Biography is a genre of art and literature that focuses on the lives of real people. The word “biography” comes from the Greek words bios (“life”) and graphein (“to write”). Biographies can tell us about an artist or writer’s life, but they can also shed light on the historical and cultural influences that shaped their work. For example, if you want to understand what Shakespeare was trying to accomplish with his plays, it helps to know that he lived in Elizabethan England and was influenced by the Renaissance era.
Biographies are often written about artists, musicians, politicians and business people — but they can also be written about ordinary people who have had an impact on history.
It can also be a source of inspiration. The lives of famous artists and writers can provide inspiration for those who want to create great works of art or literature themselves.
In addition, when you know more about your favorite artist or writer, it may feel like they are more approachable than they were before and that makes them seem more human. This connection helps foster feelings of empathy between yourself and the artist or writer.
A biography can help you understand complex issues such as war, poverty and love through the eyes of someone else’s experiences with those issues — those experiences that are not your own but perhaps close enough to yours that they resonate with you on some level.
