Biographies

Biographies and Autobiographies are some of the most well borrowed books from libraries.  Beyond the natural curiosity we have about each other what else does this genre of writing satisfy in us?  Throughout history we have sought inspiration from our heroes, and perhaps knowing more about their lives and what influenced and shaped them adds to this. The biographer who researches the facts and chronicles someone’s life may feel a responsibility to justify the status of their subject but ultimately it is the reader who decides their worth. People who have influenced history and consequently shaped our lives may have multiple biographies written about them and it can be fascinating to read more than one account of a life and see older perceptions of a subject challenged or maintained.

Autobiographies I think are interesting for a different reason.  As a subjective account of a life they can perhaps reveal as much to the writer as the reader.   Choosing what to record and seeing the relevance and meaning of choices and influences on one’s life retrospectively must provide an insight and understanding; a perspective that wouldn't be revealed by any other means.

As to who should write an autobiography, I couldn't say. When I chose to read one the subject is usually someone I think would be interesting to listen to; they might have discovered a cure for a disease, climbed mountains, starred in dozens of films or been a successful politician. I want to have the sense I am in the company of an interesting human being and the medium of the autobiography is the only way I will have of 'meeting' them.