Mexican Autobiography an Essay and Annotated Bibliography
750 HISPANIA 77 DECEMBER 1994 Mexican Autobiography: An Essay and Annotated Bibliography Richard D. Woods Trinity University Abstract: The introductory essay traces tendencies in Mexican autobiography and outlines a variety of subgenres, focusing mainly on lifewritings since 1980. The annotated bibliography complements the author's previous bibliography of the genre up to 1980, since continuums and contrasts of the two large periods, 1492- 1979 and 1980-1993, illuminate the characteristics of this neglected genre. The bibliography of 347 entries denotes a growing field of endeavor in Mexican writing that is in need of critical attention and recognition. Key Words: autobiographical novel, autobiography proper, bibliography, diaries, journals, letters, memoirs, Mexican Americans, Mexico, oral autobiography, testimony, women's writing Mexican autobiography exists. It In spite of the large number of autobiog- may seem strange, but the fact raphies noted, the genre has received little that the substantial body of recognition from Mexican scholars and spo- lifewritings in that country has simply not radic attention in the U.S. An exception, received attention makes such a declaration Sylvia Molloy's At Face Value.- Autobio- necessary. While the Mexican novel, short graphical Writing in Spanish America story, drama, poetry and essay find an easy (1991), signals the scholarly world to some forum, this is not true for autobiography. classical examples, but since the book cov- Without broaching all the possible reasons ers a wide geographical area, the focus on for the neglect, one might venture to say Mexico is understandably limited to its best that the disregarding of a form so pervasive known autobiographer, Jose Vasconcelos.
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