Home Life of Great Authors

About this book

The book is a collection of brief sketches that aim to give busy readers a glimpse into the domestic lives of well‑known literary figures. Its author explains that the pieces are not meant for scholars already familiar with the facts, nor are they full‑length biographies; instead they focus on the home environment, family relationships, and personal habits that are often omitted from conventional accounts. The opening entry on Goethe illustrates this approach, describing his childhood house, the influence of his parents, early passions, and youthful romances with vivid, anecdotal detail. Each sketch follows a similar pattern, offering concise yet colorful portraits that illuminate the private side of each writer without demanding extensive prior knowledge.

Written in a late‑Victorian prose style, the work combines a conversational tone with a modest amount of moral reflection, reflecting the sensibilities of an 1886 American readership. It will appeal to readers who enjoy literary history but prefer quick, narrative‑driven portraits over scholarly analysis, particularly those who appreciate a blend of biography and domestic anecdote, and who have a fondness for the genteel, descriptive voice of the period.