Augustine Birrell

Born near Liverpool in 1850, Augustine Birrell studied at Trinity Hall, Cambridge, trained as a lawyer, and went on to build a reputation both in public life and in literature. He became especially well known for essay collections such as Obiter Dicta and for his light, readable reflections on books, writers, and culture.

Birrell also served as a Liberal member of Parliament and later as Chief Secretary for Ireland from 1907 to 1916. Reference works consistently describe him as both a politician and a man of letters, a combination that helps explain the range of his writing and the wide circle of readers he attracted.

For audiobook listeners, Birrell is best approached as a companionable essayist: intelligent, amused, and deeply at home in the world of books. Even when he is discussing major authors, his tone is often personal and easygoing, which gives his work a charm that carries well in audio.