Biographical Essays

"Biographical Essays" by Thomas De Quincey is a compilation of analyses from the early 1800s that examines the real lives of important writers, starting with William Shakespeare, in order to reveal the story behind these giants of literature. The essay begins by thinking about William Shakespeare, discussing how little we know about his young life, especially considering how important he became to literature.. De Quincey thinks about how we aren't sure about the exact day Shakespeare was born or the details around it, presenting different thoughts about when he was baptized and how that relates to his future fame. He also looks at Shakespeare's family history, the problems his father went through, and the way society worked in Stratford-upon-Avon, indicating that these things may have played a role in Shakespeare's writing journey. Using both historical investigation and criticism of literature, De Quincey's beginning sets the stage for a closer examination of Shakespeare's life and the mark he left behind.