An Outline of Biography

'An Outline of Biography, From Plutarch to Strachey' provides a scholarly and engaging examination of the evolution of life writing as a distinct literary genre. Written by Wilbur L. Cross, a distinguished critic and educator, this work traces the development of the biographical form from the moralistic character sketches of the classical era to the psychological and modern approaches of the early 20th century.The text focuses on the transition of the art form, highlighting how the recording of human lives moved from ancient chronicling toward the analytical and often iconoclastic styles represented by figures such as Lytton Strachey. Cross explores the shifting standards of historical truth, the emergence of the biographer’s personal voice, and the literary techniques employed to capture the essence of an individual’s character. By surveying centuries of literary tradition, the book offers a deep dive into how society’s perception of Great Men and the nature of historical record have changed over time.Ideal for students of literature, history, and criticism, 'An Outline of Biography, From Plutarch to Strachey' serves as a vital resource for understanding the foundations of modern biography. It remains a significant contribution to the study of how history is written and how the lives of the past continue to be interpreted for contemporary readers.This work has been selected by scholars as being culturally important, and is part of the knowledge base of civilization as we know it. This work was reproduced from the original artifact, and remains as true to the original work as possible. Therefore, you may see the original copyright references, library stamps (as most of these works have been housed in our most important libraries around the world), and other notations in the work.This work is in the public domain in the United States of America, and possibly other nations. Within the United States, you may freely copy and distribute this work, as no entity (individual or corporate) has a copyright on the body of the work.As a reproduction of a historical artifact, this work may contain missing or blurred pages, poor pictures, errant marks, etc. Scholars believe, and we concur, that this work is important enough to be preserved, reproduced, and made generally available to the public. We appreciate your support of the preservation process, and thank you for being an important part of keeping this knowledge alive and relevant.