Between_II Candor_NP1 and_CC Concealment_NN1 Willa_NP1 Cather_NP1 and_CC (_( Auto_NN1 )_) Biography_NN1 Cather_NP1 's_GE aversion_NN1 to_II having_VHG her_APPGE private_JJ business_NN1 made_VVD public_RR sprang_VVD in_RR21 part_RR22 from_II her_APPGE upbringing_NN1 in_II a_AT1 late_JJ nineteenth-century_JJ middle-class_JJ household_NN1 ._. 
In_II such_DA a_AT1 household_NN1 the_AT "_" boundary_NN1 between_II public_NN1 and_CC private_NN1 "_" would_VM have_VHI been_VBN a_AT1 given_JJ (_( Corbett_NP1 255_MC )_) ._. 
But_CCB a_AT1 great_JJ many_DA2 other_JJ sources_NN2 made_VVD that_DD1 aversion_NN1 not_XX only_RR a_AT1 constraint_NN1 on_II her_APPGE behavior_NN1 but_CCB a_AT1 site_NN1 of_IO conflict_NN1 ._. 
Her_APPGE socially_RR instilled_JJ attention_NN1 to_II privacy_NN1 seems_VVZ to_TO have_VHI been_VBN reinforced_VVN not_XX only_RR by_II a_AT1 deeply_RR personal_JJ reticence_NN1 ,_, as_CSA scholars_NN2 have_VH0 often_RR noted_VVN ,_, but_CCB also_RR b_ZZ1 a_AT1 compelling_JJ sense_NN1 of_IO propriety_NN1 ._. 
This_DD1 sense_NN1 governed_VVD her_APPGE own_DA behavior_NN1 (_( as_II an_AT1 adult_NN1 ;_; there_EX were_VBDR some_DD notable_JJ lapses_NN2 in_II her_APPGE youth_NN1 )_) and_CC also_RR served_VVN as_II a_AT1 standard_NN1 for_IF judging_VVG others_NN2 ._. 
&lsqb;_( End_VV0 Page_NN1 467_MC &rsqb;_) But_CCB the_AT "_" boundary_NN1 "_" between_II public_NN1 and_CC private_NN1 was_VBDZ reinforced_VVN ,_, and_CC greatly_RR complicated_JJ ,_, by_II the_AT enforced_JJ concealment_NN1 of_IO her_APPGE sexuality_NN1 ,_, once_RR seemingly_RR as_CSA "_" unspeakable_JJ "_" for_IF her_APPGE biographers_NN2 as_CSA it_PPH1 was_VBDZ for_IF Cather_NP1 herself_PPX1 ,_, but_CCB now_RT generally_RR recognized_VVN as_CSA lesbian_JJ ._. 
The_AT issue_NN1 of_IO privacy_NN1 ,_, then_RT --_JJ and_CC thus_RR her_APPGE attitudes_NN2 toward_II any_DD form_NN1 of_IO life_NN1 writing_NN1 --_NN1 was_VBDZ a_AT1 deeply_RR conflicted_JJ site_NN1 for_IF Cather_NP1 ,_, and_CC one_PN1 often_RR productive_JJ of_IO self-contradictions_NN2 and_CC inconsistencies_NN2 ._. 
Cather_NP1 expected_VVD public_JJ figures_NN2 ,_, in_RR21 particular_RR22 ,_, to_TO maintain_VVI a_AT1 certain_JJ decorum_NN1 ._. 
As_RG early_RR as_CSA 1894_MC ,_, for_REX21 example_REX22 ,_, when_CS she_PPHS1 was_VBDZ still_RR a_AT1 college_NN1 student_NN1 writing_NN1 newspaper_NN1 reviews_NN2 and_CC opinion_NN1 pieces_NN2 for_IF a_AT1 dollar_NNU1 a_AT1 column_NN1 ,_, she_PPHS1 praised_VVD the_AT famous_JJ actress_NN1 Eleanora_NP1 Duse_NP1 for_IF keeping_VVG her_APPGE personal_JJ life_NN1 to_II herself_PPX1 ._. 
