Vies Brèves Séries

Cette série explore les profondeurs de l'existence humaine, en examinant la brièveté et la fugacité de la vie. À travers des récits individuels poignants et souvent émouvants, ces œuvres capturent les complexités des liens humains et l'inévitabilité de la mortalité. C'est une méditation sur ce que signifie vivre, même lorsque nous savons que nos jours sont comptés.

Ordre de lecture recommandé

Jane Austen
Fiona Stafford
184pages
7 heures de lecture
3,9(134)Évaluer
Every devoted reader feels that, in some way, they know Jane Austen. But how can we make sense of her extraordinary achievements? At a time when most women received so little formal education and none could obtain a place at university, how did Austen come to write novels that have commanded the attention of some of the most brilliant minds ever since? Why were hers the books that Darwin knew by heart and Churchill read during the Blitz? In this graceful introduction to the author's life and works, Fiona Stafford offers a fresh and accessible perspective, discussing Austen's six astonishing novels in the context of their time. Newly updated, Jane Austen: A Brief Life offers a rich and sympathetic insight into a writer who was just as much the Romantic genius as Keats, Shelley or Byron - full of youthful exuberance, intensely creative once she had found her individual voice, and dead before she reached middle age.
Brief Lives: Wilkie Collins
Melisa Klimaszewski
4,2(7)Évaluer
Author of the first detective novel in English, Wilkie Collins was one of the most popular authors in Victorian England. In this illuminating biography, Melisa Klimaszewski situates the writer within his own milieu and demonstrates how his work sparks new understandings of Victorian life and letters. A close friend and collaborator of Charles Dickens, Collins secured his own fame with sensational novels that feature intricate legal plots, mistaken identities, and complex crimes. Boldly challenging the mores of Victorian society by maintaining two families and shunning the institution of marriage, Collins was also one of the most unconventional public figures of his day. His life story, succinctly told in this elegant biography, promises to instruct and to entertain.
Brief Lives: Elizabeth Gaskell
Alan Shelston
101pages
4 heures de lecture
Biography of the Victorian author, Elizabeth Gaskell, sheds light on her life, literary successes, marriage and humanitarian work (cover flap).
Brief Lives: Charlotte Bronte
Jessica Cox
112pages
4 heures de lecture
3,9(8)Évaluer
Charlotte Brontë is one of the world’s best-loved writers. Her extraordinary literary talent manifested itself at an early age when she penned a series of imaginative and entertaining tales. Before her untimely death at the age of 38 she produced the masterpieces Jane Eyre , Shirley , and Vilette . Superb and meticulously researched, Jessica Cox's biography provides a beautifully drawn portrait of the creator of some of the world’s most remarkable novels.
Sigmund Freud
David Carter
120pages
5 heures de lecture
3,6(19)Évaluer
The biography delves into the life of Sigmund Freud, revealing the man behind the myths surrounding his legacy. It traces his journey from a gifted child in a Jewish family in 19th-century Austria to a prominent figure in psychology, highlighting his academic achievements and complex relationships with contemporaries like Josef Breuer. The book also examines the reasons behind Freud's controversial status and the criticism he faced despite his revolutionary contributions to understanding the subconscious, trauma, and dreams.
Brief Lives: Henry James
Hazel Hutchison
133pages
5 heures de lecture
3,8(4)Évaluer
Henry James is famed for the psychological depth of his characters and his remarkable ability to penetrate the inner life, yet the story of his own inner life remains curiously obscure—until now The best known facts about James—his illustrious, wealthy family and famous siblings; his prolific literary output with its numerous quirky female heroines; his long-term bachelorhood and the rumors that accompanied it; and his flamboyant adoption of British citizenship in 1915—have created a certain mythology surrounding the author. In this succinct new biography, Hazel Hutchison examines the man behind the writing. Exploring the author's life, works, and critical heritage, this fresh take on one of the central figures in the English canon is perfect for both the general reader as well as the James enthusiast.
Brief lives: Johann Wolfgang von Goethe
Andrew Piper
109pages
4 heures de lecture
4,0(7)Évaluer
