A Companion to Literary Biography

This authoritative collection offers a comprehensive examination of literary biography as a genre, tracing its evolution from the seventeenth through the twentieth century. Editor Richard Bradford, an esteemed practitioner himself, guides contributors to tackle the significant theoretical and methodological questions inherent in writing lives of writers. The text provides a thorough historical account while critically examining how biographers have dealt with the complex relationship between an author's life and work. This scholarly companion doesn't just chronicle the genre's history but actively engages with the intellectual challenges of biographical construction.

What distinguishes this volume is its dual focus on both the historical development and the persistent philosophical dilemmas of literary biography. The contributors explore the delicate art of balancing factual documentation with narrative interpretation, making this particularly valuable for literature students, academic researchers, and aspiring biographers. Readers will gain a sophisticated understanding of how biographical practices have shaped our perception of literary figures across different eras. The collection ultimately provides essential insight into the craft and consequences of turning a writer's life into a story.