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This album contains extracts from interviews with a wide range of people talking about family history. Some history is recalled in oral form, some in photographic and some in written form, as biographical or autobiographical evidence. Many aspects of this approach to writing are discussed in illuminating and perceptive depth, giving wide-ranging yet informative coverage of the topic. This material forms part of the course A173 Start writing family history.
Track 2: Working with childhood
Childhood is a crucial aspect of the biographer’s art, but context, bias and interpretation can often hinder the writer. These interviews discuss ways of avoiding common problems.
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Tracks in this podcast:
| Track | Title | Description |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Writing family history | A short introduction to this album. Play now Writing family history |
| 2 | Working with childhood | Childhood is a crucial aspect of the biographer’s art, but context, bias and interpretation can often hinder the writer. These interviews discuss ways of avoiding common problems. Play now Working with childhood |
| 3 | Approaching the writing process | What is the best way to start writing a family history? This discussion highlights working methods and practices, offering advice on drafting, sources and note-taking. Play now Approaching the writing process |
| 4 | Writing autobiography | Three famous biographers, Ex-Speaker Betty Boothroyd, broadcaster Peter White and writer Martin Amis all discuss their experiences writing autobiographies. Play now Writing autobiography |
| 5 | Interviewing for source material | When writing on a topic with little research, interviewing witnesses and relatives becomes paramount. Many pitfalls await interviewers, as well as the pleasure of getting it right. Play now Interviewing for source material |
| 6 | William Taylor interview: part one | To demonstrate interviewing technique and responses, this track makes use of an interview with William Taylor, born in 1919. Play now William Taylor interview: part one |
| 7 | William Taylor interview: part two | In the second part of his interview, William Taylor recalls the various changes in his home life, marriage, jobs and parenthood. Play now William Taylor interview: part two |
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