Suggested by Simon Thomas:
Have you ever been put off an author’s books after reading a biography of them? Or the reverse – a biography has made you love an author more?
Honestly, for whatever reason, I separate an artist from his or her work — whether in writing, visual arts, acting, or any other art form. Thankfully, I am able to appreciate an individual’s talent and artistry regardless of the artist’s beliefs or personal history.
I think the core of this question stems from what school of literary criticism you prefer: Reader Response (where only the reader’s subjective opinions matter)? Historical (how well the work reflects its context and time period)? Biographical (our BTT subject today)? Structuralist (the words and sentences themselves)?
One of my least favorite aspects of teaching literature was when I had to share the details of a writer’s life with my students. Why? Because there is no way to accurately, respectfully, or meaningfully portray the complexities of a human life in one page of notes placed on a overhead or in a Power Point — or even in a 1,000 page biography.
Plus, artists tend to see the world through very different lenses than most of us do, and there’s no way I’m going to start judging that from my fairly conventional, certainly linear perspective. I’m simply going to enjoy the art itself and let the artists judge themselves…
As a reader, I really focus on the words on the page, so whenever we have a question about book covers or Kindles or biographies — elements of a work beyond the actual words — I usually have the same answer: They really don’t influence my impressions or enjoyment of a work.
Now I assume were talking about fiction, here, since obviously nonfiction would be a more direct reflection of an author’s life… (And, obviously, an autobiography or memoir is a completely separate issue!).
What do you all think? Are you curious about the personal lives of your favorite authors?
