6 Famous Recluses Who Have Taught Us That It Is OK To Hide From The World

These artists and writers have spent some time away from society and out of the public eye for the sake of both their sanity and creative endeavors. No man is an island, but disconnecting from technology and/or other human beings once in a while may be just what we need to get our creative juices flowing and lead calmer lives.

1. Justin Vernon

bangersandnash.com / Via theguardian.com

AKA Bon Iver, winner of two Grammy Awards in 2012, retreated to a cabin in the Wisconsin woods by himself for an entire winter. This eventually led to the sweet, sweet sound of For Emma, Forever Ago, released in 2007.

2. Emily Dickinson

wonderly.com / Via hermitary.com

This famous poet loved solitude almost as much as she loved nature, as can be seen in these lines from her poem, Growth of Man - Like Growth of Nature:

Growth of Man, like Growth of Nature --

Gravitates within --

Atmosphere, and Sun, endorse it --

But it stir -- alone --

Each -- its difficult Ideal

Must achieve -- Itself --

Through the solitary prowess

Of a Silent Life ...

3. Harper Lee

i.guim.co.uk / Via content.time.com

Most famous for her novel, To Kill A Mockingbird, read in almost every high school English class, the Pulitzer Prize winning writer cannot be bothered by the press and only makes public appearances once in a long while.

4. J.D. Salinger

cdn.indiewire.com / Via content.time.com

Author of another high school English classic, The Catcher in the Rye, has not given an interview of any sort in 29 years.

5. Henry David Thoreau

morning-earth.org / Via Growth of Man, like Growth of Nature -- Gravitates within -- Atmosphere, and Sun, endorse it -- But it stir -- alone -- Each -- its difficult Ideal Must achieve -- Itself -- Through the solitary prowess Of a Silent Life ...

The American author spent exactly two years, two months, and two days living in a cottage owned by his friend, Ralph Waldo Emerson, along the shores of Walden Pond in Massachusetts. He spent his time alone writing his most famous work aptly titled Walden.

6. Keaton Henson

olow.fr / Via keatonhenson.com

To quote this elusive British artist's website, "Keaton Henson spends his time alone, writing songs and sometimes drawing, he does not like to talk about himself." It was rumored that he once played a series of small personal concerts in front of one or two fans at a time, since crowds unsettle him.