The best autobiographical books: list and reviews

2024 Author: Leah Sherlock | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-17 05:25

Year by year it is more and more difficult for a person to navigate in the past. Own memories, if they are not fixed in diaries and surviving letters, become cloudy and vague, since even exact dates are erased from memory. Faces are forgotten, old events are interpreted differently. But human life is a unique thing, it is inimitable and unlike the others. That is why autobiographical books are so interesting at all times: memoirs, letters, diaries. Even if an ordinary person writes about his past, modern people will certainly be surprised and touched by the realities of everyday life, the general social background, and the way of thinking. What can we say about the notes of outstanding, famous, bright, talented? It is these autobiographical books that will be discussed in this article.

Memoirs as a genre

Not only historical phenomena are indicated in the memoirs as the main and memorable events. Here, in a nostalgic mood, usually all life,in all its little things, it would seem - not the essence of the important, is gradually revealed from page to page: autobiographical books bring the reader both the lessons taught by life with their sorrows, joys, everyday wisdom, and a huge number of little things that revive past eras in the imagination with amazing liveliness. The genre arose in our country during the educational activities of Catherine the Great.

At first, autobiographical books looked like annals with their rather dry chronicles, then, acquiring details, the narration acquired features of artistry, sometimes very high. The memoirs of Valentin Kataev, such as "My Diamond Crown", written in prose, are living poetry, closely connecting us with the private and non-private lives of the beautiful Mayakovsky, Yesenin, Olesha, Ilf and Petrov, as well as many other contemporaries of the writer. The language of the book is truly a miracle, and this helps to make the testimony of folk idols even more vivid.

Popularity of the genre

The eighteenth century left us with more than forty works as evidence of how the genre of autobiography was gaining popularity. Of course, these autobiographical books were written for children, for grandchildren, for great-grandchildren - for family use. The publicity of information of this kind was even condemned among secular society, and Christian morality was also fussing about it: there could be no public conversation about oneself. Close relatives, however. most often, they tremblingly kept the memories of their ancestors, and only for this reason many testimonies have survived to our days.days.

What were the goals of autobiographies? First of all, the addressees were the younger generation, in which a desire was brought up to benefit the fatherland, to be smart, to learn from mistakes that were not their own. Autobiographical books for children were filled with love for their family, the desire to nourish young souls with valuable information that will help build a successful life, relying on a ready-made model. Here, the memoirs of Andrei Bolotov from the second half of the eighteenth century are most characteristic, which are interesting to read not only for his descendants. From his memoirs one can see a lot of things characteristic of that time, since the writer tells in sufficient detail and frankly about himself. Autobiographical books are the only place where modernity can draw details long obsolete.

Andrey Bolotov

This man wrote not only his famous "Notes …", which remained the most important work of his life. He spent a wonderful, extremely eventful life, including in the field of literature: he translated a lot from French and German - not only literary texts, but also economic, encyclopedic ones, devoted a lot of time to gardening and therefore especially loved books dedicated to this. He did not participate in coups d'etat and Masonic lodges, but even in autobiographical books for children, writers wrote about themselves quite frankly, Andrei Bolotov did not stand aside, despite all his caution. His friend Grigory Orlov participated in the failed coup, and his long-time master was in the Masonic lodge.friend - Nikolai Novikov.

Andrey Bolotov enjoyed the village life, by no means cloudless, skillfully avoided conflicts, conducted extensive correspondence, published a magazine. In addition, in Bogoroditsk, a magnificent park created by the writer's hands remained in memory of people. He also wrote plays that were staged in his home theater, composed holidays for children with moralizing and fascinating riddles, wrote many compositions for children that strengthen their Orthodox feelings. Fiction in those days was not as authoritative as it is today, the writing profession had not yet been born. But writing “for oneself” was not condemned by society if the essay turned out to be useful. That is why the eighteenth century was the time when the best autobiographical books of celebrities were born: Russian emperors, their entourage, scientists and glorious military prowess. Andrey Bolotov left a huge legacy numbering in hundreds of volumes - more than three hundred and fifty are being studied by specialists in the eighteenth century.

