Lives of the Novelists

In this collection of columns, Carl Rollyson explores the nature of literary biography, examining how narratives are shaped and the relationship between a writer's life and work. He discusses various approaches to biography, including its potential to revive and deepen understanding of literary figures, while also addressing genre challenges like overstatement and redundancy. Rollyson advocates for a thoughtful, symbiotic approach to biographical writing that respects the complexity of its subjects.