What do you think?
Rate this book
Compulsion to Create
"A magnificent book that analyzes prominent female writers (Plath, Nin, The Brontes, Dickinson, and Sitwell) from a psychoanalytic self/object relations point of view . . . a must read for all."
356 pages, Paperback
First published September 1, 1993
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 of 1 review
August 13, 2014
Emily Dickinson: a favorite author of mine since fifth grade, when a substitute teacher exposed the class to Dickinson poetry. She said that Dickinson “became a hermit because something very personal happened to her.”
Since I was eleven years old, I have been wondering what happened to Dickinson, why she isolated herself. What is so personal that a teacher would not share, even to educate the class? Maybe she was making it up, and she didn’t know, herself? On and off I have consulted biographies, but never felt satisfied that I knew the secret, had the insight.
Dr. Kavaler-Adler, starting with your book, The Compulsion to Create: Women Writers and Their Demon Lovers, you explain Dickinson’s psychological and spiritual development and arrest, and how it informed her life and work. Thank you for finally solving the mystery of Dickinson for me with your keen insight, deep reasoning, and clear explanations.
Since I was eleven years old, I have been wondering what happened to Dickinson, why she isolated herself. What is so personal that a teacher would not share, even to educate the class? Maybe she was making it up, and she didn’t know, herself? On and off I have consulted biographies, but never felt satisfied that I knew the secret, had the insight.
Dr. Kavaler-Adler, starting with your book, The Compulsion to Create: Women Writers and Their Demon Lovers, you explain Dickinson’s psychological and spiritual development and arrest, and how it informed her life and work. Thank you for finally solving the mystery of Dickinson for me with your keen insight, deep reasoning, and clear explanations.
Displaying 1 of 1 review