Newyorker iconNewyorkerSep 9, 2026

Can You Write a Memoir in the Third Person?

An Education," the author's younger self is depicted as an inscrutable, fumbling figure named B.

Can You Write a Memoir in the Third Person?

Share this story

Send the public story page.

Useful takeaways from this story.

An Education," the author's younger self is depicted as an inscrutable, fumbling figure named B.

In Brian Dillon's bewitching new book, "Ambivalence: An Education," the author's younger self is depicted as an inscrutable, fumbling figure named B.

Building the complete brief

The page is ready to read now. The fuller skim-friendly version will appear here automatically.

The useful part

An Education," the author's younger self is depicted as an inscrutable, fumbling figure named B. In Brian Dillon's bewitching new book, "Ambivalence:

Details worth keeping

In Brian Dillon's bewitching new book, "Ambivalence:

Keep reading in the app

Open the app view to save this story, compare related coverage, and continue from the same source.

Open in app