The Romance of Biography (Vol 1 of 2)
or Memoirs of Women Loved and Celebrated by Poets, from the Days of the Troubadours to the Present Age. 3rd ed. 2 Vols.
The Romance of Biography, first published in 1829 as The Loves of the Poets, is Anna Jameson's gallery of the women who inspired poetry, told through anecdote and translation. This first volume opens with the loves of the classical poets and the troubadours, then turns to Italy: Guido Cavalcanti, Petrarch and Laura, Dante and Beatrice Portinari, Lorenzo de' Medici. English chapters follow on Chaucer, Surrey and the Fair Geraldine, and the court of Elizabeth, before the book closes with Tasso and Leonora d'Este and with Milton's sonnets to the singer Leonora Baroni. Jameson is frank that her sympathies are with the women, and her graceful essays made her one of the first English women to live by literary criticism. The full text is available to read online in your browser on Vinteuil, and the first chapter is free.
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Frequently asked questions about The Romance of Biography (Vol 1 of 2)
The Romance of Biography (Vol 1 of 2) by Mrs. Jameson can be read online on Vinteuil, directly in your browser. The first chapter is free for everyone; the complete book is included in Vinteuil Reading ($4.99/month or $39.99/year) or yours forever for $2.99.
Can I read The Romance of Biography (Vol 1 of 2) online?
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The first chapter of The Romance of Biography (Vol 1 of 2) is free, without an account. To read the whole book, either buy its online reading for $2.99 (£2.99 in the UK) and keep it forever, or subscribe to Vinteuil Reading for $4.99/month (£4.99/month in the UK) or $39.99/year, with 1 month free for new subscribers. The subscription opens every book in the library and can be cancelled at any time.
Is The Romance of Biography (Vol 1 of 2) in the public domain?
Yes. The Romance of Biography (Vol 1 of 2) by Mrs. Jameson is a public-domain work. Vinteuil offers a carefully prepared digital edition made for comfortable reading on screen.
How long does it take to read The Romance of Biography (Vol 1 of 2)?
About 4 h of reading, at an average reading pace. Your place is saved automatically when you are signed in, so you can read in several sittings and on several devices.
What kind of book is The Romance of Biography (Vol 1 of 2)?
The Romance of Biography (Vol 1 of 2) by Mrs. Jameson is filed under "Essays & Letters" in the Vinteuil library.
