A memoir is a nonfiction narrative written from the author's personal perspective, focusing on a specific part or period of their life rather than their entire life story. Unlike an autobiography, which covers a person's whole life chronologically and emphasizes factual accuracy, a memoir zooms in on particular events, experiences, or themes that hold significant emotional or personal meaning to the author
. Memoirs emphasize the author's feelings, emotions, and subjective reflections, often revealing intimate details and insights gained from those experiences. While memoirs are expected to be truthful, authors may occasionally embellish details to enhance storytelling. The genre satisfies the human desire to both be known and to understand others by sharing personal memories and interpretations of life events
. In summary, a memoir is:
- A nonfiction work based on the author's memories.
- Focused on a specific time, event, or theme in the author's life.
- Written in the first person, emphasizing emotional truth and personal perspective.
- Different from autobiography, which covers the author's entire life more factually
