Brief Lives

Brief Lives (1669-1697) is a collection of short biographical sketches on famous British figures by author, antiquarian, and archaeologist John Aubrey. It is significant for its unique style, blending facts and personal anecdotes, and has become a beloved cultural artifact of early-modern Britain. Aubrey's work provides valuable information on such figures as poet John Milton, playwright William Shakespeare, philosopher Thomas Hobbes, and chemist Robert Boyle, while also humanizing them and reminding readers of their desires, imperfections, and day-to-day lives. The text was pieced together from extensive handwritten manuscripts by numerous editors and scholars and has been read for centuries. This edition of Brief Lives is a classic of British literature and biography reimagined for modern readers.

Format: Hardback
Length: 772 pages
Publication date: 15 February 2022
Publisher: West Margin Press

Brief Lives (1669-1697) is a collection of short biographical sketches on famous British figures by author, antiquarian, and archaeologist John Aubrey. The work is significant for its unique style, a blend of facts—names, dates, family, important works—and personal anecdotes for which Aubrey combined his skills for research and conversation to compile. Unpublished during his lifetime, the text was pieced together from extensive handwritten manuscripts by numerous editors and scholars, and over the centuries has become a beloved cultural artifact of early-modern Britain. A fascinating figure and gifted researcher in his own right, John Aubrey sought to capture the significance of his era and the people whose contributions to art, politics, science, and philosophy were not only changing Britain, but the world, forever. As a historical record, his Brief Lives provides valuable information on such figures as poet John Milton, playwright William Shakespeare, philosopher Thomas Hobbes, and chemist Robert Boyle. But as a work of art, the text humanizes them, reminding its readers that these were people whose desires, imperfections, and day-to-day lives were not unlike our own. We turn to his works to discover that Sir Walter Raleigh was a "poor" scholar "immerst...in fabrication of his owne fortunes," or to read that Shakespeare, the son of a butcher who worked for his father as a youth, was known to "make a speech" while slaughtering a calf. At times straightforwardly factual, at others filled with gossip, Brief Lives is a document of its time that attempts to record a living history of knowledge and influence. Whether it succeeds is beside the point—that it speaks to us centuries on is the heart of the matter, the reason it must be read. A well-known man in his lifetime, Aubrey moved in literary and intellectual circles and was a close friend of such figures as Samuel Pepys, John Dryden, and William Shakespeare. He was also a keen observer of human nature and a skilled storyteller, and his works are filled with vivid descriptions of people and places. Despite his many achievements, Aubrey was not without his flaws. He was known for his stubbornness and his tendency to exaggerate, and his writings often contain errors and inconsistencies. However, his dedication to his craft and his passion for history and literature have earned him a place in the annals of English literature as one of the most influential and admired writers of the 17th century.

Aubrey's Brief Lives is a fascinating and valuable work that provides a glimpse into the lives and personalities of some of the most influential figures of the 17th century. Whether it is through his factual accounts of their achievements or his personal anecdotes, Aubrey manages to bring his subjects to life and make them relatable to his readers. The work is also notable for its unique style, which blends facts and personal anecdotes in a way. Aubrey's ability to combine his skills for research and conversation to compile his anecdotes is a testament to his talent as a writer and researcher.

One of the most interesting aspects of Brief Lives is its attempt to record a living history of knowledge and influence. Aubrey sought to capture the significance of his era and the people whose contributions to art, politics, science, and philosophy were changing Britain and the world. Through his writings, he provides valuable information on such figures as poet John Milton, playwright William Shakespeare, philosopher Thomas Hobbes, and chemist Robert Boyle. However, he also humanizes them, reminding his readers that these were people with desires, imperfections, and day-to-day lives that were not unlike their own.

Aubrey's writings are filled with vivid descriptions of people and places, and he was a keen observer of human nature. He was able to capture the essence of his subjects and their personalities, and his works are often filled with humor and insight. Whether it is his description of Shakespeare's "make a speech" while slaughtering a calf or his account of Raleigh's "poor" scholarship, Aubrey's writings provide a glimpse into the lives and personalities of his subjects in a way that is both entertaining and informative.

Despite his many achievements, Aubrey was not without his flaws. He was known for his stubbornness and his tendency to exaggerate, and his writings often contain errors and inconsistencies. However, his dedication to his craft and his passion for history and literature have earned him a place in the annals of English literature as one of the most influential and admired writers of the 17th century.

In conclusion, Brief Lives (1669-1697) is a collection of short biographical sketches on famous British figures by author, antiquarian, and archaeologist John Aubrey. The work is significant for its unique style, a blend of facts and personal anecdotes, and its attempt to record a living history of knowledge and influence. Aubrey's ability to combine his skills for research and conversation to compile his anecdotes is a testament to his talent as a writer and researcher, and his writings provide a glimpse into the lives and personalities of his subjects in a way that is both entertaining and informative. Despite his flaws, Aubrey's dedication to his craft and his passion for history and literature have earned him a place in the annals of English literature as one of the most influential and admired writers of the 17th century.

Dimension: 203 x 127 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781513134246