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 3)
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on Feb 10, 2005
After reading the biograpgical essay on Lillian Hellman, she seems to be portrayed differently from the movie. The movie made Ms. Hellman seem like a sort of ruthless, aggresive type, who lived on the edge. The essay does not portray Ms. Hellman this way at all. Its embodies more about her work as a screenwriter and some of the struggles she had. The movie talked more about her character and the essay portrayed more of her work.
on Feb 12, 2005
I haven't read many biographies and before reading Marie Currie: Honesty
in Science, I had never heard of Marie Currie. But now after reading it I
find her interesting and I admire the way she was able to be honest to
everyone about everything in her life. Because of this I feel motivated to
read more biographies.

on Feb 12, 2005
Last night, I finished reading an extract of Plutarch's Parallel Lives for my history class. The extract is about the final living day for Caesar. Whatever you wrote in biographical essay about Plutarch is true. He does rely on suspected sources. In the extract, he wasn't sure if it was Artemidorus who gave Caesar the letter. From the beginning, he made a moral point that Fate can't be unavoidable.
on Feb 12, 2005
I've been trying to write a draft of the book review we're supposed to do but there isn't anything that comes to mind for a thesis statement. Can somebody help?
on Feb 12, 2005
I find the biographical essay on Lillian Hellman rather confusing. The essay focuses mainly on her works and accomplishments. It names her scripts and plays with the year repeatedly throughout the essay which made it hard for me to distinguish them. As for the film, it presented the facial features of Lillian Hellman that I couldn't have captured from the essay. Also, it gave me a better understanding of her personality and a clearer view of society amidst her era.
on Feb 12, 2005
I'm also having difficulty in writing a draft of the book review. Ideas that come to mind doesn't quite fit the description of a very strong opinion to persuade others nor to start an argument.
on Feb 13, 2005
I learned how Hellman became famous playwriter and how she got entangled in politics through reading 'Essays in Biography.' It describes about Hellman's 'The Children's Hour' in detail. This book made her famous. I could see that she is an important playwriter even though some people criticized her. She has numerous achievements as a playwriter.
on Feb 14, 2005
I learned how Hellman had written a lot of plays that made her famous. However, at the end of her life, she had been accused of lies in her play called "An unfinished Woman." As of the film, I learned what she looks like and the style that she talks. Her style made her plays so unique and famous. I also learned her history background and the picture of her youth from the film.
on Feb 14, 2005
Does writing a book review tell the readers what the book reveals or tell the readers how the arthur write the book?
on Feb 14, 2005
With so many ways of writing about one person's life. Is there one solid way of wriing the biographies?
on Feb 15, 2005
Now that i have read three marie curie biography i can truly say i think she is one of the foremost woman in history who's life deserves to be celebrated and commemorated
on Feb 15, 2005
Now that i have read three marie curie biography i can truly say i think she is one of the foremost woman in history who's life deserves to be celebrated
on Feb 15, 2005
Now that i have read three marie curie biography i can truly say i think she is one of the foremost woman in history who's life achievements deserves to be celebrated
on Feb 15, 2005
Now that i have read three marie curie biography i can truly say i think she is one of the foremost woman in history who's life achievements deserves to be celebrated
on Feb 16, 2005
At the end of each chapter, there are some points to ponder. It lets the readers read over and over until they find the answers. I think it~{!/~}s a good way to make the readers clearly understand each chapter
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