Though_CS admitting_VVG that_CST she_PPHS1 ,_, too_RR ,_, felt_VVD a_AT1 degree_NN1 of_IO curiosity_NN1 about_II the_AT noted_JJ tragedienne_NN1 ,_, she_PPHS1 commended_VVD the_AT reticence_NN1 on_II Duse_NP1 's_GE part_NN1 that_CST frustrated_VVD such_DA curiosity_NN1 ._. 
"_" We_PPIS2 know_VV0 as_CSA little_DA1 "_" of_IO her_APPGE private_JJ life_NN1 and_CC personality_NN1 ,_, Cather_NP1 wrote_VVD ,_, "_" as_CSA we_PPIS2 know_VV0 of_IO Shakespeare_NP1 "_" --_NN1 a_AT1 parallel_NN1 that_CST conveyed_VVD high_JJ praise_NN1 indeed_RR (_( Curtin_NP1 57_MC )_) ._. 
A_AT1 year_NNT1 later_RRR ,_, in_II a_AT1 column_NN1 about_II the_AT intense_JJ press_NN1 coverage_NN1 of_IO Duse_NP1 's_GE appearance_NN1 in_II London_NP1 in_II head-to-head_JJ competition_NN1 with_IW Sarah_NP1 Bernhardt_NP1 ,_, she_PPHS1 again_RT praised_VVD the_AT actress_NN1 's_GE "_" reserve_NN1 ,_, "_" and_CC urged_VVD that_CST reporters_NN2 respect_VV0 her_APPGE wish_NN1 for_IF privacy_NN1 ,_, writing_VVG that_DD1 Duse_NN1 should_VM be_VBI allowed_VVN to_TO "_" keep_VVI her_APPGE secret_NN1 to_II herself_PPX1 "_" (_( Curtin_NP1 207_MC -_- 08_MC )_) ._. 
When_CS the_AT veil_NN1 of_IO secrecy_NN1 was_VBDZ rent_VVN in_II a_AT1 thinly_RR disguised_JJ roman_NN131 a_NN132 clef_NN133 published_VVN in_II 1901_MC ,_, Cather_NP1 denounced_VVD the_AT novel_NN1 as_II a_AT1 "_" savage_NN1 and_CC shameless_JJ "_" invasion_NN1 of_IO privacy_NN1 (_( Curtin_NP1 861_MC )_) ._. 
Yet_RR she_PPHS1 herself_PPX1 was_VBDZ known_VVN to_TO engage_VVI in_II such_DA invasions_NN2 ,_, both_DB2 pursuing_VVG celebrities_NN2 for_IF material_NN1 for_IF her_APPGE newspaper_NN1 columns_NN2 and_CC writing_VVG fiction_NN1 so_RG closely_RR modeled_VVD on_II actual_JJ people_NN that_CST they_PPHS2 were_VBDR recognizable_JJ ._. 
If_CS she_PPHS1 disapproved_VVD ,_, in_II principle_NN1 ,_, of_IO journalistic_JJ intrusions_NN2 into_II the_AT lives_NN2 of_IO celebrities_NN2 ,_, Cather_NP1 was_VBDZ equally_RR repelled_VVN when_RRQ celebrities_NN2 themselves_PPX2 revealed_VVN details_NN2 of_IO their_APPGE private_JJ lives_NN2 to_II the_AT public_JJ gaze_NN1 ._. 
Especially_RR when_CS done_VDN for_IF promotional_JJ purposes_NN2 ,_, such_DA liftings_NN2 of_IO the_AT veil_NN1 of_IO privacy_NN1 struck_VVD her_PPHO1 as_II a_AT1 mark_NN1 of_IO poor_JJ taste_NN1 and_CC bad_JJ manners_NN2 ._. 
She_PPHS1 told_VVD her_APPGE sister-in-law_NN1 Meta_NP1 Cather_NP1 ,_, in_II a_AT1 1946_MC letter_NN1 ,_, that_CST she_PPHS1 had_VHD never_RR engaged_VVN in_II promotional_JJ self-advertising_NN1 ._. 
