Sidetracks : Explorations of a Romantic Biographer

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Summary: The Biographer's Art Through his Wanderings
Review: Richard Holmes has collected many of published and unpublished essays from the past, added new introductions and created Explorations of a Romantic Biographer (as per sub-title of his book, Sidetracks). The journey encompasses many centuries and many delightful figures of the literary past, from John Boswell to F. Scott Fitzgerald, from Lord Lisle to M. R. James (in a wonderful section on Gothic shadows). The two best chapters concentrate on the death (and life) of Thomas Chatterton and the life (and death) of Mary Wollstonecraft and William Godwin. This book will be enjoyable for those who are not familiar with all the discussed writers' work (such as myself) as the writing is so clear and beautiful and the personalities examined so fascinating. This book examines biography writing as an art form and thoroughly proves its case. A charming read.