interpretative biography

Interpretative biography is a subjective form of life writing that aims to present a subject's life as vividly as possible by molding sources into a dramatic narrative. While not inventing material, this genre freely manipulates and interprets information, sometimes bordering on fictionalization. Authors like Catherine Drinker Bowen, Frank Harris, and Hesketh Pearson are noted for their use of this approach, where insights derived from research are used to "re-create" dialogue and scenes, often based on indirect sources like letters or diaries. This contrasts with more conservative biographical methods that limit interpretation and avoid fictionalizing elements.1