In "Home Life of Great Authors" by Hattie Tyng Griswold, readers are invited to take an intimate and fascinating tour into the personal lives of some of the most renowned authors throughout history. Griswold's meticulously researched collection of biographical anecdotes offers a unique vantage point, shedding light on the private dwellings, routines, and relationships that shaped the work of these literary giants.
One of the book's outstanding strengths is its comprehensive approach, covering a wide range of authors from different time periods and cultural backgrounds. Griswold paints vivid pictures of the domestic environments in which these masters lived, allowing readers to envision the spaces that nurtured their creativity. From Jane Austen's modest country house to Victor Hugo's opulent mansion, each author's abode becomes a vibrant character in its own right.
Equally captivating are the glimpses into the daily lives and habits of these writers. Griswold unveils the rituals and routines that governed their working lives, highlighting the idiosyncrasies that fueled their artistic processes. Whether it is the disciplined solitude of Emily Dickinson, the chaotic energy of F. Scott Fitzgerald's parties, or the intellectual salons of Gertrude Stein, readers will be engrossed in the various ways in which these authors crafted their words.
Furthermore, Griswold skillfully explores the personal relationships that influenced and sometimes plagued these literary figures. Through correspondence and diary entries, she offers intimate insights into the friendships, familial tensions, and romantic entanglements that both shaped and hindered their work. These narratives humanize the icons we admire, reminding us that even the most celebrated authors faced personal struggles and triumphs outside the confines of the written page.
While "Home Life of Great Authors" serves as a captivating window into the private lives of these literary luminaries, it also raises questions about the extent to which an author's personal life intersects with their creativity. Griswold subtly invites readers to consider how these domestic landscapes, relationships, and routines permeated and informed the works we now consider immortal.
In conclusion, "Home Life of Great Authors" is an enlightening and engrossing read that transports readers into the fascinating worlds of renowned authors. Hattie Tyng Griswold's attention to detail and her ability to weave together the various aspects of these writers' lives make for an enriching experience. This book is an essential addition to the library of any literary enthusiast, offering a deeper understanding of the complex tapestry of influences that shape great literature.
First Page:
HOME LIFE OF GREAT AUTHORS. HOME LIFE
OF
GREAT AUTHORS
BY
HATTIE TYNG GRISWOLD
SEVENTH EDITION
CHICAGO A. C. McCLURG & CO. 1902
COPYRIGHT BY A. C. MCCLURG AND CO. A.D. 1886.
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PREFACE.
The author of these sketches desires to say that they were written, not for the special student of literary biography, who is already familiar with the facts here given, but rather for those busy people who have little time for reading, yet wish to know something of the private life and personal history of their favorite authors. The sketches are not intended to be critical, or to present anything like complete biographies. They are devoted chiefly to the home life of the various authors, which, though an instructive and fascinating study, seems commonly neglected in popular biographies.
It should be added that a few of these sketches have already appeared in print, but they have been rewritten to adapt them to their present purpose.
H. T. G.
COLUMBUS, WIS., October, 1886.
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CONTENTS.
PAGE
GOETHE 9
ROBERT BURNS 24
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