Literary Biography: An Introduction offers an erudite and insightful introduction into the history, theory, and practice of the increasingly popular literary genre of life writing. The text illustrates and accounts for the literary genre that merges verifiable historical facts with the familiar conventions of narrative.
"Last year I was sent Michael Benton's
Literary Biography: An Introduction prior to publication, and was happy to supply a recommendation for the dust jacket. I described it then as an "elegant. introduction which is likely to appeal to both established scholars and to the growing number of university students who study the subject at all levels." Having read the book again for the purposes of this review, I am happy to stand by my initial response. Indeed, I would add that the book is sufficiently rich and thoughtful to provide an even more enjoyable and informative reading experience the second time around." (
Biography, Summer 2010)
"A general reader with an interest in literature or biography or both will find much of interest here." (
M/C Reviews, March 2010)
"Lucid and intelligent." (The Times Literary Supplement, November 2009)
Michael Benton is Emeritus Professor of Education at the University of Southampton. His publications include the highly influential
Teaching Literature 9–14 (with Geoff Fox, 1985) and several widely used anthologies of poetry, most notably the
Touchstones series (with Peter Benton, various editions 1968–2008). His most recent book was
Studies in the Spectator Role: Literature, Painting and Pedagogy (2000).