Keay, Steven (2025) Mabel, ‘Just as I am’: writing absence and contradiction in biographical fiction. Doctoral thesis, York St John University.

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Abstract

This thesis, 'Mabel, Just as I Am': Writing Absence and Contradiction in Biographical Fiction, comprises a novel, Mabel: Straight up, just as I am, and an accompanying critical reflection. Together, they explore the possibilities of biographical fiction as a means of responding to the gaps, contradictions, and distortions within the historical archive surrounding silent film pioneer Mabel Normand. The project situates itself within the fields of biofiction and historical fiction, drawing on theoretical frameworks established by Michael Lackey, Ann Pearson, and Jerome de Groot, among others.

The creative component blends documented fact with fictional speculation, developing narrative strategies such as ambiguity, mutable memory, nested narration, and unreliable narration to interrogate the boundaries between historical evidence and imaginative invention. In doing so, it addresses broader debates concerning authenticity, historical representation, and the ethical dimensions of fictionalising real lives.

The critical reflection contextualises these creative decisions within scholarship on life writing, historiography, and creative writing practice, engaging with theorists such as Hilary Mantel, Margaret Atwood, and Laura Saxton to consider the tensions between historical accuracy and narrative authenticity. It argues that where the archival record is partial or ideologically skewed, fiction can act as a form of historiographic intervention, offering alternative modes of engaging with the past.

By restoring complexity and agency to a figure marginalised by traditional historical narratives, the thesis contributes to ongoing critical conversations about the role of creative writing in shaping cultural memory. It demonstrates that writing into historical absence and contradiction allows for the production of new, ethically grounded representations that expand the possibilities of biographical fiction and challenge dominant constructions of legacy.

Item Type:	Thesis (Doctoral)
Status:	Published
Subjects:	P Language and Literature > PN Literature (General)
School/Department:	School of Humanities
URI:	https://ray.yorksj.ac.uk/id/eprint/13258

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