American autobiography [electronic resource] /
Rachael McLennan.
- Edinburgh : Edinburgh University Press, c2013.
- vi, 161 p.
- BAAS paperbacks .
Includes bibliographical references (p. 152-158) and index.
Introduction: American autobiography -- Part 1: Exemplary subjects. Spiritual, secular and enslaved selves ; (Un)Representative selves. -- Part 2: Contemporary subjects. Relating ethics to genre ; Gender, illness and autobiography.
"Introduction to the major forms of autobiographical writing in America and important current developments in autobiography studies discusses both 'canonised' texts and those from contemporary writers. Taking a broadly chronological approach, the history of American autobiography is explored including the social and cultural factors that might account for the importance of autobiography in American culture. Then post-1970 autobiographies are examined, taking into account the development in poststructuralism from this time that affected notions of the subject who could write, and conceptions of truth, identity and reference."--Publisher's website.
Electronic reproduction. Ann Arbor, MI : ProQuest, 2015. Available via World Wide Web. Access may be limited to ProQuest affiliated libraries.
American literature--History and criticism. Autobiography. Biography as a literary form.