Yet_RR it_PPH1 has_VHZ been_VBN conclusively_RR demonstrated_VVN by_II David_NP1 Porter_NP1 that_CST she_PPHS1 took_VVD a_AT1 direct_JJ role_NN1 in_II the_AT production_NN1 of_IO not_XX one_PN1 but_CCB three_MC separate_JJ biographical_JJ sketches_NN2 for_IF promotional_JJ use_NN1 by_II her_APPGE publishers_NN2 ,_, and_CC that_CST she_PPHS1 "_" planted_VVD "_" interviews_NN2 in_II newspapers_NN2 ._. 
There_EX is_VBZ an_AT1 abundance_NN1 of_IO evidence_NN1 that_CST she_PPHS1 herself_PPX1 participated_VVD in_II the_AT construction_NN1 of_IO her_APPGE status_NN1 as_II a_AT1 public_JJ icon_NN1 ._. 
She_PPHS1 might_VM frown_VVI on_II such_DA activity_NN1 in_II principle_NN1 ,_, but_CCB she_PPHS1 was_VBDZ very_RG much_DA1 involved_JJ in_II promotional_JJ efforts_NN2 that_CST drew_VVD on_II her_APPGE biography_NN1 ._. 
Moreover_RR ,_, as_CSA she_PPHS1 achieved_VVD a_AT1 mature_JJ aesthetic_JJ she_PPHS1 believed_VVD ,_, like_II other_JJ modernists_NN2 ,_, that_CST a_AT1 work_NN1 of_IO art_NN1 or_CC a_AT1 performance_NN1 should_VM speak_VVI for_IF itself_PPX1 ,_, without_IW recourse_NN1 to_II personality_NN1 ._. 
Yet_RR she_PPHS1 wrote_VVD open_JJ letters_NN2 to_II journal_NN1 editors_NN2 (_( reprinted_VVN in_RP On_II Writing_VVG )_) that_CST commented_VVD on_II several_DA2 of_IO her_PPHO1 &lsqb;_( End_VV0 Page_NN1 468_MC &rsqb;_) novels_NN2 in_II ways_NN2 that_CST offered_VVD both_RR personal_JJ and_CC historical_JJ explanations_NN2 outside_II the_AT text_NN1 ._. 
The_AT complexities_NN2 and_CC contradictions_NN2 of_IO Cather_NP1 's_GE thinking_NN1 and_CC behavior_NN1 with_II31 respect_II32 to_II33 privacy_NN1 and_CC publicity_NN1 ,_, intrusion_NN1 and_CC disclosure_NN1 ,_, present_VV0 a_AT1 significant_JJ interpretive_JJ challenge_NN1 as_CSA we_PPIS2 seek_VV0 to_TO understand_VVI one_MC1 of_IO the_AT most_RGT subtly_RR nuanced_VVN literary_JJ minds_NN2 of_IO the_AT earlier_RRR twentieth_MD century_NNT1 ._. 
In_II this_DD1 as_CSA in_II many_DA2 other_JJ ways_NN2 ,_, she_PPHS1 was_VBDZ often_RR ambivalent_JJ ,_, tugged_VVD in_II different_JJ directions_NN2 by_II contrary_JJ ideas_NN2 and_CC impulses_NN2 ;_; she_PPHS1 sometimes_RT evaded_VVD ,_, sometimes_RT courted_VVD public_JJ attention_NN1 ._. 
By_RR31 no_RR32 means_RR33 the_AT stodgy_JJ figure_NN1 of_IO certainty_NN1 and_CC rectitude_NN1 that_CST she_PPHS1 has_VHZ sometimes_RT been_VBN painted_VVN ,_, she_PPHS1 fully_RR shared_VVD the_AT conflicts_NN2 and_CC uncertainties_NN2 of_IO her_APPGE fellow_JJ modernists_NN2 ,_, plus_II the_AT added_JJ constraints_NN2 attendant_NN1 upon_II her_APPGE gender_NN1 and_CC her_APPGE sexuality_NN1 ._. 
