Abstract
This paper examines the notion of the “true” narrative, using the example of Doris Lessing in order to explore some of the truth criteria of contemporary autobiography. Autobiography is construed here as a genre with its own evolving set of norms and codes. Firmly committed to “telling the truth” in her writing, Lessing has consistently problematized the actual telling of the truth. Textual analysis of her autobiography Under My Skin shows that she appeals to three truth criteria besides factuality: wisdom, psychoanalysis, and transgressiveness. I argue that these criteria reflect traditional or contemporary generic norms.
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