An exploration of Icelandic autobiography and the wider nature of egodocuments and their function as historical sources.

Using the Icelandic context, Sigurður Gylfi Magnússon examines egodocuments as distinct and fascinating manifestations of microhistory, reflecting on their nature, the circumstances in which they originated, and their strengths and weaknesses for scholarly research. Autobiographical Traditions in Egodocuments successfully makes the case for egodocuments being an intriguing part of the material culture of their time, with ample consideration given to the role of the book within individual households and the impact a source such as autobiography has had on people’s daily lives. Magnússon also provides an insightful historiographical account of how the egodocument has been used in historical works both in Iceland and elsewhere in the world since the 19th century.

"Iceland’s internationally known cultural historian Sigurður Gylfi Magnússon continues to break new interpretative ground with Autobiographical Traditions in Egodocuments: Icelandic Literacy Practice. Magnusson extends his significant primary source research and combination of interpretive breakthroughs and synthetic understanding in this new contribution. He adds to his flow of important books from Wasteland with Words, Minor Knowledge and Microhistory, Archive, to Slow Ideology and Ecodocuments as Microhistorical Autobiography. I strongly advise anyone across the humanities and social sciences to read his latest book." - Harvey J. Graff, Professor Emeritus of English and History, Ohio Eminent Scholar in Literacy Studies, and Academy Professor, Ohio State University, USA