Lives of the Writers: Comedies, Tragedies (and What the Neighbors Thought)

This is another charming addition to Krull's outstanding series. I have read all but one of the books and was very excited about Lives of the Writers, since writing is my area of expertise. The illustrations were lovely, as always, but the writing (of all things!) lacked vigour, droning on with archaic facts about the authors. Towards the end I had trouble identifying the authors or the books they are most famous for. Krull would have been better served to write about familiar, yet interesting authors, such as J.R.R. Tolkien or Lucy Maud Montgomery, as opposed to Zora Neale Hurston and Isaac Bashevis Singer. Nevertheless, this is a good, witty, and light book, and it is a welcome addition to Krull's series.

Kathleen Krull's Lives of the Writers Comedies, Tragedies (and What the Neighbors Thought) was an exceptionally informative book for young readers. Krull presented basic biographical information for up to nineteen well-known authors from the past and more resent times. Along with this standard information, Krull also offered not-so-common facts about the life, personalities, and actions of the authors. While reading the book, I found myself feeling as if I had came to know some the authors as a person rather than simply an author from the past. Also, I enjoyed the illustrators' drawings of the each author. The illustrations seemed to add a bit of humor and light-heartedness to the information. I believe this book would serve as a great introductory tool for students of various ages.

"How can you print a piece of your own soul," Dickinson, p. 51This is the 2nd in the Krull and Hewitt's "Lives of ..." series. The book contains 19 chapters on 20 writers in birth order: Murasaki Shikibu (973?-1025?), Miguel de Cervantes (1547-1616), William Shakespeare (1564-1616), Jane Austen (1775-1817), Hans Christian Andersen (1805-1875), Edgar Allan Poe (1809-1849), Charles Dickens (1812-1870), Charlotte & Emily Bronte (1816-1855 & 1818-1848), Emily Dickinson (1830-1886), Louisa May Alcott (1832-1888), Mark Twain (1835-1910), Frances Hodgson Burnett (1849-1924), Robert Louis Stevenson (1850-1894), Jack London (1876-1916), Carl Sandburg (1878-1967), E. B. White (1899-1985), Zora Neale Hurston (1901?-1960), Langston Hughes (1902-1967), Isaac Bashevis Singer (1904-1991)This is a perfect book for young adolescents and pre-teens who as they grow and mature frequently feel awkward. Krull introduces us to the idiosyncrasies of the literary. Some of the authors were loners, eccentric, a wee bit peculiar. Michael Jackson's behaviors might seem normal when held in comparison. Some retreated into themselves. Some sought out adventures. Some as adults were unsuccessful at the ordinary. Some worked at a young age to support the family. Some took daily walks, very long daily walks. Some were not healthy and therefore wrote in bed. There were some similarities and some differences, but they all shared a singular conviction to write and write they each did well.Hewitt's delightful portraits of the writers are precious. My favorite portrait is of Frances Hodgson Burnett of "The Secret Garden" fame. Her hat is the secret garden. Given the high price of the book, I was surprised that Krull did not include a list of the authors' books and/or poems and the publication years. END

This book is a fun and informative book. The pictures are filled with humorous meanings and hidden information. The book keeps the reader's attention by keeping the included information short and simple, but also makes sure that the reader gets as much possible about the author. This book is great for kids and students to use as a report source as it is filled with great information. Kids would rather use this book as an information source rather than an encylopedia since the information is easy to understand. Authors in there are some you may not know, ( Murasaki Shikibu) and some well know ones ( Charles Dickens). I am glad I purchsed this book. I really liked the pictures which are so vibrant with color. This would make a great buy.