biography

Jim Thorpe’s Path Lit by Lightning

Robin Lindley / History News Network Jan 31, 2023 Biographer David Maraniss Follows Jim Thorpe's 'Path Lit By Lightning" Dig deeper ( 12 Min. Read )

Louis Adamic’s Life Fighting Fascism

Paul Buhle / Truthdig Jan 19, 2020 A new biography of the Slovenian journalist reminds us that reviving American democracy will take more than the rise of minority elites. Dig deeper ( 5 Min. Read )

Evelyn Waugh’s Life Revisited

Allen Barra / Truthdig Oct 25, 2019 The British writer hailed "from plenty of useless lords," per his biographer. Luckily, his novels will likely outlive his biographies. Dig deeper ( 7 Min. Read )

Tim Riley / Truthdig Dec 23, 2017 A nearsighted new biography of Rolling Stone founder Jann Wenner would have us believe that any narcissistic cokehead could have shepherded innovative work by Hunter S. Thompson, Annie Leibovitz and others just by being in the right place at the right time. Dig deeper ( 5 Min. Read )

Wrestling With His Angel

Allen Barra / Truthdig Jun 2, 2017 The second volume in Sidney Blumenthal's biography of Abraham Lincoln's political evolution follows the president during the stormy period between the Mexican War and the Civil War. Dig deeper ( 6 Min. Read )

Rising Star

By Carlos Lozada May 26, 2017 Renowned biographer David J. Garrow concludes this massive new biography of Barack Obama with a damning verdict: "While the crucible of self-creation had produced an ironclad will, the vessel was hollow at its core." Dig deeper ( 10 Min. Read )

Czeslaw Milosz: A Life

By Troy Jollimore May 19, 2017 A new biography of one of the most significant poets of the past century shows what it was like to be politically engaged and spiritually conflicted in the 20th century. Dig deeper ( 4 Min. Read )

Mad Pilgrimage of the Flesh

By Charles Matthews Oct 10, 2014 A new biography of Tennessee Williams is almost as much a biography of the plays as of the playwright, letting the life illuminate the work and the work illuminate the life. Dig deeper ( 5 Min. Read )

A Unique Face of Evil

By Jonathan Yardley Jan 28, 2012 “Himmler was the complete opposite of a faceless functionary,” Peter Longerich writes in “Heinrich Himmler.” “The position he built up over the years can instead be described as an extreme example of the almost total personalization of political power.” Dig deeper ( 7 Min. Read )

So, About That Severed Ear …

By Julia Frey Dec 16, 2011 A marvelous new biography of Vincent Van Gogh asks what if it was untreatable epilepsy that drove him mad, he didn't cut off his lobe for a woman and he was killed by delinquents rather than committing suicide? Dig deeper ( 4 Min. Read )

A Writer for All Time

Allen Barra / Truthdig Sep 30, 2011 Two new volumes -- a biography and an anthology -- shine light on G.K. Chesterton, an inhabitant of the twilight realm of the praised but unread. Dig deeper ( 9 Min. Read )

Well Said, Mr. Chesterton

Staff / Truthdig Sep 30, 2011 Some lovers of wit rank G.K. Chesterton as one of the greatest aphorists. Here’s a GKC sampler. Dig deeper ( 2 Min. Read )