さまざまなジャンルがある中で、読み物として非常に人気があるもののひとつが伝記です。なぜ伝記が好まれるのでしょうか。伝記とはどのように構成され、読者に何をもたらすのでしょうか。本書は色々な種類の伝記を分析することで、なぜ特定の人物や歴史上の出来事が多くの人を惹きつけるのかを探ります。歴史や小説とどう違うのか、といった比較も行います。
   

• Looks at the origins and development of biographical writing
• Considers why certain historical periods and figures arouse so much interest
• Looks at the relationship between biographies, history and fiction
• Examines the impact of religion on the development and direction of biographies
• Reveals the ways in which biographers write their stories - from the start and close, to the tone they use, and the rhetorical devices they employ

 
Biography is one of the most popular, best-selling, and widely-read of literary genres. 

But why do certain people and historical events arouse so much interest? How can biographies be compared with history and works of fiction? Does a biography need to be true? Is it acceptable to omit or conceal things? Does the biographer need to personally know the subject? Must a biographer be subjective? 

In this Very Short Introduction Hermione Lee considers the cultural and historical background of different types of biographies, looking at the factors that affect biographers and whether there are different strategies, ethics, and principles required for writing about one person compared to another. She also considers contemporary biographical publications and considers what kind of 'lives' are the most popular and in demand. 
 
 
Reading Guide
  
The Very Short Introductions Podcast Episode 21: Biography