Anecdotes about Authors, and Artists

• about 10 hours
• intermediate
• Informative
• Historical
• Witty

John Timbs' "Anecdotes about Authors, and Artists" is a late 19th-century compilation offering a rich tapestry of literary and artistic curiosities. The collection delves into the lives, creative processes, and unique personalities of historical figures through a series of engaging sketches and notable incidents. Beginning with the serendipitous discovery of John Evelyn's diary, the work quickly establishes its theme of uncovering hidden facets of genius and the human condition. It intersperses historical trivia, like the rarity of literary progeny or the origins of the Blue-Stocking Club, with humorous and insightful snippets about luminaries such as Dr. Johnson and Hannah More. This mosaic approach provides readers with a fascinating, often intimate, glimpse into the cultural and intellectual landscape of past eras, celebrating the quirks and contributions of the creative minds it chronicles.

“The discovery of Evelyn's Diary, after lying for years in the library at Wotton, undisturbed and unknown, is one of those literary incidents that happily illustrate the chances of bibliography.”