I've have just published a collection of my columns on biography published every Wednesday in The New York Sun. I'm interested in hearing from readers of biographywhy you read biographies, what you like about them, what you don't.
A blog for biographers and their readers
Published on January 21, 2005 By Carl Rollyson In Welcome
I've just published READING BIOGRAPHY, a collection of my columns on biography for The New York Sun. The book is available from www.iuniverse.com, bn.com, and amazon.com. I'm interested in hearing from readers and writers of biography. What do you like about the genre? What you don't like? What problems or pleasures do you have in reading or writing biographies.
Comments (Page 1)
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on Feb 01, 2005
Please post a critical question or comment about biography.
on Feb 02, 2005
The words of the book are not difficult so the book is understandable.If it is too much vocabulary, I believe it will reduce reader's interest. Besides, adding some conversations can make the book more interesting and lively. Besides, there are some famous person's well-known saying ,such as Bismarck ,his words clearly show us how worse of Polish at that time and help us to understand the background of Marie.
on Feb 02, 2005
I seem to be having some problems locating another children's verison of the Marie Curie's biography, by a different author than the professor. Does any one have any suggestion on where to get such a book?
on Feb 02, 2005
I have to agree that the vocabulary of the book is not too complicated but at the same time it is so meaningfull and deep. Every time you reread the sentence or the paragraph you discover new ideas, which strengthen the biography as a whole.
on Feb 03, 2005
Biography and History. No one can separate these two concepts. They both are a past preserved in human memory. They both are a chronological record of events and an explonation of their causes. In fact, biography is a someone's history.
on Feb 03, 2005
After reading Chapter One: Between Hope And Despair, I finally understood what active reading meant. The carefully chosen words gives the reader a visualization of a scene and also room to expand their imagination. However, an idea crossed my mind regarding the simple, but yet deep passages. Written as a biography for children, would such an audience be able to understand the meaning behind the chosen words?
on Feb 03, 2005
I had a chance to compare extracts (from Barbara Goldsmith's & Mr. Rollyson's biographies) depicting the scene in Polish school. Really impressed how choice and use of words can change your perception of a situation. Definately, Mr. Rollyson's variant is more vivid, emotional and 'alive'.
on Feb 03, 2005
Biographies are intended to recap the lives of famous people who in some way or the other touched peoples’ lives. When writing a biography intended for young readers how do you determine who your subject will be? Or, can you write it on just about anyone?
on Feb 03, 2005
I've just finished reading the book "Marie Curie and the Science of Radioactivity", by Naomi Pasachoff. This book totaly observes all the life facts of Marie Curie, such as scientific,scoveries, private life, motherhood.
on Feb 03, 2005
I like Marie Curie: Honesty in Science though I just read 3 chapters. It seems to have a great power which attracts me to keep reading. When I began to read, there is a timeline which gives me a clear situation, and it help me to understand the content. I really enjoy the content when I am reading.
on Feb 03, 2005
Within the first 2 chapters, there is alot of important information about Marie Curie that doesn't necessarily focus on chronogical events, but more of some of the important parts of her life. The dialect and the imagery adds life to the novel, but I felt that there should've been a little more about her relationships with the important people in her life; like her ather and her sister that she made the pact with.
on Feb 04, 2005
I'm not a big fan of reading biographies. Throughout my lifetime, I read a few biographies. They weren't engaging due to small text and thickness of the books. As I heard your reading of Marie Curie: Honesty in Science, I could visualize what is happening to Marie Curie. I found it vibrant and outstanding. It made me wondering if any children's books are comparable to yours. I found the 2 children's biographies have a mundane beginning. Both stated Marie and her husband recieved a nobel prize for their discovery.
on Feb 05, 2005
Actually, i really want to ask you a similar question that Partris Molligan already post upon this. As his question, are there any kind of standards for determinding who your subject will be and who can write a biography about someone? If the answer for both questions is Yes, please tell us little bit about those qualifications. If the answer is No, can i start to write my own biography about anyone just right now?
on Feb 05, 2005
The beginning of ~{!0~}Marie Curie: noble prize winning physicist~{!1~} by Lisa N. Burby tells the basic facts of Marie Curie, so the reader knows very clearly about the background of Marie Curie. I think it~{!/~}s a good way to start a biography for chilldren.
on Feb 05, 2005
Hi Professor, after reader your essay about Plutarch I am now fully aware of the difference between Biography and history. Biography seems much more intriging and does not deal with what events occured in the past. As you also stated it deals with personalities, ethical values and political values. Those topics are of more interest to me than dealing with just historic facts and events.
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