A History of Autofiction Cognitive and Cultural Work from 18th-Century England to Contemporary Global Anglophone Litera

Alexandra Effe, "A History of Autofiction: Cognitive and Cultural Work from 18th-Century England to Contemporary Global Anglophone Litera"
English | ISBN: 1350539570 | 2025 | 392 pages | PDF | 3 MB
Mapping the largely neglected history of autofictional literature, and describing developments against socio-historical changes, cultural trends, and philosophical-psychological discussions around self and mind, this book both explores and historicizes autofiction's contemporary boom. Beginning with the genre's emergence in 18th-century England against changes in publishing culture and author concept, and then tracing forms and functions of autofictional literature up to the contemporary moment, A History of Autofiction highlights why select narrative strategies are abandoned, transformed, or repurposed; which forms, affordances, and effects of autofictional modes are persistent; and which were particular to a given period. With focus on salient authors and texts from anglophone autofiction around the world, and shining spotlights on insightful socio-historical and biographical contexts, Alexandra Effe foregrounds autofictional elements of works not previously considered for these dimensions and offers fresh perspectives on a range of canonical autofictional texts.