] I’m becoming increasingly annoyed with this biography. (Park Honan's) However, that is another topic altogether.

I recognise that annoyance with Park Honan's peculiar way of writing.
It's his style. He picks up a lot of facts and small details and then by putting them together like a puzzle, he is able to describe scenes as if he had been there.
But of course it's only a deduction of what is likely to have happened. And I can't say he's wrong. But he is slightly irritating because of the assured way he is saying it. And often you wonder where in the world has he got it from? Such as Jane's brother "Edward had short legs". (If Edward had short legs,then the painting of him must be very flattering indeed).
Or about school in Reading "..In this gothic chamber,a fat woman with a peg leg stomped out from behind a cloth screen near a mantlepiece and with sweaty affection and excited chit-chat greeted her girls."
That's funny, isn't it.
But if you can stand this style I think he's still worth reading for all his detail.

Leif Gn