Abstract
Revered by some artists and scholars as the origin of ‘experiential truth’ and contested by others in their zealous custodianship of the factual record, testimony occupies an awkward place in historiography. The debate over the authority of the witness is decidedly pronounced in the field of Holocaust studies, in which considerable emphasis is placed on the value of witness accounts as a conduit of historical knowledge. This chapter interrogates the utility of the concept of ‘truth’ in the appraisal of literary Holocaust testimonies. Drawing on Peter Lamarque’s concepts of ‘thought-theory’ and ‘narrative opacity’, the chapter offers an alternative reading of the value of testimony that is not based on dubious truth-claims but recognises nevertheless the unique contribution of testimony to discourse on the Holocaust.
Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
