An introduction to the major forms of autobiographical writing in America and important developments in autobiography studies that discusses both 'canonised' texts and those from contemporary writers. It includes study of the Puritan autobiography, the slave narrative, political texts, photography in autobiography, and illness/ disability memoirs.
The book delves into the evolving portrayals of Anne Frank in American literature and culture over the past fifty years, highlighting how these representations mirror shifting American attitudes towards the Holocaust. It analyzes various artistic interpretations and texts that reference Anne Frank, revealing the broader implications of her legacy in contemporary society and the ways her story has been utilized to address themes of memory, trauma, and resilience.