Memoir
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A Memoir is a personal narrative that is a literary non-fiction document about moments or events, both public and private, that took place in the author's life.
- Context:
- It can (typically) provide a detailed recount of personal experiences and insights.
- It can (often) focus on specific moments rather than the entire life of the author.
- It can range from deeply personal reflections to broader social and historical commentary.
- It can serve as a form of therapeutic expression for the author.
- It can offer readers a unique perspective on historical or cultural events through the lens of personal experience.
- It can be written by both public figures and ordinary individuals with compelling stories.
- It can cover topics like family, relationships, career, personal growth, and societal issues.
- It can employ narrative structure and literary techniques to engage readers and convey emotions.
- It can inspire, educate, and evoke empathy from readers.
- It can contribute to the broader genre of autobiographical writing and personal storytelling.
- ...
- Example(s):
- "The Disaster Artist" Memoir (2013).
- (Bourdain, 2000) ⇒ "Kitchen Confidential: Adventures in the Culinary Underbelly", which provides a behind-the-scenes look at the culinary industry through personal anecdotes and experiences.
- (Satrapi, 2000) ⇒ "Persepolis" by Marjane Satrapi, illustrating her youth in Iran during and after the Islamic Revolution.
- (Mandela, 1994) ⇒ "Long Walk to Freedom", chronicling the life of South African anti-apartheid revolutionary and former President Nelson Mandela.
- (Mernissi, 1994) ⇒ "Dreams of Trespass: Tales of a Harem Girlhood", a memoir by Moroccan feminist writer Fatima Mernissi, recounting her childhood in a domestic harem in 1940s Morocco.
- (Woolf, 1976) ⇒ "Moments of Being" by Virginia Woolf offers insight into her early experiences through a series of vivid and personal sketches.
- (Angelou, 1969) ⇒ "I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings" by Maya Angelou, a deep and poetic reflection on her childhood and early adult experiences.
- (Keller, 1903) ⇒ "The Story of My Life" by Helen Keller, which describes her journey from childhood through becoming an influential advocate for disability rights.
- (Neruda, 1974) ⇒ "Memoirs", a reflection on the life and career of the Chilean poet and diplomat Pablo Neruda, set against the backdrop of significant historical events.
- (Wiesel, 1958) ⇒ "Night", a harrowing account of the author's experiences in Nazi concentration camps during the Holocaust.
- (Nabokov, 1947) ⇒ "Speak, Memory", an autobiographical memoir by Russian-American novelist Vladimir Nabokov, tracing his life from his aristocratic childhood in pre-revolutionary Russia to his emigration to the United States.
- (Markham, 1942) ⇒ "West with the Night" by Beryl Markham, which recounts her experiences as a pioneering female pilot in Africa.
- (Natsume, 1906) ⇒ "Botchan", a semi-autobiographical novel by Japanese author Natsume Sōseki, which humorously depicts the experiences of a young teacher in rural Japan during the Meiji era.
- (Xun, 1927) ⇒ "Dawn Blossoms Plucked at Dusk", a collection of autobiographical essays by the renowned Chinese writer Lu Xun, reflecting on his life and the sociopolitical climate of early 20th-century China.
- (Tolstoy, 1884) ⇒ "A Confession", which explores the author's existential crisis and search for meaning in 19th-century Russia.
- ...
- Counter-Example(s):
- Autobiographys, which cover the broader scope of the author's entire life rather than focusing on specific personal stories or insights.
- Biographys, which are written about another person's life by a third-party author, lacking the first-person perspective of a memoir.
- Fictional Novels, which are works of imagination and do not necessarily reflect the author's real-life experiences.
- Journalism pieces, which aim to report facts and events objectively, without the personal and introspective nature of memoirs.
See: Autobiography, Personal Essay, Creative Nonfiction, Life Writing.
- ...
- Example(s):
- (Bourdain, 2000) ⇒ “Kitchen Confidential: Adventures in the Culinary Underbelly.”, which provides a behind-the-scenes look at the culinary industry through personal anecdotes and experiences.
- * (Tolstoy, 1884) ⇒ “A Confession", which explores the author's existential crisis and search for meaning.
- ...
- Counter-Example(s):
- Autobiographys, which cover the broader scope of the author's entire life rather than focusing on specific personal stories or insights.
- ...
- See: Biography.
References
2013
- http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Memoir
- Memoir (from French: mémoire: memoria, meaning memory or reminiscence), is a literary nonfiction genre. More specifically, it is a collection of memories that an individual writes about moments or events, both public or private that took place in the author's life. The assertions made in the work are understood to be factual. While memoir has historically been defined as a subcategory of autobiography since the late 20th century, the genre is differentiated in form, presenting a narrowed focus. Like most autobiographies, memoirs are written from the first-person point of view. An autobiography tells the story of a life, while memoir tells a story from a life, such as touchstone events and turning points from the author's life. The author of a memoir may be referred to as a memoirist.
2000
- (Bourdain, 2000) ⇒ Anthony Bourdain. (2000). “Kitchen Confidential: Adventures in the Culinary Underbelly.” Bloomsbury Publishing. ISBN:0-7475-5072-7