Sergey Aksakov

S. Aksakov and A. Bolotov, whose autobiographical books will immerse the reader in the long-gone world of our ancestors, of course, for many centuries to come. not the only writers who left notes about their own lives for posterity. The author of "The Scarlet Flower" even veiled the events of his books, providing it with exceptionally fine artistry. But the memoir essence of this work shines through in the smallest detail, since the author describes the firstten years of the life of the boy he was, not even the name changed.

The book is called "Childhood of Bagrov-grandson", and this work became a textbook, despite the fact that, as such, there cannot be a plot in memoirs. But how alive is the breath of time - these last ten years of the eighteenth century, how visibly the Russian hinterland rises before us - the distant Orenburg region! Author's memoirs are invariably bright, honest and touching. Such autobiographical books by children's writers cannot be overestimated in their educational value.

Zlatan Ibrahimovic

In 2014, in Russia, from one fan's hands to another, an essay translated from English and Swedish was transferred, which surpassed in popularity all the autobiographical books of football players - "I am Zlatan". A little later, the publishers came out with an official translation, but the fans could not wait, and therefore they re-read all the amateur versions many times.

The author of this book is one of the brightest stars of the football sky, the most productive scorer, the best of the best, who graced the clubs Juventus, Ajax, Milan, Barcelona and Inter with his game. In the game, he was also a philosopher, as it turned out after reading his autobiography. Written with amazing humor, rich literary language, due to which it is interesting to read even by people. very far from football.

Maya Plisetskaya

It's a waste of time trying to rank autobiographical books. Moreover, there are a little less ratings in the world than all memoirs. Each essay is separate. no other life is like it. The book left to the descendants by the great ballerina, who all her life has been a living icon for the people, an idol and an idol, a frontier and milestone of Russian ballet, maximalist, expressive, like an exclamation mark, will surely always take the top line of any rating, in any case - will remain in demand in all times. Many ballerinas have written memoirs. The stories of the beautiful ballerina Tatyana Vecheslova of amazing purity take the reader into the world that Galina Ulanova illuminated with her genius. An excellent book was written by Tatyana Makarova - not only about creative drama, but also revealed extremely secret facts about her time. Many celebrity autobiographical books will invariably immerse us in their magical behind the scenes. But the book "I am Maya Plisetskaya" is special.

The fate of the heroine is unique and eternal, and the reader is only marginally touched by the most significant, memorable, terrible and joyful events in the life of a ballerina. Probably, even the text, if it reflected the fullness of what happened, could kill an unprepared reader. Maya Plisetskaya was not just a person. This was a personality that, in its perseverance in overcoming obstacles, left far behind any iron lady, as well as any of the steel men, crocodiles and heavy tanks. However, her philosophy was extremely simple. Power, talent, and anyanother difference from other people is a test that not everyone can withstand. As if demons attack: these differences cripple and disfigure people, immerse them in vindictiveness and revenge, in squabbles, or in vanity. This is how God-given talent is taken away, drop by drop.

Coco Chanel

Great Mademoiselle lived a great life. There was no simplicity in it at all, although there was poverty and all sorts of hardships. The book is read in one breath, literally excitedly. Apparently, Coco Chanel was not the only talent of a stylist. And it's always a pity when you read a good book that the story has already ended, and then the inner life continues for a long time - there, in another reality that has ceased to be alien. Naturally, in any edition of this work (and there are many reprints) there are a huge number of excellent illustrations. And in the text itself (apparently, the translator of my edition got a very good one) - there are a lot of real gems worthy of the speech of the unforgettable Faina Ranevskaya. For example, such statements by Chanel as “beautiful cannot be uncomfortable” or “love is good only when you are engaged in it” are simply not in the eyebrow, but in the eye. Aptly, clearly, precisely.

