Biographical References
The following is a list of the most important books about George Borrow's life and writings, in order of publication.
William A. Dutt, George Borrow in East Anglia (David Nutt, 1896). The first attempt to collect the published anecdotes about GB, but limited mainly to his connections with East Anglia so largely ignoring his time with the Bible Society. -
William I. Knapp, Life, Writings, and Correspondence of George Borrow (John Murray, 1899, two vols). Internet Archive. The first major biography of Borrow, upon which all subsequent biographies depend, despite its shortcomings: Knapp was convinced that Lavengro was a completely true story.
R A J Walling, George Borrow: The Man and His Work (Cassell, 1908). Internet Archive. Project Gutenberg. The most readable of the early biographies. Walling sees Borrow as essentially a 'Celtic' writer, because of his Cornish roots.
Herbert Jenkins, The Life of George Borrow, Compiled from Unpublished Official Documents, His Works, Correspondence, etc. (John Murray, 1912). Internet Archive. Project Gutenberg. The most complete early biography, benefitting from access to new material. Reprinted several times.
Clement King Shorter, George Borrow and His Circle (Hodder & Stoughton, 1913). Internet Archive. Project Gutenberg. Provides many details about people who met and influenced Borrow. Shorter also edited the 16-volume 'Norwich Edition' complete works of George Borrow. A Souvenir of the George Borrow Celebration, 1913, by James Hooper (Jarrold and Sons, Norwich, 1913). A short monograph but with many useful anecdotes about Borrow in Norwich.
R Thurston Hopkins, George Borrow, Lord of the Open Road (Jarrolds, 1922). Internet Archive. More of a hagiography than a biography, though it does contain several new anecdotes about Borrow in Norfolk. Seton Dearden, The Gypsy Gentleman: A Study of George Borrow (John Murray, 1939). One of the best studies of Borrow, foregrounding his unusual psychological make-up. Extremely rare - snap it up if you see a copy!
Eileen Bigland, In the Steps of George Borrow (Rich & Cowan, 1951). Written in a popular style, Bigland's biography of Borrow is enlivened by her account of her own travels around Spain and Britain in his footsteps.
Michael Collie, George Borrow: Eccentric (Cambridge University Press, 1982). The first truly academic work on Borrow for 50 years, based on meticulous research and emphasising the many contradictions in Borrow’s character.
David Williams, A World of His Own: The Double Life of George Borrow (Oxford University Press, 1982). A very readable book, with many anecdotes culled from previous biographies.
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