The relationship between biography and literature is multifaceted, manifesting in both scholarly analysis and fictional forms. Literary biography explores individuals' lives by merging historical facts with narrative conventions, often integrating discussions of their creative works—a complex balance that writers like Kafka sometimes actively resisted. Noted examples include Richard Ellmann's celebrated biography of James Joyce. In contrast, biographical fiction reimagines historical figures' lives within a fictional narrative, prioritizing a compelling story over strict factual accuracy, as seen in works like Gore Vidal's Lincoln or Michael Cunningham's The Hours. This genre, which gained prominence in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, allows for creative interpretations of real lives, often blending historical research with fictional elements.