What Hides in Biography Books?

Each reader has moments when a book leaves them speechless. In my opinion this feeling is amazing but at the same time it's very thought-provoking. After reading an incredible book I start questioning myself how author wrote it, how came up with all those ideas, what inspired writer to create that particular story. Now more and more often I search for this kind of information about books and over some time I've learned that most of the answers hide in biographies of the authors. Some of the greatest stories are inspired from the real life events. Very often authors in the books hide their job experience, love life, or even an opinion on political situation. Of course they don't express their opinion directly, they hide it between the lines. So naturally every book becomes even more fascinating if you know under what circumstances it was written. 

Therefore recently I purchased two biography books.

Papa Hemingway by A. E. Hotchner 

Ernest Hemingway is as easily known as a great American author. He has won Nobel Prize in Literature and Pulitzer Prize for Fiction. He started his writing career at the age of seventeen in a newspaper. After the United States entered the World War he joined a volunteer ambulance unit in the Italian army, later he returned to the United States but was sent back to Europe and worked as a correspondent.

Hemingway's experience in army inspired him to write a book called ''A Fareweel to Arms''. Both, the author and the main character in the book, were wounded during the war and spent some time in hospitals.

Hemingway used his experiences as a reporter during the civil war in Spain as the background for his novel ''For Whom the Bell Tolls''.

You can clearly see how life affects creative work.

Papa Hemingway is written by his friend Aaron Edward Hotchner. They traveled together for thirteen years, shared feelings, thoughts and pleasures. That's why it's not your typical biography, it doesn't tell the story of Hemingway from birth till death, it recounts the most intriguing events of his life. Some people have criticized Hotchner for not telling truth about Hemingway's bullying and boorishness, but as the saying goes you don't stab your friends in the back.

The structure of this book is very interesting - every chapter is headed by not only a new year, but a new location as well.

Ernest Hemingway is one of my most favorite authors, so I'm extremely looking forward to reading this book.

Secret Lives of Great Authors by Robert Schnakenberg

''Strange-but-true tales of murderers, adulterers, drug addicts, and other literary legends'' 

This book is a mixture of biographies. However, these biographies are not typical ones. In this book author gives not so well known information about different authors, writes about the most fascinating, oddest and funniest facts. Each biography starts with birth/death dates, nationality, astrological sign, major works, contemporaries and rivals, literary style, and words of wisdom.

 In my opinion it's very fun and interesting way to learn about some of the greatest authors.