This man is not used to looking for a word in his pocket - any immediately in the language, which is typical for exceptional women who have a strong-willed character and the ability to instantly navigate the situation. She came to the world-famous fashion designers from the worst poverty - this should not be forgotten either. publicshe did not indulge opinion completely, on the contrary, she forced each time to change the established postulates, overthrow idols, change the course of reality. The magic of Coco Chanel in the creation of world fashion left an imprint of her genius on the pages of memoirs written by her own hand. It seems that if she wanted to become a writer, then fame would be provided for her.

Yuri Nikulin

The book of the most beautiful comedian of our country "Almost Seriously" has become almost a desktop for many readers, because its optimism is beyond praise. Moreover, a truly therapeutic effect on the reader's body was noticed: the sickest people feel much better, the bad mood disappears, not only a smile appears, but also an appetite. The artist created such a huge number of very different (sometimes extremely serious - to the point of tragedy) roles, he was so deep, in the very heart of Russian cinema, that his memories for the people who love him immensely will forever remain priceless. Is at least one person who saw Nikulin in the circus arena able to forget him? And the wonderful films with his participation are impossible to stop revisiting. This is not only work with Danelia as "Doogie", it is also "Twenty days without war", and "When the trees were big", and "Come to me, Mukhtar!"

In the book, you can meet a completely different person, as if another facet of his personality is revealed, and it is also one of the main ones. Written very interestingly - and about the war, and about the circus, and about the cinema. There is quite a bit about myself - more about others, friends, comrades, actors, directors, and about the good people I met. That's exactly what is missing in the book is Yuri Nikulin. A modest man did not consider it necessary to let the reader into his own private life. And yet - it is read first excitedly, and then all my life from any place and almost by heart. Despite the indescribable modesty, visible in the book and his capacity for work, and his mind, and his nobility. In addition, each chapter begins with a funny scene or anecdote. A lot of lofty, albeit worldly philosophy: good deeds are obtained only by people with a good mood!

Salvador Dali

From the contemplation of the paintings of this artist, the impression remains forever indelible. His autobiographical book "The Diary of a Genius" is no less vividly written. She is just as outrageous, unpredictable and eccentric. Moreover - it is just as brilliant - from the first comma to the last point. Neither his paintings nor his life can be fully unraveled, because even here the real motives for the judgments or actions of the brilliant artist are surrealistically hidden.

His diary presents the reader with information so frank, so shamelessly shocking that sometimes one gets the feeling that it was written by a person suffering from exhibitionism. But at the same time, there is a huge amount of undoubtedly talentedly presented trifles, and this attention to detail shows the readerreally a writer, perhaps with a capital letter. The whole narrative is filled with them, which makes the text exceptionally incomprehensible in places, but literally with every letter - bewitching.

Konstantin Vorobyov

Autobiographical books about the war are presented in huge numbers. After the end of the hostilities, the desire to share the terrible and bitter experience, to leave in the memory of generations of dead comrades, became so aggravated among the front-line soldiers that the Higher Literary Courses were opened at the Literary Institute. "Lieutenant prose" has become a genre. You can name many hundreds of names: Viktor Nekrasov, Yuri Bondarev, Nikolai Dvortsov and many, many other excellent writers who left us living evidence of the great feat of the USSR in the Great Patriotic War, but more here will be told about Konstantin Vorobyov and his heavy, terrible, inexorable book "It's us, Lord…".

Concentration camp. Hell, grinding human lives, killing almost all human beings still alive. These memoirs were written in a partisan detachment in 1943, when he managed to escape from fascist captivity. Presenting himself with a different name, which most often happens in artistic memoirs, the writer nevertheless narrated about himself. Autobiographical books have never contained such an indescribable, such a stunning truth. Reality is conveyed frighteningly truthfully, it is immediately determined that the text is autobiographical to the last detail. Even the inhuman suffering of prisoners, often maddened by torture, is conveyedas if casually, without the slightest pathos, as if the author is talking about what is depicted in the picture that stands before his eyes. The book is really terrible - precisely because of its truth about the Nazis, about the prisoners, about the war itself.