Autobiographical novel

An autobiographical novel is a novel based on the life of the author. The literary technique is distinguished from an autobiography or memoir by the stipulation of being fiction. A further distancing from real events is sometimes called a semi-autobiographical novel. Of course all authors transform the materials of their lives into art, but these novels purport to tell in novel form the author's own story.

Related Topics:
Novel - Literary technique - Autobiography - Memoir

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Usually, the author and other characters are given different names. While the events of the author's life are recounted, there is no pretense of neutrality or even truth. The life may be reported the way the author wishes it has been, with enemies more clearly loathsome and triumphs more complete than perhaps they were in real life.

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Many first novels, as well as novels about intense, private experiences such as war, family conflict, or sex, are written as autobiographical novels.

Related Topics:
War - Family - Sex

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Novels, such as Huckleberry Finn, which purport to tell the life of the narrator, are not generally considered autobiographical novels.

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