Introduction: Writing the Forgotten

Abstract

The Introduction surveys the discourse on remembering and forgetting as it has appeared in memory studies and theories of life writing, and offers new ways of integrating forgetting into the study of memory texts. This is elucidated by carefully chosen examples from the theoretical debate as well as a selection of material from autobiographers, all of which bring us closer to understanding the role of forgetting in memory. The theoretical framework of the study is discussed in detail in an effort to highlight the importance of the forgotten in all writings on the past. A detailed overview of the chapters is also provided.