David Cozy wrote: >So, in the estimate of Solomon's critics, is his biography bad *because* >it's psychological, or is it a bad psychological biography? As far as I'm concerned, Solomon's biographies of Beethoven and Mozart are bad because they are extremely speculative. And to answer your question: bad psychological biography. A biography is not just a list of dates and facts; there is also interpretation involved, and it's legitimate to search for psychological motives behind the hero's actions. But one has to be honest about the available evidence. One should also be explicit about what is historical evidence and what is speculation (something that Solomon never does). -Margaret