How To Do Biography : A Primer

Review This marvelous work--basically, a how-to book--is comprehensive in its treatment of everything necessary to creating a published biography. Hamilton, who has authored biographies of Field Marshall Montgomery, John F. Kennedy, and Bill Clinton, here leaves nothing unsaid on the subject. He thoroughly details biography's agenda and motivation and describes its target audience, who will expect something of a revelation concerning the human condition...He additionally scrutinizes autobiography and memoir writing, the consequence of telling the truth, and biography's afterlife. The exceptional excerpts Hamilton selects from published biographies to illustrate his points are both edifying and entertaining. --Robert Kelly (\*Library Journal\* 20080501) Drawing instruction from his own lifetime of biographic work and others'--including Samuel Johnson, Robert Caro, David McCullough, Hermione Lee, Edmund Morris, and others whom Hamilton has admired, known and worked with--the author takes readers on an intellectual journey through the creative process, from conception to publishing...Hamilton's passion, lyricism and collection of telling anecdotes make this "short book of advice" an unexpected page-turner; it's hard not to get caught up in the author's romantic vision of biography, a form he believes has nearly as many permutations as music. Elucidating not just the dos and don'ts of biography, but also the whys and hows, Hamilton has created a motivating, empowering guide for writers (and fans) of the genre. (\*Publishers Weekly (starred review)\* 20080706) No one writing biography can afford to ignore this edifying book. Nigel Hamilton has the depth and breadth of experience to write about a genre that he champions...While this is a “how-to” book, even the most seasoned biographer will find much of value about choosing a subject; doing proposals for biographies; handling interviewing; negotiating the perils of publishing unauthorized biographies; managing biographical narratives; writing with an audience in mind; and the nexus between memoir, autobiography, and biography. --Carl Rollyson (\*thebiographerscraft.com\* 20080726) [\*How To Do Biography\*] offers a well-written, sensible, and, given its brevity, fairly encompassing assessment of what it is that a biographer does and how he goes about doing it...Hamilton is quite eloquent and persuasive in discussing how things come around at the end, not only at death, but after, when the life meets posterity. --Sven Birkerts (\*Boston Globe\* ) The book is full of good advice and interesting stories. --Owen Richardson (\*The Age\* ) About the Author Nigel Hamilton is the author of prize-winning biographies of Field Marshal Bernard Montgomery and of John F. Kennedy. He is currently a Fellow of the McCormack Graduate School of Policy Studies, University of Massachusetts Boston, where he is writing a three-volume biography of President Clinton. It is not surprising that biography is one of the most popular literary genres of our day. What is remarkable is that there is no accessible guide for how to write one. Now, following his recent Biography: A Brief History (from Harvard), award-winning biographer and teacher Nigel Hamilton tackles the practicalities of doing biography in this first succinct primer to elucidate the tools of the biographer’s craft.Hamilton invites the reader to join him on a fascinating journey through the art of biographical composition. Starting with personal motivation, he charts the making of a modern biography from the inside: from conception to fulfillment. He emphasizes the need to know one’s audience, rehearses the excitement and perils of modern research, delves into the secrets of good and great biography, and guides the reader through the essential components of life narrative.With examples taken from the finest modern biographies, Hamilton shows how to portray the ages of man—birth, childhood, love, life’s work, the evening of life, and death. In addition, he suggests effective ways to start and close a life story. He clarifies the difference between autobiography and memoir—and addresses the sometimes awkward ethical, legal, and personal consequences of truth-telling in modern life writing. He concludes with the publication and reception of biography—its afterlife, so to speak.Written with humor, insight, and compassion, How To Do Biography is the manual that would-be biographers have long been awaiting. It is not surprising that biography is one of the most popular literary genres of our day. What is remarkable is that there is no accessible guide for how to write one. Now, following his recent A Brief History (from Harvard), award-winning biographer and teacher Nigel Hamilton tackles the practicalities of doing biography in this first succinct primer to elucidate the tools of the biographers craft. Hamilton invites the reader to join him on a fascinating journey through the art of biographical composition. Starting with personal motivation, he charts the making of a modern biography from the from conception to fulfillment. He emphasizes the need to know ones audience, rehearses the excitement and perils of modern research, delves into the secrets of good and great biography, and guides the reader through the essential components of life narrative. With examples taken from the finest modern biographies, Hamilton shows how to portray the ages of manbirth, childhood, love, lifes work, the evening of life, and death. In addition, he suggests effective ways to start and close a life story. He clarifies the difference between autobiography and memoirand addresses the sometimes awkward ethical, legal, and personal consequences of truth-telling in modern life writing. He concludes with the publication and reception of biographyits afterlife, so to speak. Written with humor, insight, and compassion, How To Do Biography is the manual that would-be biographers have long been awaiting. An Introduction To Writing A Biography That Discusses Personal Motivation, Beginnings And Endings, The Difference Between Autobiography And Memoir, Ethical And Legal Issues, And Other Related Topics. The Task Of Biography -- What Is Your Agenda? -- Defining Your Audience -- Researching Your Subject -- The Shape Of A Life -- The Starting Point -- Birthing Your Subject -- Childhood And Youth -- Love Stories -- Life's Work -- The Twilight Years -- Ending Your Story -- Autobiography And Memoirs -- Memoir -- Truth--and Its Consequences -- The Afterlife. Nigel Hamilton. Includes Bibliographical References (p. [362]-367) And Index. Tackles the practicalities of doing biography and elucidates the tools of the biographer's craft. The author invites the reader to join him on a journey through the art of biographical composition. Starting with personal motivation, he charts the making of a modern biography from the inside: from conception to fulfillment. It is not surprising that biography is one of the most popular literary genres of our day. What is remarkable is that there is no accessible guide for how to write one. Starting with personal motivation, this book charts the making of a modern biography from inside: from conception to fulfilment