As_CSA we_PPIS2 have_VH0 seen_VVN ,_, Cather_NP1 praised_VVD both_DB2 S._NP1 S._NP1 McClure_NP1 and_CC the_AT monumentally_RR interesting_JJ Richard_NP1 Wagner_NP1 for_IF their_APPGE autobiographical_JJ candor_NN1 ._. 
She_PPHS1 similarly_RR praised_VVD one_MC1 of_IO her_APPGE own_DA journalistic_JJ subjects_NN2 ,_, Olive_NP1 Fremstad_NP1 ,_, for_IF the_AT same_DA quality_NN1 ._. 
In_II a_AT1 November_NPM1 1913_MC letter_NN1 to_II Elizabeth_NP1 Shepley_NP1 Sergeant_NN1 asking_VVG her_PPHO1 if_CS she_PPHS1 had_VHD seen_VVN Cather_NP1 's_VBZ newly_RR published_VVN article_NN1 on_II women_NN2 singers_NN2 ,_, Cather_NP1 noted_VVD that_CST Fremstad_NP1 ,_, one_MC1 of_IO the_AT most_RGT noted_JJ divas_NN2 of_IO the_AT group_NN1 ,_, had_VHD not_XX at_RR21 all_RR22 objected_VVN to_II having_VHG biographical_JJ information_NN1 about_II herself_PPX1 revealed_VVN in_II the_AT article_NN1 ._. 
When_CS asked_VVN if_CS she_PPHS1 minded_VVD the_AT disclosures_NN2 ,_, Fremstad_NP1 answered_VVD that_CST there_EX would_VM be_VBI no_AT sense_NN1 in_II objecting_VVG to_II what_DDQ was_VBDZ true_JJ ._. 
Yet_RR she_PPHS1 did_VDD not_XX take_VVI such_DA an_AT1 attitude_NN1 herself_PPX1 ._. 
With_II31 respect_II32 to_II33 her_APPGE age_NN1 ,_, for_REX21 example_REX22 ,_, she_PPHS1 very_RG much_RR minded_VVD having_VHG the_AT truth_NN1 known_VVN ._. 
As_CSA David_NP1 Porter_NP1 has_VHZ established_VVN ,_, Cather_NP1 herself_PPX1 was_VBDZ the_AT source_NN1 of_IO the_AT disinformation_NN1 about_II her_APPGE age_NN1 that_CST prevailed_VVD until_CS the_AT publication_NN1 of_IO Brown_NP1 's_GE book_NN1 in_II 1953_MC ._. 
The_AT erroneous_JJ reporting_NN1 of_IO her_APPGE year_NNT1 of_IO birth_NN1 as_CSA 1876_MC rather_II21 than_II22 the_AT actual_JJ 1873_MC grew_VVD out_II21 of_II22 promotional_JJ materials_NN2 she_PPHS1 provided_VVD her_APPGE publishers_NN2 for_IF publicity_NN1 purposes_NN2 ._. 
All_DB three_MC of_IO the_AT biographical_JJ sketches_NN2 she_PPHS1 prepared_VVD for_IF their_APPGE use_NN1 shaved_VVD three_MC years_NNT2 off_II her_APPGE age_NN1 ._. 
In_II 1933_MC ,_, when_RRQ Dorothy_NP1 Canfield_NP1 Fisher_NP1 was_VBDZ writing_VVG an_AT1 article_NN1 about_II her_PPHO1 for_IF the_AT New_NP1 York_NP1 Herald_NP1 Tribune_NN1 and_CC sent_VVD her_PPHO1 a_AT1 draft_NN1 for_IF comment_NN1 ,_, Cather_NP1 telegraphed_VVD her_PPHO1 asking_VVG that_CST she_PPHS1 delete_VV0 the_AT year_NNT1 of_IO Cather_NP1 's_GE graduation_NN1 from_II college_NN1 ,_, explaining_VVG that_CST she_PPHS1 hated_VVD the_AT thought_NN1 of_IO people_NN using_VVG it_PPH1 to_TO calculate_VVI her_APPGE age_NN1 ._. 
