Writing About Lives: Memoirs and Biographies

Memoirs and Biographies are both forms of life writing. As such, they have much in common. But the two non-fictional narrative sub-forms tend to present special difficulties. In this talk Professor Kirschke plans to discuss some of the challenges and rewards in writing and perusing each of these of each of these literary genres. Professor Kirschke plans to illustrate many of his points by presenting examples from his own work and that of other authors of other biographies and memoirs.

James Kirschke grew up in South Philadelphia. He earned his bachelors degree from LaSalle College, and his masters and Ph.D. in English at Temple University. Professor Kirschke teaches courses in English Composition and Non-Fictional Narration, American Literature and History at Villanova University since 1977. He also is a visiting lecturer at Vanderbilt University, Rowan University and Royal Holloway College, University of London (2009-2010).

Dr. Kirschke is the author of Gouverneur Morris (1752-1816): Author, Statesman and Man of the World, Henry James and Impressionism, Not Going Home Alone: a Marine’s Story, and of a forth coming book, Atlantic Revolutionaries.

In addition to publishing, Professor Kirschke has served on the Executive Board of the Society for 18th Century American Studies (1991-2000), an advisor to American National Biography (1999) and the Oxford Dictionary of National Biography (2004). Professor Kirschke was also an editor for the Journal of Modern Literature from 1970 to 1979.