Encyclopedia of Life Writing

The Encyclopedia of Life Writing, edited by Margaretta Jolly and first published by Fitzroy Dearborn in 2001, emerged as a definitive reference work during a period of burgeoning academic interest in life writing as a distinct interdisciplinary field. It was conceived to provide a comprehensive mapping of autobiographical, biographical, and personal narrative traditions across global cultures and historical periods, bridging the gap between literary studies, history, and sociology.

Margaretta Jolly, a noted scholar of life writing and oral history, curated the volume to capture the diverse forms of self-representation, from traditional memoirs and diaries to emerging digital and performative modes. The design of the encyclopedia reflects its ambitious scope, organizing hundreds of entries by scholars into a structured format that prioritizes clarity and accessibility. Upon its release, it was well-received by the academic community for its rigorous documentation and its role in legitimizing life writing as a serious subject of intellectual inquiry.