Biography

A biography is a written account of a person's life, typically focusing on the most significant events and accomplishments of their life. A biography can be written by someone else, known as a biographer, or by the person themselves, known as an autobiography.

The word "biography" comes from the Greek words "bios," meaning life, and "graphia," meaning writing.

The history of biography dates back to ancient times when people recorded the lives of significant figures. 

The epic of Gilgamesh, which is a narrative poem from ancient Mesopotamia, is one of the earliest works of literature that includes a biographical account of a historical figure. While Gilgamesh is often regarded as a legendary or mythological figure, some scholars believe that he may have been a historical king of the Sumerian city-state of Uruk. The epic includes descriptions of Gilgamesh's life, achievements, and relationships, as well as his search for immortality.

Other ancient texts that include biographical elements include the Egyptian Autobiography of Harkhuf from the 23rd century BC and the Inscriptions of Shalmaneser III from the 9th century BC, which detail the military campaigns and achievements of the Assyrian king.

In ancient Greece, biographies were often written as part of the genre of "lives," which recounted the lives of famous men. These works focused on the virtues and vices of their subjects and often served as moral lessons.

Plutarch's Lives of the Noble Greeks and Romans, also known as Parallel Lives, is a series of biographies of famous men from ancient Greece and Rome. The work was likely written in the early 2nd century AD and consists of 48 biographical pairs, with each pair comparing the lives and careers of two notable figures, such as Alexander the Great and Julius Caesar or Demosthenes and Cicero.

One of the main goals of the work was to examine the moral virtues and failings of these famous individuals and to draw lessons from their lives that could be applied to contemporary society. Plutarch was known for his interest in ethics and philosophy, and his biographical approach allowed him to explore these topics in a more practical and relatable way.

Plutarch's Lives has had a significant influence on later biographical writing, and it continues to be studied and admired for its insights into the lives and personalities of historical figures, as well as its focus on the ethical and moral dimensions of leadership and achievement.

Third Volume of a 1727 edition of Plutarch's Lives of the Noble Greeks and Romans 

In medieval Europe, hagiographies were popular, which were biographies of saints and other religious figures. These works often included miraculous events and were intended to inspire religious devotion.

The Renaissance saw a renewed interest in biography, with figures such as Giorgio Vasari writing Lives of the Artists, which included biographies of famous artists from the time period.

During the Enlightenment, biography became a popular genre of literature. In this era, biographers aimed to present their subjects as rational and objective individuals, focusing on their achievements and contributions to society

The earliest biographical dictionary in the accepted sense was that of French philosopher Pierre Bayle (1696).

The term 'autobiography' was first used by the writer Robert Southey in 1809 in the Quarterly Review in which he predicted an 'epidemical rage for autobiography.'

In the 19th century, the development of the novel and the rise of individualism led to a new form of biography that focused more on the personal lives of individuals. Biographers began to include more personal details, such as the subject's childhood, relationships, and inner thoughts. 

The biography of Thomas Crapper, the British sanitary engineer who invented the modern flush toilet in 1878, was called Flushed with Pride: The Story of Thomas Crapper.

In the 20th century, biography continued to evolve with the development of new techniques such as oral history and the use of psychological analysis. Biographers also began to write about previously marginalized figures, such as women, people of color, and LGBTQ+ individuals.

The Pulitzer Prize for Biography or Autobiography has been awarded annually since 1917

The best selling autobiography of all time is almost certainly The Diary of a Young Girl by Anne Frank with over 30 million copies sold.