While the novelist has absolute freedom to follow his artistic instinct and intelligence, the biographer is fettered by the subject-matter with which he proposes to deal.

The former may hopefully pursue an ideal, the latter must rest satisfied with a compromise between the desirable and the necessary.

No doubt, it is possible to thoroughly digest all the requisite material, and then present it in a perfect, beautiful form.
But this can only be done at a terrible loss, at a sacrifice of truth and trustworthiness.

My guiding principle has been to place before the reader the facts collected by me as well as the conclusions at which I arrived.

This will enable him to see the subject in all its bearings, with all its pros and cons, and to draw his own conclusions, should mine not obtain his approval.