Something I Noticed About Biographies

[astrum]

It seems as if good biographies are usually written posthumously.

By good, I mean honest and comprehensive--no whitewashing.

Steve Jobs' biography is one of the few recent exceptions.



I wonder if biographers are too fearful of litigation to write tell-all books while the subjects are still alive.

[hypatia_]

That could be it. It could also have to do with waiting until their legacy has been completed.

[The Atheist]

Especially when faced with the present trend of releasing a biography at age about 27.

[Lokasenna]

Especially when faced with the present trend of releasing a biography at age about 27.

Or younger. Private Eye recently carried an entirely scathing review of not one but a series of recently released biographies dealing with some pretty-boy pop icon who looked about 12. I'm amazed that rubbish like that even has a market.

[cafolini]

I think Jobs could not write his biography because it was obvious the victor was Gates.

[hypatia_]

Or younger. Private Eye recently carried an entirely scathing review of not one but a series of recently released biographies dealing with some pretty-boy pop icon who looked about 12. I'm amazed that rubbish like that even has a market.

Are you really that amazed? :P

[astrum]

That could be it. It could also have to do with waiting until their legacy has been completed.

You make an interesting point.

Perhaps the biographer wants the subject to live out his life--so that she can have more material to work with and more to write about.

[hypatia_]

that, and is it rude to publish a biography about someone who is still alive? isn't that a "you're pretty much done, so it's about time i wrote a book about you," stab in the face?

[The Atheist]

That's almost right, shown by the barely-past-children whose biographies are published because they will be complete unknowns in 20,30 and 40 years' time.

[hypatia_]

might as well, in that case.