Member-only story
Stendhal
PROLOGUE
What is narrativity all about when it comes to memoirs and anti-memoirs? In the case of the anti-memoir, lived experience is slightly or seriously fictionalized. Yet, does that process of fictionalization not represent a higher order of truth-telling? The back catalogue of such works is immense and pre-dates any normative conventions concerning literary and/or authorial rights and privileges. One great question to ponder when reading such works is what the intentions of the so-called author might be in constructing such “tales.” Is it self-glorification? Perhaps. But only at times. Is it self-analysis? Yes. But only in the sense that self-reflexion is one path out of what life often presents as stalemates. Which version of the self writes such works? Which version of Augustine wrote his confessions? Which version of Rousseau wrote his confessions? Which version of Jung wrote The Red Book?
What becomes obvious, if one is to venture into such ventures, is that the normative self is not at play. In the case of self-aggrandizement, yes, that normative self has been displaced by the egoist (not egotist). Life revolves around the pole of one’s own (in)significance when one is in pursuit of glory (fame, money, power, etc.). Perhaps this explains the plethora of political memoirs littering bookstore shelves today, written by egoists en route to office and following, often enough, exit from office —…
