Encyclopedia of Life Writing

This comprehensive reference work provides an essential guide to the vast and varied field of life writing, offering in-depth entries on everything from traditional autobiography and memoir to diaries, letters, and digital self-documentation. Edited by Margaretta Jolly, the encyclopedia serves as a foundational academic text, mapping the historical development, critical theories, and diverse forms of personal narrative with scholarly precision.

What distinguishes this volume is its ambitious scope, connecting canonical literary works with marginalized and everyday voices to present a truly global perspective on the act of writing a life. Students and scholars of literature, history, and cultural studies will find it an indispensable resource for understanding how personal storytelling shapes both individual identity and collective memory. Its systematic exploration of the genre makes it a critical touchstone for anyone seeking to grasp the profound human impulse to document existence.