The Life of Samuel Taylor Coleridge: 1838

James Gillman (1782–1839) was an English surgeon, apothecary, and an intimate friend of the poet Samuel Taylor Coleridge, on whom Gillman's scholarly renown largely rests. With no literary aspirations at the outset of his career, Gillman's entrance into the world of letters came about due to his close personal and professional relationship with Coleridge, whom he cared for in the final eighteen years of the poet's life. Gillman's residence in Highgate, London, became a place of refuge for Coleridge, offering him the medical attention and personal support he needed to continue his work despite his ailing health and opium addiction. It was in this capacity as Coleridge's caretaker and confidant that Gillman was able to gather the intimate knowledge and insight that would later form the core of his biographical account. His seminal work, 'The Life of Samuel Taylor Coleridge' (1838), provides a rich and personal portrayal of one of the major figures of English Romantic poetry. Although not comprehensive in scope, Gillman's biography offers a unique glimpse into Coleridge's personal struggles and intellectual pursuits. In Gillman's retelling, readers encounter not just the public figure of Coleridge, but also the profound humanity of an individual grappling with addiction and creative genius. Gillman's biographical style, while not adhering strictly to rigorous academic standards of later literary scholarship, is noteworthy for its intimate portrayal of Coleridge's character and influence on the Romantic movement. Gillman's work remains a valuable source for understanding the life and times of Samuel Taylor Coleridge.