News at Eleven: Tragedy seems almost too bland a word

to describe Lota [Soares]'s death and its consequences on [Elizabeth] Bishop. Blame, guilt, incomprehension, complete emotional trauma, personal collapse all swept in. Bishop went back to Brazil but was greeted with overt hostility by Lota's family and friends. Somehow she was seen as responsible for Lota's death, however unfair that judgment was. Even Ouro Preto and the cherished, problematic house had lost its familiar charm. Everything seemed to be going wrong. Bishop enlisted Suzanne Bowen's help and flew her out to Brazil to try to settle her affairs (this did not look good to Lota's family, as can be imagined). Then Suzanne had a breakdown and had to be hospitalised herself.

from The Guardian: 'Must we dream our dreams?'

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