An autobiography is a self written account of one's own life, providing a personal narrative that reflects on the author's experiences, memories and insights, allowing the writer to convey their own distinctive viewpoint and lived experience to readers.
Facts
Place of OriginAntiquity, with the practice of writing about one's own life traceable to Saint Augustine's Confessions around 400 AD; the term autobiography itself was first used in 1797. 1 Notable ExampleSaint Augustine's Confessions (c. 400), regarded as one of the first Western autobiographies. 1 Defining TraitA self-written account of one's own life: a personal narrative reflecting on the author's own experiences, memories and insights, distinguished from biography by being based on the author's own memory and interpretation of events. 1 Connections
Encompasses Form
Form Of Genre
Sources
1. Autobiography (Wikipedia)
Wikimedia FoundationLead paragraph, first sentence
An autobiography, sometimes informally called an autobio, is a self-written account of one's own life, providing a personal narrative that reflects on the author's experiences, memories, and insights.
Second paragraph, on Saint Augustine's Confessions
Early examples include Saint Augustine's Confessions (c. 400), which is considered one of the first Western autobiographies.
Second paragraph, on the term's 1797 first use
The term "autobiography" was first used in 1797, but the practice of writing about one's life dates back to antiquity.
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