The
Blurred Line between what is or is not considered “Life Writing” or
Autobiographical in subject matter
“Some fiction writers so heavily write on their own experiences in their works, though
not autobiographies in the strict sense of the term, are correctly perceived and
described as being autobiographical in nature or as thinly disguised
autobiographies.”
In life writing the concept of what is considered fact and fiction, creates difficulty in defining whether a work is truly“autobiographical”. Many works blur this line; for example Walden by Henry David Thoreau, consists of strong autobiographical elements but is not strictly an“autobiography” rather a “hybrid literary form”. In part, writing an autobiography involves “imaginative invention” and “inner development”, with this same creativity perhaps causing this dilemma of fact vs. fiction.
not autobiographies in the strict sense of the term, are correctly perceived and
described as being autobiographical in nature or as thinly disguised
autobiographies.”
In life writing the concept of what is considered fact and fiction, creates difficulty in defining whether a work is truly“autobiographical”. Many works blur this line; for example Walden by Henry David Thoreau, consists of strong autobiographical elements but is not strictly an“autobiography” rather a “hybrid literary form”. In part, writing an autobiography involves “imaginative invention” and “inner development”, with this same creativity perhaps causing this dilemma of fact vs. fiction.