As_RG late_RR as_CSA 1945_MC ,_, when_CS she_PPHS1 was_VBDZ almost_RR seventy-three_MC years_NNT2 old_JJ ,_, she_PPHS1 continued_VVD the_AT subterfuge_NN1 by_II telling_VVG Greenslet_NP1 ,_, who_PNQS was_VBDZ by_II then_RT one_MC1 of_IO her_APPGE oldest_JJT friends_NN2 ,_, that_CST her_APPGE recently_RR deceased_JJ brother_NN1 Roscoe_NP1 had_VHD been_VBN two_MC years_NNT2 older_JJR than_CSN she_PPHS1 ,_, whereas_CS he_PPHS1 was_VBDZ in_II fact_NN1 over_RG three_MC years_NNT2 her_APPGE junior_JJ ._. 
We_PPIS2 can_VM only_RR imagine_VVI how_RRQ Brown_NP1 's_GE book_NN1 might_VM have_VHI been_VBN enriched_VVN if_CS the_AT meeting_NN1 ,_, or_CC perhaps_RR a_AT1 series_NN of_IO meetings_NN2 ,_, that_CST Cather_NP1 proposed_VVD in_II her_APPGE letter_NN1 to_II him_PPHO1 had_VHD taken_VVN place_NN1 ._. 
With_IW the_AT advantage_NN1 of_IO direct_JJ contact_NN1 ,_, so_RG discerning_JJ and_CC persistent_JJ a_AT1 biographer_NN1 as_CSA Brown_NP1 (_( along_II21 with_II22 Leon_NP1 Edel_NP1 ,_, who_PNQS completed_VVD the_AT book_NN1 after_II Brown_NP1 's_GE death_NN1 )_) might_VM have_VHI been_VBN able_JK to_TO draw_VVI a_AT1 connection_NN1 between_II her_APPGE anxiety_NN1 about_II her_APPGE age_NN1 and_CC the_AT persistent_JJ concern_NN1 with_IW time_NNT1 and_CC loss_NN1 that_CST we_PPIS2 see_VV0 in_II her_APPGE fiction_NN1 more_RGR effectively_RR than_CSN we_PPIS2 can_VM at_II this_DD1 distance_NN1 ._. 
But_CCB we_PPIS2 can_VM be_VBI sure_JJ that_CST if_CS Cather_NP1 had_VHD known_VVN Brown_NP1 would_VM locate_VVI her_APPGE birth_NN1 certificate_NN1 and_CC spread_VVI the_AT information_NN1 in_II his_APPGE book_NN1 ,_, she_PPHS1 would_VM never_RR have_VHI invited_VVN him_PPHO1 to_II tea_NN1 ._. 
Was_VBDZ she_PPHS1 perhaps_RR equally_RR unwitting_JJ in_II admitting_VVG into_II her_APPGE life_NN1 in_II far_RG more_RGR intimate_JJ ways_NN2 two_MC others_NN2 --_JJ Elizabeth_NP1 Shepley_NP1 Sergeant_NN1 and_CC Edith_NP1 Lewis_NP1 --_NN1 who_PNQS would_VM subsequently_RR write_VVI memoirs_NN2 revealing_VVG significant_JJ biographical_JJ information_NN1 about_II her_PPHO1 ?_? 
It_PPH1 seems_VVZ doubtful_JJ that_CST she_PPHS1 knowingly_RR played_VVD Johnson_NP1 to_II their_APPGE Boswell_NP1 ._. 
More_RGR likely_JJ ,_, she_PPHS1 had_VHD no_AT inkling_NN1 of_IO a_AT1 biographical_JJ intention_NN1 on_II41 the_II42 part_II43 of_II44 either_DD1 ._. 
And_CC perhaps_RR there_EX was_VBDZ none_PN ,_, at_II the_AT time_NNT1 ._. 
Yet_RR the_AT books_NN2 written_VVN by_II both_DB2 her_APPGE friend_NN1 and_CC sometime_JJ confidante_NN1 Sergeant_NN1 and_CC her_APPGE life_NN1 partner_NN1 (_( and_CC to_II some_DD degree_NN1 collaborator_NN1 )_) Lewis_NP1 remain_VV0 suggestive_JJ starting_NN1 points_NN2 for_IF scholars_NN2 today_RT ._. 
