“The Style of Autobiography”: Deviation, Duality-Togetherness and Confessions

Abstract

In his article “The Style of Autobiography,” Jean Starobinski starts with a discussion on genre, framing aspects of autobiography, before going beyond description to focus on change in autobiography. The introduction of the concept of “style as deviation” adds a propositional dimension to his article. By positioning Jean-Jacques Rousseau in a historical line with Saint Augustine, Starobinski marks a turning point in autobiography. This article looks closely at the section titled “The Style of Autobiography” to convey Starobinski's framework for the genre and reveal the significance of the place from which the genre emerged.