Autobiography vs Biography
Autobiography and Biography are often confused due to the similarity in their meanings, but there is a difference between them. Both autobiography and biography tell the real-life stories of people, making them non-fiction. However, when authors add imaginative facts to these stories, they become fiction.
What is a Biography?
A biography is written by one person about another person who is considered a celebrity or important figure. The writer of a biography, known as a biographer, should have carefully studied the life of the subject to give a lively account of the various events connected with their life. A biography is typically complete, often ending with the subject’s entire life or, in the case of living personalities, the most recent events.
A biography can be impartial, but it may also be influenced by the biographer’s personal feelings towards the subject.
What is an Autobiography?
An autobiography is a book written by a person that tells the story of their own life. The author recounts the events related to their childhood, youth, and adulthood. Autobiographies, however, are not always complete; they may only contain the important periods of the author’s life, leaving out other parts that people may be interested in knowing. Additionally, since the author is writing about their own life, the account may be partial and not include all necessary details or the whole truth.
Key Takeaways
- An autobiography is the life story of a person written by that person, while a biography is the life story of a person written by another person.
- An autobiography may not be complete or may only focus on important events in the author’s life, while a biography usually covers the entire life of the subject or, in the case of living persons, up to the most recent events.
- Both biographies and autobiographies can be partial or impartial accounts, depending on the writer’s perspective and feelings towards the subject.
