Isaac Disraeli

Born in 1766, Isaac D'Israeli was an English writer and man of letters who built his reputation through essays, anecdotes, literary criticism, and historical writing. He published widely across his life, but he is especially remembered for Curiosities of Literature, a book that gathered remarkable stories and reflections from the world of books and authors and found a large readership.

He wrote in an engaging, conversational way that made literary history feel vivid and personal. Other well-known works include An Essay on the Literary Character, Calamities of Authors, and Quarrels of Authors, all of which show his fascination with the lives, rivalries, and misfortunes of writers.

Later in life he also turned to history, producing a multi-volume study of Charles I that drew on original documents and earned him recognition at Oxford. He died in 1848, leaving behind a body of work that still appeals to readers who enjoy the byways of literary culture and the human stories behind famous books.