Biography is one of the most popular best-selling & widely-read of literary genres But why do certain people & historical events arouse so much interest? How can biographies be compared with history & works of fiction? Does a biography need to be true? Is it acceptable to omit or conceal things? Does the biographer need to personally know the subject? Must a biographer be subjective? In this Very Short Introduction Hermione Lee considers the cultural & historical background of different types of biographies looking at the factors that affect biographers & whether there are different strategies ethics & principles required for writing about one person compared to another She also considers contemporary biographical publications & considers what kind of 'lives' are the most popular & in demand ABOUT THE SERIES The Very Short Introductions series from Oxford University Press contains hundreds of titles in almost every subject area These pocket-sized books are the perfect way to get ahead in a new subject quickly Our expert authors combine facts analysis perspective new ideas & enthusiasm to make interesting & challenging topics highly readable