Writing the ‘I’ in True Crime

Abstract

This personal essay considers the representation of ‘I’ in nonfiction narratives. Consideration is given here to the ways in which first-person narration is utilised across varying genres, including fiction and poetry, before considering its use in nonfiction. It is proposed that inherent assumptions are made regarding author proximity and an author’s organic placement within a nonfiction narrative, due to the work’s (assumed) factual nature. Subsequently, the way in which this assumed involvement validates and verifies the contents of a narrative is also considered. This discussion is then applied to True Crime narratives wherein a first-person speaker is present and how this inevitably authenticates the contents of a work for a reading audience.