Widely considered the father of German literature, Johann Wolfgang von Goethe was a polymath whose life and thoughts made a huge impact on European philosophy, science, and literature. This scrupulously-researched biography explores the philosophical preoccupations that drove Goethe to become a prolific poet, novelist, and playwright, and also examines the ways in which he was both influenced by and exerted influenced upon the tenets of the European Enlightenment. Erudite but accessible, this is an engaging look at one of history’s most influential thinkers and authors.
Brief Lives: Joseph Conrad
Gavin Griffiths
112pages
4 heures de lecture
3,8(11)Évaluer
Born to Polish parents in the Russian-dominated Ukraine, Joseph Conrad led an extraordinary and adventurous life, much of which was spent at sea. This new biography charts his story, considering his writings in the light of his eventful experiences and is an ideal introduction to the renowned and much-loved author of the 20th-century masterpiece Heart of Darkness.
Brief Lives: Leo Tolstoy
Anthony Briggs
119pages
5 heures de lecture
3,7(23)Évaluer
The book explores the life of Tolstoy, born in 1828 in central Russia, highlighting his experiences as a soldier and his evolution into a celebrated writer. It focuses on his iconic novels, "War and Peace" and "Anna Karenina," while Anthony Briggs analyzes these works alongside others. The narrative delves into the complexities of Tolstoy's character and examines the impact of two detrimental figures in his life, whose influence significantly altered both his personal journey and literary career.
Brief Lives: Fyodor Dostoevsky
Anthony Briggs
A new short biography of the author of Crime and Punishment and The Brothers Karamazov, by a preeminent Russian scholar In this compelling new biography Anthony Briggs explores the effect of Dostoevsky's turbulent life on his literary genius. Described by one contemporary as "the Shakespeare of the lunatic asylum," Dostoevsky famously divided critics during his lifetime. His childhood and family life have been the subject of scrutiny, most famously in inspiring Freud’s essay "Dostoevsky and Parricide." In later life his membership of the Petrashevsky Circle of liberal intellectuals resulted in his prosecution by the authorities: he was forced to attend a mock execution and then exiled for four years to a Siberian prison camp.
Brief Lives: Honoré de Balzac
David Carter
96pages
4 heures de lecture
3,8(11)Évaluer
Focusing on the life and works of Honoré de Balzac, this biography explores his significant contributions to realism and his extensive literary output within the context of 19th-century France. It offers insights into his experiences and the historical backdrop that shaped his writing, making it a compelling read for enthusiasts of French literature and history.
Brief Lives: Gustave Flaubert
Andrew Brown
168pages
6 heures de lecture
3,8(4)Évaluer
Focusing on the life and works of a renowned French author, this informative piece by Meryl Tyers delves into the remarkable and sometimes controversial existence of Gustave Flaubert, known for masterpieces like Madame Bovary. It provides insight into his literary creations, including the context of their writing and publication. Accompanied by his works Memoirs of a Madman and November, this book serves as a valuable resource for those interested in Flaubert and the intricacies of 19th-century France.
Brief Lives: Jane Austen
Fiona Stafford
120pages
5 heures de lecture
3,1(9)Évaluer
Fiona Stafford presents a fresh biography of Jane Austen, exploring her life as one of seven children born in 1775 Hampshire. The book delves into Austen's early writing and offers critical analysis of her renowned works, including "Emma," "Pride and Prejudice," and "Sense and Sensibility," within their historical context. By examining Austen's experiences as both a woman and a writer, this biography provides valuable insights that will engage literature students and general readers alike.
Brief Lives: Virginia Woolf
Elizabeth Wright
112pages
4 heures de lecture
4,1(24)Évaluer
Virginia Woolf has been among the most scrutinized figures of the past century. Her unique literary genius, pioneering work for women's rights, position at the nucleus of the Bloomsbury group, high-profile family and marriage, relationship with Vita Sackville-West, and suicide have all been dissected. Life and art were, for Woolf, inextricably entangled, and the autobiographical elements of many of her works, including the masterpieces "To the Lighthouse" and" The Waves," have heightened interest in this most fascinating of figures. Elizabeth Wright here takes a fresh look at the life and legacy of one of the greatest figures of English literature. Perfect for Woolf enthusiasts and newcomers alike, " Brief Lives: Virginia Woolf" offers a concise, authoritative account of the author's life, and presents an engaging overview of her afterlife in literary history.