After_CS Lewis_NP1 's_GE and_CC Mildred_NP1 Bennett_NP1 's_GE books_NN2 in_II 1951_MC ,_, and_CC Sergeant_NN1 's_GE and_CC Brown_NP1 's_VBZ in_II 1953_MC ,_, the_AT biographical_JJ tide_NN1 became_VVD irresistible_JJ ._. 
If_CS she_PPHS1 could_VM have_VHI read_VVN the_AT far_RG more_RGR exhaustive_JJ biographies_NN2 by_II James_NP1 Woodress_NP1 and_CC Sharon_NP1 O'Brien_NP1 that_CST came_VVD much_RR later_RRR ,_, in_II 1987_MC ,_, Cather_NP1 would_VM probably_RR have_VHI found_VVN Woodress_NN1 's_VBZ more_RGR tolerable_JJ despite_II his_APPGE fullness_NN1 of_IO detail_NN1 and_CC his_APPGE extensive_JJ ,_, scarcely_RR disguised_VVN quoting_VVG from_II her_APPGE letters_NN2 ,_, because_CS his_PPGE was_VBDZ more_RGR adulatory_JJ and_CC it_PPH1 dismissed_VVD the_AT issue_NN1 that_CST O'Brien_NP1 addressed_VVD squarely_RR :_: her_APPGE lesbian_JJ nature_NN1 ._. 
But_CCB we_PPIS2 can_VM not_XX suppose_VVI that_CST she_PPHS1 would_VM have_VHI been_VBN pleased_JJ to_TO have_VHI details_NN2 of_IO her_APPGE life_NN1 explored_VVN and_CC laid_VVN bare_JJ in_II either_RR of_IO these_DD2 or_CC in_II any_DD other_JJ study_NN1 taking_VVG a_AT1 biographical_JJ approach_NN1 --_NN1 or_CC that_CST she_PPHS1 would_VM at_RR21 all_RR22 have_VHI approved_VVN of_IO the_AT increasing_JJ availability_NN1 of_IO more_DAR and_CC more_DAR of_IO her_APPGE letters_NN2 ._. 
In_II the_AT last_MD decade_NNT1 of_IO Cather_NP1 's_GE life_NN1 ,_, the_AT decade_NNT1 in_II which_DDQ she_PPHS1 seems_VVZ to_TO have_VHI felt_VVN a_AT1 growing_JJ autobiographical_JJ impulse_NN1 ,_, her_APPGE letters_NN2 reveal_VV0 the_AT poignancy_NN1 of_IO an_AT1 artist_NN1 struggling_VVG to_TO keep_VVI going_VVG as_CSA she_PPHS1 feels_VVZ her_APPGE energy_NN1 failing_VVG ._. 
In_II late_JJ 1938_MC ,_, in_II conveying_VVG to_II Roscoe_NP1 her_APPGE sense_NN1 of_IO emotional_JJ depletion_NN1 ,_, she_PPHS1 described_VVD her_APPGE work_NN1 as_II a_AT1 kind_NN1 of_IO succubus_NN1 feeding_VVG off_RP her_APPGE emotions_NN2 and_CC ultimately_RR draining_VVG her_PPHO1 ._. 
She_PPHS1 was_VBDZ continuing_VVG her_APPGE work_NN1 on_II Sapphira_NP1 and_CC the_AT Slave_NN1 Girl_NN1 ,_, she_PPHS1 said_VVD ,_, but_CCB her_APPGE well_NN1 of_IO strength_NN1 and_CC creative_JJ energy_NN1 was_VBDZ running_VVG dry_JJ and_CC it_PPH1 was_VBDZ getting_VVG harder_JJR to_TO craft_VVI her_APPGE work_NN1 ,_, sentence_NN1 by_II sentence_NN1 ,_, so_BCL21 as_BCL22 to_TO create_VVI the_AT sharp_JJ pictorial_JJ effects_NN2 for_IF which_DDQ she_PPHS1 is_VBZ now_RT known_VVN ._. 
