Biographies have always captured the special interest of readers. In no other form of conveying historical knowledge do the general and the specific, the societal and the individual come together in such a direct way. While historical overviews typically give little space to the lives and works of significant figures, biographies highlight the unique aspects without neglecting the larger historical events that make the specifics of individual achievements stand out. Historical processes gain clarity and vividness to the extent that their representation is stripped of abstract form. Biographies, regardless of their subjects, can least afford to do without concrete material. Much thought has been given to life descriptions throughout history. Both authors and scholars have expressed their views on this topic.