Imaginative truth: biographical narratives inspired by the lives of six lone older women with critical commentary

Abstract

This thesis comprises both creative and critical work. Imaginative Truth is a collection of biographical narratives in short story form inspired by the lives of six lone older women. Arranged chronologically per life depicted, every story and the accompanying transcript or manuscript excerpt offers a glimpse of a particular moment from each woman’s life, written in a manner necessary to and reflective of the life being illuminated. The critical commentary documents the need for effective literary representations of older people, the problem of representation especially of lone older women and the value of life story narratives. It covers ethical issues relating to the representation of real people in narrative form and locates examples of best practice from both life writing critics and practitioners. The commentary includes a discussion of the fact/fiction dichotomy in life writing, providing case studies of works that effectively negotiate such boundaries and positing historical fiction theory and accounts of praxis as useful resources for life writers working at the intersection of fiction and lived experience. This thesis aims to test and explore the notion of biographical truth and the boundary between fact and fiction.