Earlier_RRR that_DD1 fall_NN1 ,_, in_II the_AT undated_JJ letter_NN1 to_II Roscoe_NP1 written_VVN from_II Grand_JJ Manan_NN1 in_II which_DDQ she_PPHS1 complained_VVD of_IO her_APPGE inability_NN1 to_TO sleep_VVI ,_, she_PPHS1 revealed_VVD that_CST she_PPHS1 was_VBDZ looking_VVG back_RP over_II the_AT course_NN1 of_IO her_APPGE life_NN1 from_II the_AT Nebraska_NP1 days_NNT2 to_II the_AT present_NN1 ,_, seeing_VVG a_AT1 procession_NN1 of_IO mistakes_NN2 ,_, and_CC thinking_NN1 of_IO last_MD things_NN2 ._. 
We_PPIS2 can_VM only_RR imagine_VVI the_AT richness_NN1 of_IO a_AT1 memoir_NN1 in_II which_DDQ Cather_NP1 reflected_VVD on_II her_APPGE life_NN1 and_CC work_VV0 as_CSA she_PPHS1 does_VDZ in_II these_DD2 letters_NN2 ._. 
We_PPIS2 can_VM be_VBI confident_JJ that_CST if_CS she_PPHS1 had_VHD undertaken_VVN a_AT1 major_JJ piece_NN1 of_IO self-writing_NN1 in_II her_APPGE last_MD years_NNT2 ,_, it_PPH1 would_VM have_VHI looked_VVN back_RP over_II the_AT long_JJ course_NN1 of_IO her_APPGE life_NN1 ,_, the_AT places_NN2 she_PPHS1 had_VHD lived_VVN ,_, and_CC the_AT vibrancy_NN1 of_IO family_NN1 relations_NN2 --_NN1 all_DB of_IO it_PPH1 together_RL ,_, as_II a_AT1 whole_NN1 ,_, centered_VVD on_II her_APPGE work_NN1 ._. 
And_CC not_XX only_RR on_II her_APPGE own_DA work_NN1 ,_, but_CCB on_II the_AT art_NN1 of_IO fiction_NN1 generally_RR ._. 
We_PPIS2 see_VV0 her_PPHO1 reflecting_VVG on_II that_DD1 art_NN1 frequently_RR in_II the_AT letters_NN2 ,_, and_CC we_PPIS2 find_VV0 sometimes_RT flatfooted_VVD ,_, sometimes_RT teasing_VVG pronouncements_NN2 on_II writing_VVG in_II the_AT posthumously_RR assembled_JJ volume_NN1 On_II Writing_NN1 ,_, especially_RR the_AT essays_NN2 "_" The_AT Novel_JJ Demeuble_NN1 ,_, "_" "_" Escapism_NN1 ,_, "_" and_CC the_AT brief_JJ but_CCB appropriately_RR titled_VVN (_( by_II the_AT editor_NN1 )_) "_" On_II the_AT Art_NN1 of_IO Fiction_NN1 ._. "_" 
But_CCB we_PPIS2 look_VV0 in_RR21 vain_RR22 for_IF a_AT1 published_JJ consideration_NN1 of_IO biography_NN1 or_CC autobiography_NN1 ._. 
She_PPHS1 neither_RR wrote_VVD one_MC1 of_IO her_APPGE own_DA ,_, nor_CC put_VVN into_II coherent_JJ form_NN1 her_APPGE opinions_NN2 on_II the_AT two_MC related_JJ genres_NN2 ._. 
But_CCB from_II the_AT letters_NN2 ,_, many_DA2 of_IO them_PPHO2 not_XX known_VVN at_II the_AT time_NNT1 the_AT standard_JJ biographical_JJ scholarship_NN1 was_VBDZ written_VVN ,_, we_PPIS2 can_VM see_VVI the_AT pieces_NN2 from_II which_DDQ she_PPHS1 might_VM have_VHI quilted_VVN both_RR a_AT1 memoir_NN1 or_CC autobiography_NN1 of_IO her_APPGE own_DA and_CC a_AT1 compilation_NN1 or_CC expansion_NN1 of_IO her_APPGE terse_JJ ,_, almost_RR cryptic_JJ critical_JJ statements_NN2 ._. 
