Brief Lives (First Person Singular) - Engaging 17th Century Portraits

In this review of Brief Lives (First Person Singular) the reviewer finds a lively, readable compilation ideal for readers who want vivid, anecdotal portraits of 17th century England rather than a formal biography. The collection, edited from John Aubrey's notes and presented in modern spelling, stands out for its engaging narrative style and frequent humorous asides that bring figures from Sir Walter Raleigh to John Milton into sharp personal focus. It is best suited to those who enjoy character sketches and social history presented with wit and immediacy.

Key Features

• Full modern edition: The text is presented in modern spelling, making Aubrey's original notes more accessible to contemporary readers without losing personality.
• Wide range of subjects: The book collects portraits of major 16th and 17th century English figures, allowing readers to sample many lives in a single volume.
• Primary-source color: Aubrey's own observations and anecdotes provide direct, often unvarnished insight into the social world of the period.
• Entertaining tone: The collection keeps a light, sometimes racy tone that many readers find unexpectedly funny and memorable.
• Antiquarian context: The editor preserves the feel of Aubrey's fragmentary manuscripts so readers can sense the work of an avid collector of lives and notes.

Who It's For

Brief Lives is ideal for general readers of history, fans of biography and memoir, and anyone curious about personalities who shaped 16th and 17th century Great Britain. The emphasis on anecdotes and personal detail makes it a good choice as bedside reading or for those interested in social color rather than chronological narrative.

Readers seeking tightly argued, footnoted academic biography or a full chronological history should look elsewhere; this edition preserves Aubrey's fragmentary approach and uneven coverage so it is better treated as a collection of literary sketches than as a comprehensive reference work.

Pros & Cons

Pros

• Engaging narrative style that reads like conversation and draws the reader into the period.
• Notable for its humor and witty anecdotes that make historical figures feel human and fallible.
• Accessible modern spelling reduces friction for contemporary readers while keeping Aubrey's voice.

Cons

• The material is fragmentary and unordered, so readers expecting systematic biographies may find the format unsatisfying.

Specifications

Title	Brief Lives (First Person Singular)
Author	John Aubrey
Editor	Richard Barber
Content	Full edition in modern spelling of Aubrey's portraits
Subjects covered	Figures of 16th-17th century England including Raleigh and Milton
Tone	Racy, anecdotal, often humorous

Our Verdict

Brief Lives (First Person Singular) is a rewarding purchase for readers who want lively, personal sketches of major early modern English figures. Its modern spelling and conversational voice make it excellent value for casual historians and biography readers who appreciate humor and immediacy, though those seeking systematic, academic biographies may want a different volume.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is this a modernized edition?
Yes. The edition is presented in modern spelling to aid readability while preserving Aubrey's original notes.

Does it cover many different people?
Yes. The collection includes portraits of many notable 16th and 17th century English figures, from Sir Walter Raleigh to John Milton.

Is this a formal biography?
No. The work is fragmentary and anecdotal rather than a systematic, fully referenced biography.