"In working through the stages of reading, interpretation, and criticism, we move from a submission to textual authority in reading, through a sharing of textual power in interpretation, toward an assertion of power through opposition in criticism. "

                                          -Robert Scholes, Textual Power, Yale University Press, 1985

I believe that it is essential that the reader learn about the auther before one ones their novel.  It definitely helps the reader understand where the author is coming from.  Learning about where the auther was born, where they lived, during what time period did they live in, what major events did this author go throught defines the authors style.  And from that we will be able to understand the author a little bit better.  I'm not saying that we should find out every little detail about the authors life, but to read a little biography, to get the jist of the author we'll be able to figure out what the author's message in their novels is.  Only then can we criticise the author and state our opinions.  Without doing so, we make have no argument to back up our criticism which will make us look ignorant.  This concept not only applies to english but to life as well.  It sounds cliche but we should not judge a person by the way they look without getting to know the person.  There's a little lesson of life for you guys. :-)