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John Aubrey
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Brief Lives (Penguin Classics) Paperback – November 1, 2000

by John Aubrey (Author), John Buchanan-Brown (Editor), Michael Hunter (Foreword)
4.2 4.2 out of 5 stars 17 ratings
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With deft, picturesque prose, Aubrey presents biographical sketches for an intriguing and colorful parade of statesmen, poets, philosophers, and scientists, including Walter Raleigh, Francis Bacon, William Shakespeare, John Milton, Thomas Hobbes, and Rene Descartes, as well as a host of lesser known but equally fascinating figures. This anecdotal, gossipy collection brings to life the tumultuous world of Elizabethan and Stuart England and its revolutions in politics, science and morality. At the same time, Aubrey revels in the sheer variety of human nature and in the detailed, intimate, and sometimes scandalous aspects of his subjects' lives. An antiquarian, Aubrey began his collection as source material for his friend Anthony Wood's histories of Oxford University. In this new edition, more faithful to the original text than previous versions, Brief Lives emerges as a revolution in the art of English biography, a mixture of entertainment and erudition, and a lively portrait of an age.
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  1. Print length
    528 pages
  2. Language
    English
  3. Publisher
    Penguin Classics
  4. Publication date
    November 1, 2000
  5. Dimensions
    5 x 0.75 x 7.75 inches
  6. ISBN-10
    0140435891
  7. ISBN-13
    978-0140435894
  8. See all details
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About the Author

John Aubrey (1626-1697) was a member of the Royal Society and pioneered the study of archaeology. His writings on antiquities, particularly Stonehenge and Avebury, remain of interest today, but he is best known for his Brief Lives.
John Buchanan-Brown is an editor, biographer, and translator. He edited Aubrey's Three Prose Works.
Michael Hunter is the author of John Aubrey and the Realm of Learning. He is Professor of History at Birkbeck College, University of London.

Product details

  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Penguin Classics (November 1, 2000)
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • Paperback ‏ : ‎ 528 pages
  • ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 0140435891
  • ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-0140435894
  • Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 10.4 ounces
  • Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 5 x 0.75 x 7.75 inches
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.2 4.2 out of 5 stars 17 ratings

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John Aubrey

John Aubrey

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4.2 out of 5 stars
4.2 out of 5
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17 global ratings

Top reviews from the United States

James F. Mueller
5.0 out of 5 stars An Excellent Biography of Eminent Persons of the Seventeenth Century
Reviewed in the United States on March 25, 2013
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This is a great book consisting of a hundred or so brief biographies of eminent persons principally of the Seventeenth Century. Each biography is no more than a page long. Most entries are humorous accounts of the personal details of the lives of these men, such as "Drunkenness he much exclaimed against, but wenching he allowed"; or "His tongue was a Charme, and drew in so many to be bound for him, and to be ingaged in his Designes, that he ruined a number." The English Civil Wars are covered in great detail. One learns in reading this book that many great men lost their lives at the young age of 22 or 23, such as Sir Charles Cavendish, in which Mr. Aubrey has this to say, "What wonders might have been expected from a Commander so Vigilant, so Loyall, so Constant, had he not dropt downe in his blooming age? This brave Hero might be opprest (as he was at last by numbers) but he could not be conquered." One also learns that it was the business of the crown to support and patronize literary men of promising talent, and Mr. Aubrey covers the lives of most of these men. However, sadly, one also learns that many books and treatises are mentioned that have since been lost to history, such as the voluminous work of Sir James Bovey. Thirty-two treatises are mentioned in his biography, and not one has survived to this day. The titles are all so very interesting, such as "The Art of Conversation," "The Art of Building a Man: or Education," "The Art of Governing the Tongue," "The Causes of the Diseases of the Mind," etc. etc. I really do wish that these books were available today. One can only surmise at their contents from the biography of its author contained in this book. Finally, a word of caution: This fascinating book will cause you to spend hours on Wikipedia reading up on the lives of the men mentioned in this book.
10 people found this helpful
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John Gerlach
4.0 out of 5 stars I like any Penguin.
Reviewed in the United States on August 16, 2013
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Brief Lives shows its age, but no damage or defacing at all. Thanks to the provider of this British product.
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JD
5.0 out of 5 stars Historic people come to life when reading John Aubrey's "lives"
Reviewed in the United States on May 1, 2017
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When you finish Pepys' Diary, Aubrey's "lives" helps fill the void for people like me ("lost in the '60s"). John Aubrey has been described as an incurable gossip, scatterbrain and general flake, but there was method to his madness. He was in love with history and the events, accomplishments and writings of people who lived before him. Since he saw this being lost, he set out to record everything he knew about important people from reading and talking with knowledgeable people of his time. He made no attempt to organize his writings, leaving that to someone later enthusiast. I love his language ("... she invited him into her bed, set him to work and married him the next day") and the attitudes of his time. Perfect book to dip into when you're in the mood!
8 people found this helpful
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P. Challingsworth
5.0 out of 5 stars History lessons were never as enjoyable!
Reviewed in the United States on April 16, 2007
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I first came across this play when I heard it on the radio (BBC) in England in 1974. I enjoyed it so much I went and saw Roy Dotrice perform it on stage, at around the time this recording was made. An astounding performance which vividly portrays life in 17th Century England. Abounds with remarkably funny anecdotes on people, both famous and unknown, of his (John Aubrey's) time.

