Claire Tomalin

"It turns out that, at social gatherings, as a source of entertainment, conviviality, and good fun, I rank somewhere between a sprig of parsley and a single ice skate."

Claire Tomalin was born in London in 1933. She has worked in publishing and journalism all her life, becoming literary editor first of the New Statesman and then of the Sunday Times, which she left in 1986. She is the author of, among other books: The Life and Death of Mary Wollstonecraft; Shelley and His World Katherine Mansfield: A Secret Life; The Invisible Woman and the extraordinarily successful biography of Samuel Pepys. Other books written for Penguin are: Jane Austen: A Life and a collection of memoirs entitled Several Strangers.

What genres does Claire Tomalin write in?

Claire Tomalin is best known as a biographer and literary historian. Her books are mainly literary and historical biographies of writers and cultural figures from the 18th to 20th centuries.

Which book is a good place to start with her work?

A popular entry point is Samuel Pepys: The Unequalled Self, which brought her wide attention. If you prefer Victorian subjects, Charles Dickens: A Life or The Invisible Woman (about Nelly Ternan and Dickens) are also accessible starting points.

Are her books part of a series or meant to be read in an order?

Her books are standalone biographies and memoirs, so there is no required reading order. You can choose a subject that interests you and read that book independently.

What recurring themes appear in Tomalin's biographies?

Her work frequently explores the lives of writers and performers, the social and historical context that shaped them, and personal relationships and gender dynamics within literary and cultural history.

Has Claire Tomalin written anything besides biographies?

Yes. In addition to biographies she has written a collection of memoirs titled Several Strangers and has a long background in publishing and literary journalism.