Lytton Strachey
Lytton Strachey: A Brilliant Biographer and Critic
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Full Name and Common Aliases
Lytton Strachey was born Benjamin Lytton Strachey on March 24, 1880, in London, England. He is commonly known as Lytton Strachey or B.
Birth and Death Dates
Born: March 24, 1880
Died: January 21, 1932 (aged 51)
Nationality and Profession(s)
Strachey was a British author, biographer, critic, and member of the Bloomsbury Group. He is best known for his groundbreaking work in biography and literary criticism.
Early Life and Background
Lytton Strachey was born to Sir John Strachey, a civil servant in India, and Sarah Baring. The family's background was marked by privilege and intellect. Lytton's early life was spent between England and India, where his father served as a high-ranking official.
Strachey's education began at the University of Cambridge, where he studied history and philosophy. He later attended Trinity College, Oxford, to pursue a deeper interest in literature and intellectual pursuits.
Major Accomplishments
Lytton Strachey is renowned for his contributions to biography and literary criticism. His most notable work is _Eminent Victorians_, published in 1918, which revolutionized the genre by introducing a more personal and psychologically insightful approach. The book focuses on four prominent figures of the Victorian era: Cardinal Manning, Florence Nightingale, General Gordon, and Thomas Arnold.
Strachey's other notable works include:
_Queen Victoria_ (1921)
_Eminent Victorians: A Series of Portraits_ (1918)
Notable Works or Actions
Strachey was a key figure in the Bloomsbury Group, an influential circle of artists and intellectuals. He was close friends with notable figures like Virginia Woolf, E.M. Forster, and Clive Bell.
Some of his notable actions include:
Influence on literary biography: Strachey's work paved the way for a more nuanced understanding of historical figures.
Advocate for individualism and free thinking: Through his writing and associations, Strachey promoted intellectual freedom and the importance of individuality.
Impact and Legacy
Lytton Strachey's impact on literature and biography is immense. His work has inspired generations of writers and thinkers to reevaluate historical figures and their contributions. As a prominent member of the Bloomsbury Group, he played a significant role in shaping modern intellectual thought.
Strachey's legacy can be seen in:
Influence on literary criticism: His approach to biography and literary analysis has influenced many notable critics and writers.
Promoting individualism and free thinking: Through his writing and associations, Strachey advocated for the importance of individuality and intellectual freedom.
Why They Are Widely Quoted or Remembered
Lytton Strachey's work continues to be widely read and quoted due to its unique blend of wit, insight, and critical analysis. His contributions to biography and literary criticism have made him a beloved figure among scholars and readers alike.
In conclusion, Lytton Strachey was a brilliant biographer and critic who left an indelible mark on literature. His work continues to inspire new generations of thinkers and writers, cementing his place as one of the most influential voices of the 20th century.
Quotes by Lytton Strachey
But Racine’s extraordinary powers as a writer become still more obvious when we consider that besides being a great poet he is also a great psychologist.
The old interests of aristocracy – the romance of action, the exalted passions of chivalry and war – faded into the background, and their place was taken by the refined and intimate pursuits of peace and civilization.
In the literature of France Moliere occupies the same kind of position as Cervantes in that of Spain, Dante in that of Italy, and Shakespeare in that of England. His glory is more than national – it is universal.
Modern as the style of Pascal’s writing is, his thought is deeply impregnated with the spirit of the Middle Ages. He belonged, almost equally, to the future and to the past.
The amateur is very rare in French literature – as rare as he is common in our own.
The genius of the French language, descended from its single Latin stock, has triumphed most in the contrary direction – in simplicity, in unity, in clarity, and in restraint.
Ignorance is the first requisite of the historian – ignorance, which simplifies and clarifies, which selects and omits, with a placid perfection unattainable by the highest art.
During this earlier period of his activity Voltaire seems to have been trying – half unconsciously, perhaps – to discover and to express the fundamental quality of his genius.