How can a biographer write about a person when important records are missing?

When a biographer faces missing records, there is no established method to overcome the lack of evidence, as it is often impossible to verify written sources or cross-examine witnesses. However, the quality of a biography often depends on the biographer's ingenuity in handling these gaps.1

Biographers can navigate these challenges by providing context about the subject's era, which can cast light on the individual's life. Successful examples include James Boswell, who, despite having little information on Samuel Johnson’s early years, managed to convey a sense of a life unfolding without inventing facts or deceiving the reader. Similarly, A.J.A. Symons demonstrated masterful reconstruction in his work on Frederick William Rolfe.1

Ultimately, the biographer’s primary responsibility is to maintain integrity by rigorously testing the authenticity of all available materials. It is ethically imperative that biographers avoid inventing information or falsifying the record, even when faced with significant gaps in documentation.1