Above_II all_DB ,_, the_AT letters_NN2 teach_VV0 us_PPIO2 that_CST Cather_NP1 was_VBDZ by_RR31 no_RR32 means_RR33 the_AT naive_JJ ,_, instinctual_JJ writer_NN1 ,_, out_II21 of_II22 step_NN1 with_IW the_AT modernist_JJ focus_NN1 on_II technique_NN1 ,_, that_CST used_VMK to_TO be_VBI presented_VVN in_II classrooms_NN2 ,_, but_CCB one_PN1 fully_RR involved_JJ in_II the_AT dilemmas_NN2 and_CC the_AT cultural_JJ currents_NN2 of_IO her_APPGE time_NNT1 ,_, seriously_RR engaged_VVN in_II thinking_VVG about_II the_AT art_NN1 of_IO fiction_NN1 ._. 
They_PPHS2 also_RR show_VV0 us_PPIO2 that_CST she_PPHS1 deeply_RR shared_VVD the_AT assumption_NN1 of_IO many_DA2 of_IO her_APPGE fellow_JJ modernists_NN2 that_CST the_AT writer_NN1 's_GE personality_NN1 must_VM remain_VVI separate_JJ and_CC apart_II21 from_II22 the_AT autonomous_JJ work_NN1 --_NN1 though_CS ,_, at_II the_AT same_DA time_NNT1 ,_, the_AT work_NN1 was_VBDZ ,_, even_RR at_II the_AT level_NN1 of_IO style_NN1 ,_, the_AT fullest_JJT communication_NN1 of_IO that_DD1 personality_NN1 ._. 
Her_APPGE conflicted_JJ allegiance_NN1 to_II the_AT autonomy_NN1 of_IO art_NN1 ,_, complicated_JJ though_CS it_PPH1 was_VBDZ by_II a_AT1 quasi-romantic_JJ sense_NN1 of_IO expressiveness_NN1 in_II art_NN1 ,_, may_VM finally_RR ,_, despite_II her_APPGE occasional_JJ forays_NN2 into_II self-publicity_NN1 ,_, have_VH0 been_VBN the_AT clearest_JJT reason_NN1 why_RRQ Cather_NP1 never_RR wrote_VVD an_AT1 autobiography_NN1 ._. 
Yet_RR another_DD1 reason_NN1 lurks_VVZ further_RRR in_II the_AT background_NN1 ,_, in_II the_AT form_NN1 of_IO her_APPGE own_DA professional_JJ experience_NN1 :_: her_APPGE writing_NN1 of_IO the_AT biography_NN1 of_IO Mary_NP1 Baker_NP1 Eddy_NP1 and_CC the_AT autobiography_NN1 of_IO S._NP1 S._NP1 McClure_NP1 ._. 
The_AT McClure_NP1 autobiography_NN1 provided_VVD her_PPHO1 a_AT1 model_NN1 that_CST she_PPHS1 might_VM well_RR have_VHI chosen_VVN to_TO follow_VVI in_II writing_VVG about_II herself_PPX1 :_: the_AT model_NN1 of_IO the_AT unitary_JJ ,_, upwardly_RR mobile_JJ male_NN1 engaged_VVN in_II "_" emphatic_JJ individuation_NN1 ._. "_" 
But_CCB it_PPH1 would_VM have_VHI been_VBN a_AT1 model_NN1 significantly_RR in_II conflict_NN1 with_IW the_AT multiple_JJ dimensions_NN2 of_IO her_APPGE life_NN1 ,_, a_AT1 model_NN1 that_CST psychoanalytically_RR inclined_JJ theorists_NN2 of_IO self-writing_NN1 have_VH0 long_RR seen_VVN as_CSA uncongenial_JJ to_II women_NN2 ,_, with_IW their_APPGE more_RGR relational_JJ sense_NN1 of_IO self_NN1 ._. 
