Evening star., 1932-02-07
FATHER Of MODERN .
BIOGRAPHY DEAD.
Strachey's Critical Works
Inspired Host of
Imitat0rS.

The father of modern critical biog-
raphy is dead His name was Lytton
Strachey and he was only 81 years old
when his career was closed at the cul-
mination of a terious illness on jan
uary 81 Little known until he was 40,
StraChevS fame was acquired within
single decade; but the seven books
which he published reflected the studies
and researches of a far longer period
StraChey was one of the five children
of Sir Richard StraChey, British gen.
eral and Indian administrator, and his
wife, Lady Jane StraChey, one of the
most brilliant English women OF her
generation. He was born on March l,
1880, and was educated at Trinity Col
lege, Cambridge. Defeating himself
to literature he rejected the easy road
to success, deliberately devotlng him
self to themes demanding ScholarSnlp
and methodical application, as opposed
to subjects which might be dealt with
quickly. lightly and in the f1ashy i'm
pressioniStic manner which at the mo-
ment commanded attention by its sheer
impertirenCe.
Understood News Values.
His first book was entitled Land
marks in French Literature; it was
published by the Home University LII
brary in 1912 and won for the au-
thor the high regard OF a cultivated
minority of readers.
Strachey. however, was no dry-aS-
dust pedant: he was, in fact, journal
ist, in the best meaning OF the Word.
He had an instructive comprehension
of the news values Of an event or OF
a human life. For his second pook
he laboriouSly collected and Studled
great mass of material concerning
Cardinal Manning, Florence NlgIC-
ingaIp DR.. Arnold and Gen. Gordon
rTThis material he evaluated anew. He
tested facts and opinions; he submitted
them to the acid of irony. But In the
end his judgments were influenced by
his own natural sense Of pity. Lille, 10
him. was not a cardboard pageant oI
made-to-Order characters; 1t was, rain
er a ceaselessly agitated kaleidoscope
in which mOmentarly historical pat
terms are formed by accident as one
event impinges upon another and one
personality comes INTO relation WIN WIN
another. The spectacle was at once
pathetic and humorous. The spectator
perforce must be ironlc.
Horrified by Imitators.
Strachey's method, of course, played
havoc with that of the academic MS
torians. Hero-WOrship went into the
discard. Idols fell. But this was too
easy a victory and StraCheyS Eminent
Victorians,". his second published book,
soon had a host of imitatOrS whose
verv existence Mortified the man they
pretended to follow. They seemed to
imagine that Undertaking" was what
was wanted A flood of biographies
poured from the presses, and the word
'debunking" was coined to describe
a conscious endeavOr to belittle, to
stultify to Slander and to destroy the
great figures of history, ancient ana
modern. But Strachey was no de
bunker" That doubtful honor was re-
served for the legionS OF pygmy
StraCheys, who SenSelesSly betrayed
their own chosen hero, Strachey him
self
In 1921 Strachey printed his Queen
Victoria" It was a sensation. But
those still living who had known the
queen and loved her were not angry;
thev saw that StraChey had paid her
the greatest compliment pOSSible-he
had pictured her as very human; he
had demonstrated that she was Wom-
an as we'll as sovereign; he had proved
her essential genius, her sturdy deVo-
ton to arduouS duty, her elemental dig
Stracheys "Queen Victoria" was a
nobler figure than the impossible carl
cature of the academic writers. He had
dipped the queen in a Crucible OF burn
ing acid but-and well he knew It'll
she had survived the fire.
Author Tells Method.
It was seven years before Strachey
brought out his Elizabeth and Essex"
-. i,,to ,nti
Following its appearance there was a
long debate concerning the authors |
method. In the end he was asked to |
give his own conception of the func-
tionS of the biographer. He wrote: ITO |
preserve, for instance. a becoming |
brevity-a brevity which excludes every |
thing that is redundant, and nothing |
that is Significant-that, surely, is the |
first duty Of the biographer. The sec
ond, no less surely, is to MAINTAIN his
own freedom of spirit. 1t Is not his
business to be complimentary; it is his |
business to lay bare the facts of the |
case as he understands them. That !
is what I have aimed at in my books |
to lay bare the facts of some cases !
as I understand them, diSpaSslonately, |
impartially and without ulterior in
tentlonS."
Strachey published three less popular
but not much less interesting books:
Books and Characters" Pope" and
PORTRAITS in Miniature" He occasion
ally contributed to the periodical press. |
Tall, thin, gangling, backward, rest
less and shy, Strachey personally was
a memorable figure of man A bril-
liant red beard was his most striking
characteristic. His eyes were deep and
brooding and he concealed them with
large spectacles. He hated to be Zion |
lied" loved quiet and the country and
was something of an aScetic.
Moved in Small Circle.
His intimate friends included John
Meynard Keynes, the economist; Give
Bell. the art critic; Virginia Woolf, the
novelist, and few other choice spirits
with whom he lived in Gordon Square, |
London. He had his proper home at
Inkpen, Berkshire.
Normally, Strachey should have lived |
much longer and done much more work. |
But he was always frail, never ordi- |
narily robust or strong. In the cir
cumStances it is probable that he lived |
longer than might have been expected. !
His work will survive him. He will
not be forgotten.
Nearly 2,7OO,OOO pairs Of gloves were |
made in Belgium for exportation last |
year. !