ambrosial dishes for the sick and well were constantly sent.”

The recipe above reads:

1 cup coconut
2 cups flour
1 cup sugar
1/2 cup butter
1/2 cup milk
2 eggs
1/2 teaspoon soda
1 teaspoon cream of tartar

There were no directions for the method or baking time however academic Nelly Lambert recreated a modern version of the treat using her own ingredients and directions in her article.

If you try Emily’s recipe do let us know!

Emily Dickinson: Profile of the Poet and Cook US

Emily Dickinson: Profile of the Poet and Cook UK