DownloadThe Portobello Bookshop Gift Guide 2024

Confessions of a Serial Biographer

Carl Rollyson author

Format:Paperback

Publisher:McFarland & Co Inc

Published:25th Mar '16

Currently unavailable, and unfortunately no date known when it will be back

Confessions of a Serial Biographer cover

Some critics rank biographers just above serial murderers. The author of this book, a self-described member of the Samuel Johnson school, doesn't share this view. An account of a life, he believes, should adhere to the truth as the biographer sees it, not to the sentiments of others.

This memoir of a professional biographer's life tells the inside story of how he became interested in his subjects and reveals the mechanics of the trade: how to assemble proposals for publishers, conduct interviews and archival research, and joust with editors, subjects and their literary estates. Other biographers have described their process but remained discrete, not wishing to offend their sources and supporters. This author has forgone such caution.

“Rollyson’s breezy account of the art and craft of biography is rich in gossip, and readers will enjoy juicy details...this useful guide exemplifies how one biographer approaches his work...recommended”—Choice.

ISBN: 9781476663258

Dimensions: 229mm x 152mm x 13mm

Weight: 358g

256 pages