47 pages • 1 hour read
Samuel Taylor ColeridgeBiographia Literaria
Nonfiction | Autobiography / Memoir | Adult | Published in 1817A modern alternative to SparkNotes and CliffsNotes, SuperSummary offers high-quality Study Guides with detailed chapter summaries and analysis of major themes, characters, and more.
Before You Read
Super Short Summary
Samuel Taylor Coleridge’s Biographia Literaria, published in 1817, is a semiautobiographical work that explores his literary career, philosophical ideas, and critiques of contemporary thinkers, particularly addressing his close friend William Wordsworth’s theories on poetry and language. Coleridge recounts his education, debates on aesthetic matters, and develops his own theory of Imagination, contrasting it with Wordsworth’s emphasis on "rustic language." The work also covers Coleridge's travels in Germany and provides a critique of foreign drama before summarizing his theories on poetry and the arts.
Reviews & Readership
Review Roundup
Biographia Literaria by Samuel Taylor Coleridge is praised for its profound philosophical insights and its contribution to literary criticism. However, some find its dense prose and digressions challenging. It remains a seminal work for understanding Romanticism and Coleridge’s literary theories, but requires patience and careful reading.
Who Should Read Biographia Literaria?
Readers with a passion for Romantic literature and literary criticism would enjoy Samuel Taylor Coleridge's Biographia Literaria. It appeals to those interested in the intersection of poetry and philosophy, much like enthusiasts of William Hazlitt’s The Spirit of the Age or John Stuart Mill’s A System of Logic.
RecommendedReading Age
18+yearsBook Details
Romanticism / Romantic Period
Philosophy