"This volume provides a wide-ranging introduction to the study of autobiography." "In examining the historical tradition of the genre, Linda Anderson ranges across canonical and non-canonical texts and looks closely at twentieth-century women's writing, black and postcolonial writing. She explores the ideological assumptions about the nature of the self that underlie autobiographical writing, particularly in the light of recent feminist, psychoanalytic and poststructuralist criticism. As well as providing a comprehensive introduction to the forms and uses of the genre, this volume introduces the crucial questions of identity, selfhood, language and writing which lie at the heart of the related critical investigations." "This comprehensive and challenging guide is the ideal starting-point for all readers interested in autobiography."--BOOK JACKET.