Biographia Literaria

Samuel Taylor Coleridge's Biographia Literaria is part memoir, part philosophical treatise and part practical criticism. It ranges from Coleridge's schooling and early reading to his voyage to Germany, from the theory of association to the nature of imagination, and from a sharp attack on a fashionable tragedy to a searching assessment of William Wordsworth's poetry. At its heart is Coleridge's distinction between imagination and fancy, an idea that has shaped how readers think about creativity and the mind.

The book is for anyone interested in Romantic poetry, the history of criticism, or the workings of a restless intellect. It rewards slow, attentive reading, offering both demanding ideas and vivid glimpses of Coleridge's life and times.

This edition contains the complete text of Biographia Literaria, including all twenty-four chapters, Satyrane's Letters and Coleridge's own footnotes. It also includes a new introduction, a guide to key ideas, a summary of the book, a discussion of its major themes, a glossary of names and terms, and questions for discussion.