Frances Wilson a fait ses études à Oxford et a enseigné la littérature anglaise des XIXe et XXe siècles pendant quinze ans avant de devenir écrivaine à temps plein. Ses livres plongent profondément dans l'histoire littéraire, explorant les liens complexes entre les écrivains et leurs lecteurs. Wilson offre une analyse littéraire approfondie, donnant vie aux complexités du processus créatif pour le lecteur.
Dorothy Wordsworth emerges as a vibrant and influential figure in the Romantic movement, challenging the traditional portrayal of women in literature. Known for her keen observations and brilliant writing style, she played a crucial role as an inspiration and confidante to her brother, William Wordsworth, and was a significant influence on Coleridge as well. Her contributions to poetry and her unique perspective on the world were invaluable, as highlighted by her brother's acknowledgment of her impact on his creative vision.
"D H Lawrence is no longer censored, but he is still on trial and we are still unsure what the verdict should be, or even how to describe him. History has remembered him, and not always flatteringly, as a nostalgic modernist, a sexually liberator, a misogynist, a critic of genius, and a sceptic who told us not to look in his novels for 'the old stable ego', yet pioneered the genre we now celebrate as auto-fiction. But where is the real Lawrence in all of this, and how one hundred years after the publication of Women in Love can we hear his voice above the noise? Delving into the memoirs of those who both loved and hated him most, Burning Man follows Lawrence from the peninsular underworld of Cornwall in 1915 to post-war Italy to the mountains of New Mexico, and traces the author's footsteps through the pages of his lesser known work. Wilson's triptych of biographical tales present a complex, courageous and often comic fugitive, careering around a world in the grip of apocalypse, in search of utopia; and, in bringing the true Lawrence into sharp focus, shows how he speaks to us now more than ever"--Publisher's description.
**LONGLISTED FOR THE BAILLIE GIFFORD PRIZE FOR NON-FICTION 2016** **New York Times Book Review, Times Literary Supplement and Guardian Best Books of 2016** 'Life for De Quincey was either angels ascending on vaults of cloud or vagrants shivering on the city streets.' The last of the Romantics, Thomas De Quincey is a name synonymous with scandal. Modelling his character on Coleridge and his sensibility on Wordsworth, De Quincey took over the latter's former cottage and turned it into an opium den. Here, in the throes of his high, he nurtured his growing hatred of his former idols and wrote the notorious and fascinatingly strange essay 'On Murder Considered as one of the Fine Arts'. Despite never achieving the literary deification of his contemporaries, his narrative style - scripted and sculptured emotional memoir - was to inspire generations of writers: Dickens, Dostoevsky, Virginia Woolf. James Joyce knew whole pages of his work off by heart and he was arguably the father of what we now call psychogeography. Guilty Thing tells the riches-to-rags story of a dazzlingly complex and troubled figure, whose life was lived on the run, and affords De Quincey the literary biography he deserves.
The prize-winning biography of Wordsworth's beloved sister, champion, muse who
was at the heart of the Romantic movement in Britain - reissued to celebrate
the 250th anniversary of Dorothy's birth. 'Genius ...
In a biography of style and energy, Frances Wilson makes use of previously unseen letters, law reports and confidential Government correspondence to reveal the true story of the sexual celebrity who blackmailed the British aristocracy and held even the king to ransom. Harriette Wilson was the most desired and the most dangerous woman in Regency London. This biography reveals for the first time the true story behind her sensational life and scandalous 'Memoirs'. When her former lovers - including much of the British aristocracy - turned against her, she knew exactly how to take revenge ...
The narrative centers on J. Bruce Ismay, owner of the RMS Titanic, who infamously abandoned ship during its tragic sinking on April 14, 1912. While he escaped in a lifeboat filled with women and children, his survival came at a high cost, leading to a tarnished reputation and a life marked by public scorn. The story explores themes of bravery, cowardice, and the societal expectations of leadership in times of crisis.
Exploring the impact of language and perspectives on relationships, the author likens words and viewpoints to different types of windows. By opening these windows, fresh ideas and interactions can flow, promoting community and connection. The book encourages readers to reflect on how their expressions shape their interactions with others.
