Johnny Yuma.
The Lone Ranger…oh wait!
I don’t know how significant he was globally, but a few years ago I ran across references to a man named Henry Darger, who was quite reclusive. Upon his death, a massive amount of literature/artwork by him was discovered that has insured his status as one of the greatest “outsider artists” known.
Weird, yet fascinating, stuff.
I’ve heard that Bill Watterson, the creator of Calvin and Hobbes is reclusive, although he might just avoid publicity, but have an active social life, so nevermind.
Lone Ranger: (Upon seeing themselves surrounded by weapon-wielding Native Americans). *Looks like we’re in heap big trouble now, Tonto.
*
Tonto: *What you mean we, Keemosabi? *
Well, you know, it’s the troubled loners who get all the press. Well-adjusted loners rarely make the papers or have all their neighbors interviewed on the evening news.
IRL, even Johnny Appleseed depended on civilization. Your criteria would be met only by extremely rare “wild-child” anomalies like Victor of Aveyron.
Of course, the real loners of history would be people of whom none of us have ever heard. Only a half-successful pseudoloner achieves any kind of fame.
Doonesbury creator Gary Trudeau and actor Woody Allen are both known for being very reclusive.
Collyer Brothers not sure if they would count as recluses, loons, packrats or all three.
What about the lady recluse in one of Charles Dickins books whose name I cannot remember.
Howard Hughes was probably batshit insane and a recluse during his last years.
He would have died unknown except for the tinsy winsy fact he was one of the wealthiest men on the planet.
Clive Calder is another famous recluse I’ve never heard of until the Power of Google.
Syd Barrett , whom I’ve never heard of either because I live under a rock.
That should be “What you mean we, paleface”
Miss Haversham.
Richard Nixon. It was remarkable that an introvert like him was such a successful politician, tricky or not.
If he were a real loner, he would have remained an eremite (hermit) monk instead of founding a cenobite (communal-monastic) order. There are no loners in a monastery.
Well, first, if it comes to links describing Johnny Appleseed, I suggest: Staff Report: What’s the story with Johnny Appleseed?
In terms of current real-life recluses, Harper Lee only rarely makes appearances and shuns publicity and has done so for decades. (Irrevant aside: My daughter was lucky enough to meet her during her recent appearance at the University of Alabama library… I now have an autographed copy of To Kill a Mockingbird)
I don’t know if you want to consider them (whether real or fictional), but the biblical heroes are usually complete failures in terms of family life. They seem to find God and lose their wives, children, etc. … sometimes connected with wandering off alone into the desert for forty days and nights.
Dare I mention Batman?
ISWYDT. And your 19,000th post too! Congrats.
King Kamehameha
His name translates as “one who stands alone”