A continuing theme is one of "'Twas not so in Queen Elizabeth's time", the complaints of the older generation about the youth of today - whenever today happens to be.

A failing of the recording is that, from time to time, as Roy Dotrice moves about the stage his voice can get quite muffled and faint, due to a shortage of microphones, maybe. Don't make the mistake of thinking this is a dry and boring monologue, it's anything but that.
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Richard H. Zander
5.0 out of 5 stars Why did I wait so long to read this?
Reviewed in the United States on December 7, 2010
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Aubrey is a fun read, and he doesn't tax the attention. Any number of authors mention Aubrey off-handedly as if you should have read him long ago, and maybe memorized sections. The short vignettes of famous, famous persons are illuminating and life-preserving. I recommend this book to anyone with a pretense to, well, pretense or anything else.
8 people found this helpful
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C. Collins
5.0 out of 5 stars A superb book for learning history and appreciating style
Reviewed in the United States on October 9, 2008
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This collection of short narrative portraits of famous and semi-famous people by a recognized scientist and author is among the most interesting reading you'll enjoy. His information is detailed and personal and Aubrey's writing style is a fine pattern for modern readers as well.

I recommend this book without question.
8 people found this helpful
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D. P. Birkett
5.0 out of 5 stars Rambling 17th century gossip
Reviewed in the United States on February 15, 2001
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It's fun reading this collection of digressive informal anecdotes about famous (and some obscure) Englishmen. If you enjoyed "An Instance of the Fingerpost" (where some of thc characters appear) you'd like this. As a primary source for information it gets less reliable the further back it goes. Aubrey was born in 1626 so his accounts of Shakespeare and Elizathans are a generation removed, but he had met Harvey and Penn and had been through the Civil War and the rule of Cromwell.
9 people found this helpful
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Ann B. Tracy
5.0 out of 5 stars Five Stars
Reviewed in the United States on January 30, 2016
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One of the world's most amusing books, and too little known except by 17th c. enthusiasts.
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Lindsay
5.0 out of 5 stars Fascinating
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on June 8, 2017
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A fascinating book which I wanted to read after watching the amazing stage show starring Roy Dotrice.
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Veilleur
4.0 out of 5 stars Portraits de famille
Reviewed in France on October 27, 2011
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Voici un livre étonnant donnant un éclairage particulier sur les personnages populaires de la première moitié du 17ème siècle anglais. John Aubrey a réalisé ces "petites vies" dans le but de garder une trace de ses contemporains. Toutes les notes et écrits à ce sujet n'étaient pas destinés à être publiés et c'est à titre posthume que ces petites miniatures ont connu la consécration. John Aubrey a le don de la concision et le lecteur connaît les principaux traits de caractères de chaque personnage en quelques lignes. C'est d'ailleurs là où Aubrey est le plus efficace car lorsqu'il commence à être plus détaillé, le texte devient pompeux et entre dans un côté "officiel".

Ce livre ne peut se lire comme un roman. Voyons cela comme une série de photographies d'une époque révolue, album d'images que l'on tourne pour revoir un portrait de famille.

John Aubrey a inspiré d'autres écrivains, en particulier Marcel Schwob, qui a écrit "vies imaginaires" sur ce modèle.
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Tony Ellis
3.0 out of 5 stars Three Stars
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on April 12, 2016
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Not quite what I was expecting. Thought it was the stage performance script.
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