A provocative and thought-provoking study of the psychological and social challenges faced by creative artists, this book examines the lives and works of some of the greatest writers and thinkers of modern times, from Byron and Shelley to Nietzsche and Freud. Madden's insights into the nature of genius and the role of individuality in culture make this a must-read for anyone interested in the arts and the human psyche.This work has been selected by scholars as being culturally important, and is part of the knowledge base of civilization as we know it.This work is in the "public domain in the United States of America, and possibly other nations. Within the United States, you may freely copy and distribute this work, as no entity (individual or corporate) has a copyright on the body of the work.Scholars believe, and we concur, that this work is important enough to be preserved, reproduced, and made generally available to the public. We appreciate your support of the preservation process, and thank you for being an important part of keeping this knowledge alive and relevant.