Memoir

mem·oir
ˈmemˌwär,-ˌwôr/
1. a historical account or biography written from personal knowledge or special sources.

I recently read an excerpt from Angelica Huston's memoir 'A Story Lately Told' in Vanity Fair and it had me hooked.  Then I saw this article in the New York Times and it solidified my interest.  I think this will go on my Christmas list.

Biographies and autobiographies provide fascinating insight into the variety of lives lead by interesting people.  Is it the accident of birth that leads to fame or fortune?  Or brilliance, hard work and timing?  How large of a role does personality play?  Is it the era in which someone lives - the surrounding world circumstances that effectively causes some people to rise to the occasion leaving a remarkable legacy?

Robert Massie's biography of Catherine the Great is another wonderful book that leads the reader through the twists and turns of a fascinating life.  The transformation of Catherine from young teenage bride living with her domineering mother in a new country, subject to the mercy of her mother-in-law's whim, to strong leader makes you wonder - personality?  Circumstance?

Obituaries offer the same insight into the twisty turns a life can take.  The recent passing of Mavis Batey and the fascinating role she had in shaping history was so interesting to learn about.  An ordinary person who, due to time and circumstance, rose to the occasion and left an indelible mark.  Yet her sensible personality remained unspoiled to the end; “So I thought, great,” she recalled. “This is going to be an interesting job, Mata Hari, seducing Prussian officers.  But I don’t think either my legs or my German were good enough because they sent me to the Government Code & Cipher School.”