Memoir, is a literary nonfiction genre. More specifically, it is a collection of memories that an individual writes about moments or events, both public or private that took place in the author's life. The assertions made in the work are understood to be factual. While memoir has historically been defined as a subcategory of autobiography since the late 20th century, the genre is differentiated in form, presenting a narrowed focus. Like most autobiographies, memoirs are written from the first-person point of view. An autobiography tells the story of a life, while memoir tells a story from a life, such as touchstone events and turning points from the author's life. The author of a memoir may be referred to as a memoirist. Memoir has been represented in literary genre since ancient times through the works of Julius Caesar; in the Middle Ages by Geoffrey of Villehardouin, Jean de Joinville, and Philippe de Commines; and during the Renaissance by Blaise de Montluc of France. Until the Age of Enlightenment encompassing the 17th and 18th centuries, works of memoir were written by Franz von Retz, François de La Rochefoucauld, and Louis de Rouvroy, duc de Saint-Simon. Over the latter half of the 18th through the mid-20th century, memoirists generally included those who were noted within their chosen profession. These authors wrote as a way to record and publish their own account of their public exploits. Included among these works is the memoirs of Winston Churchill and Charles De Gaulle, both of whom wrote of their involvement in World War II.
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