Why, and in what ways, did late medieval and early modern English people write about themselves, and what was their understanding of how
selves
were made and discussed? This collection considers the many ways in which autobiographical selves emerged from the late medieval period through the seventeenth century, with the aim of understanding the interaction between those individuals’ lives and their worlds, the ways in which they could be recorded, and the contexts in which they are read. Integrating textual analysis and critical reflection, these studies offer reflections on the culture of early modern England and the individuals whose lives found all manner of textual expressions. This collection contributes significantly to a growing scholarly and critical concern with writings about the self, both early modern and contemporary. It will be invaluable to academic scholars and to general readers with an interest in the modes and practices of autobiographical writing.