Memoirs are a wonderful occasion to tell the descendants about the true events of their time. This is an analysis of self, identifying the cause-effect relationships of life. The emotional richness of the narrative will help to imbue the spirit of the era, to understand the essence of the author’s thoughts. Significant life experience makes memoirs an invaluable example for future generations.
Origin of the word
The word "memoirs" comes from French memoires, which translates as "memories." This word first appears in 1896. The Encyclopedic Dictionary by F. A. Brockhaus and I. E. Efron talks about the genres of memoir literature.
Memoirs are non- fiction. They are characterized by narration from the first person - a participant or witness of the described events. Memoirs are a kind of confessional prose. They convey the mood of the era, the worldview of people, the culture of the country. They are able to talk about the events of that time, which the author sees them.
The autobiographical confession of a person carries an estimated perception of his time: the people around them, their status and habits, mentality and thoughts. Memoirs can be attributed to the biography, historical prose, essay. But documentary, realism brings memoirs closer to personal diaries, letters, and notes.
What are memoirs?
Memoirs are notes of a real person. His subjective perception of facts, events, relationships, people. Memoirs have always been a source for recreating the historical picture of a particular era.
In such literary confessions, in addition to personal relationships, one can read about the aesthetic, spiritual preferences of the people of that time. It is precisely with their subjective opinion that memoirs differ from historical chronicles. They are interesting in how a particular person perceives the surrounding reality. But this sometimes interferes with the perception of time. A person's evaluative perception can be biased. Therefore, the personality of the author, his education, mentality is so important for literary confession .
With the advent of writing, it was interesting for a person to write down his thoughts, take notes on events. Memoirs were formed as a genre in the 16th – 17th centuries, when the realization of the uniqueness of each human person came. The value of author’s thought was the impetus for writing a literary confession. People through their personal opinions conveyed the scent of time.
Who wrote the memoirs?
Of particular value are the memoirs of generals, famous politicians. They help reproduce the arena of battles or political conflicts. Court life, diplomatic intrigues, religious scandals are described in essays by Margarita de Valois, Duke de Rogan, Larochefoucault, Louis de Conde. Even the executioners wrote memoirs in the 16th century.
In the Napoleonic era, almost all generals and those close to the emperor left behind interesting literary notes.
Russian memoirs begin their narrative from the time of troubles. They represent the usual chronology of events. Under Peter I, a massive surge in documentary notes caused a confrontation between Peter and Princess Sophia. Later military campaigns, the capture of cities are described by contemporaries of the king.
Further, the genre is gaining momentum. In Russia, the rule of each of the kings and queens is described by their close associates and relatives.
Under Catherine II, memoirs gained a clear design. They write the customs of the times, political differences, social characteristics are given.
In our time, literary confession has become an important part of famous people. Actors, military, politicians, diplomats, doctors, mediums are trying to leave a mark in literary work. G. Ford, A. Christie, D. Rockefeller, T. Okunevskaya, M. Gorbachev, G. Vishnevskaya, M. Vladi - a description of life, events, interesting meetings and thoughts can incorporate the genre of memoirs.
Why do they write memoirs?
The meaning of the word "memoirs" implies reasoning, memories of a particular person. Thinking about their life, people tend to take stock, try to justify themselves or regret their actions. In old age, most often comes the desire to write about your life, share your mistakes and victories with the new generation.
For famous people, a literary confession is an occasion to talk about fascinating or significant events, fateful meetings. Someone seeks to describe their difficult path, someone is trying to make excuses, someone is trying to make money for a comfortable old age.
Most often, memoirs are written in order to relive your youth, to recall its important milestones, funny or sad moments.