British Biography: A ReaderBiography as a literary genre is largely the product of the eighteenth century and of one seminal work, James Boswell's Life of Samuel Johnson (1791). Boswell's innovations revolutionized the genre and made it the target of suppression and censorship. He sought not only to memorialize a great man but also to reveal his flaws. Boswell reported long stretches of Johnson's conversation, noted his mannerisms, and in general gave an intimate picture such as no biography had ever before dared to attempt. After Boswell, there was a retreat from his bolder innovations, which amounted to self-censorship on the biographer's part. When Thomas Carlyle's biographer, James Anthony Froude, braved this trend against truth and allowed his subject's dark side to show, he was vilified in the press. The tensions between discretion and candor have endured in British biography since Froude, a point Carl Rollyson makes in the reviews of contemporary British biographers he includes in British Biography, which also contains Johnson's full-length biography of Richard Savage, excerpts from Boswell's Life of Johnson as well selections from and commentaries on Southey's biography of Nelson, Mrs. Gaskell's biography of Charlotte Bront, and the revolutionary work of Froude and Strachey. |
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... of the Enlightenment project. Because themodern world hassubverted that project, Johnson's belief that biography ... ofthe imagination, which is a conceit that wecanbe “excited by the samegoodor evil happening” toothers as though it ...
... of the crimes of others rather thanhisown. [5] Inthe year 1697 AnneCountess of Macclesfield,having lived for sometime upon ... ofthe sincerityofher declaration; for he washis godfather, and gave himhisown name, whichwasby his direction ...
... of the legislature had undeservedly bestowed a fortune, which would have been very little diminished by the expences which ... ofthe child. [10] In this charitable office she was assisted by his godmother Mrs. Lloyd, who, while she lived ...
... ofthe moneywas ever paid. [11] Hewas, however, not yet wholly abandoned. TheLady Masonstillcontinued her care, anddirected him to be placed ata small grammarschool near St. Alban's, where hewas called bythe nameof his nurse, without the ...
... of the companyand somesoldiers, whom he had called to his assistance. [68] Being secured and guarded that night they ... ofthe town, who had been drinking with them, and with whom oneof them had been seen in bed. They swore in general ...
Contents
READINGS THE RAMBLER NO 60 JOHNSONS LIFE OF SAVAGE 1744 | |
EXCEPT FROM ROBERT SOUTHEYS LIFE OF NELSON | |
EXCERPTS FROM ELIZABETH GASKELLS LIFEOF | |
EXCERPT FROM FROUDES LIFE OF CARLYLE | |
LYTTON STRACHEY EMINENT VICTORIANS 1918 | |
REVIEWS | |
JOHN FOWLES | |