ONE MIGHTY TORRENT: The Drama of Biography

by Edgar Johnson ‧ RELEASE DATE: March 15, 1937

A biography of biography and biographers, which has as aim the history of the western world, ""the profile of time"" through personal lives and their recordings. Beginning with a discussion of biography per se, its character, function, etc, he goes on to show how it has been manifested through the centuries, and delineates its principal trends. Despite the brevity imposed by the vastness of the ground covered, he manages to include in each sketch the principal qualities of each work and selections from that work. The approach is definitely that of the scholar; it reveals a vast erudition -- but as literary criticism has little new to say. A worthwhile and entertaining compendium, which should find a place in a student or reference library. Limited to English biographers primarily, from the 16th century to the present. See sections on Aubrey and Pepys for special flavor.

Pub Date: March 15, 1937

ISBN: 1406742015

Page Count: -

Publisher: Stackpole

Review Posted Online: N/A

Kirkus Reviews Issue: March 1, 1937

Categories: NONFICTION