Quotes Theoretical Discussions of Biography

"Ils entendent explicitement contribuer à l’émergence des études biographiques comme nouvelle discipline à part entière [...] En conclusion, il convient de saluer les grands mérites de cet ouvrage fort bien fait" ("They explicitly intend to contribute to the emergence of Biography Studies as a new discipline in its own right [...] In conclusion, we should acknowledge the great merits of this well-made, strong book."
Joanny Moulin, Aix-Marseille Université

“Theoretical Discussions of Biographyis a welcome addition for university courses on the history and theory of history and surveys of historiography. [...] According to Renders and De Haan, a biography preferably studies a specific figure to test generally recognized truths on a society and culture. Renders elaborates this thesis in his article ‘The limits of representativeness. Biography, Life Writing and Microhistory’ and by doing this also brings together some themes from other contributions. This article provides a practical research agenda for the future.”
Christoph De Spiegeleer, Free University of Brussels, in: Tijdschrift voor Sociale en Economische Geschiedenis 10(2013)3, p. 115-116.

“In its range and compass Theoretical Discussions of Biographyillustrates the new compass and depth which Biographical Studies can offer to teachers, students and practitioners.”
Nigel Hamilton, Senior Fellow John W. McCormack Graduate School of Policy and Global Studies, University of Massachusetts Boston and first President of Biographers International Organization (BIO)

“To take issue with Renders, however, is not to discount his perceptive and wide-ranging contributions to an understanding of biography and biographical method. Only a scholar with formidable learning could have assembled an anthology that is so challenging on so many aspects of biography.”
Carl Rollyson, Baruch College New York, in: Biography 36(2013)2, p. 392-395.

Hans Renders en Binne de Haan (ed.), Theoretical Discussions of Biography. Approaches from History, Microhistory, and Life Writing.
Brill 2014 | ISBN 9789004270145