Autobiographic memory and literary memory in autobiography on request
Memory is an essential feature of every autobiography, being an indispensable tool to retrieve memories and reinterpret them in the present, assuring time continuity from the retriever's point of view. The article aims at providing an analysis of Zamjatin’s autobiography on request, which was used as an introduction to his collection of works published in 1929, particularly focusing on Zamjatin’s perception of the relevance of both autobiographic and literary memory in the context of the reconstruction of his identity as a writer. Although seeming to adapt his self-image to his client’s request, Zamjatin resorts to various strategies, namely irony and literary memory, to shed light on the very essence of his personality, despite all censorial manipulation attempts. Defining himself, he highlights the most distinctive feature of his nature, i.e. a constant inclination to counter any authority seeking to restrict personal freedom.
