Cleopatra by Stacy Schiff

I heard Stacy Schiff speak here last night.  She is a dynamic speaker - full of energy and intelligence.  She mostly talked about the process of writing a biography - selecting a subject - research - writing.  Here are a few tips:

• Interview oldest living people first
• Don't forget background research - for Cleopatra, she had to do background on the Roman writers who were her sources, also on typical court life & attire of the day.
• Use the phone book - call experts to explain background detail.

She gave us a few biographies that she likes:  John Adams by McCullough, Alexander Hamilton by Chernow, several by Nancy Mitford - Sun King, Madame de Pompadour.  Charmed Circle by Mellow about Gertrude Stein & company in Paris.  And many more.