Detailed abstracts are solicited for a collection of essays focused on contemporary U.S. political memoirs. As the 2008 Presidential election approaches, candidates have increasingly sought to present themselves to the public through self-authored books that detail their personal and political lives. In light of this striking phenomena, we seek papers that examine various aspects of the political memoir: its genre form, effect on voters, social and political consequences, rhetorical style and its use as a mode of self-representation. What qualities define political memoir as a genre? What effect do political memoirs have on election outcomes? How has the form changed in the past century? In what ways can it operate as an effective political tool?

This proposed volume will concentrate specifically on American political memoirs published after 1950, seeking to explore its uses from a range of different historical, cultural and stylistic perspectives. The collection will be interdisciplinary in nature, and we welcome contributors from Political Science, History, English, Ethnic Studies, Philosophy and Cultural Studies. Our aim is to compile a series of essays that assess the ways in which political memoirs shape perceptions of candidates and office holders while providing a historical trajectory of this genre's important developments.

Please email an abstract (as MS Word attachment and pasted into the email) Of approximately 500 words along with a CV to Stephanie Li at: sli12@mail.rochester.edu by November 15, 2007.

Stephanie Li
Department of English
University of Rochester

Valeria Sinclair-Chapman
Department of Political Science
University of Rochester