Biographies & Memoirs Directory

Books dedicated to biographies, autobiographies, memoirs, historical and current,
Kirkus Reviews
founded in 1933, book reviews of both established and indie writers, annual Kirkus Prize to authors of fiction, nonfiction, and young readers' literature.
Biography.com
A & E Networks’ flagship site, Biography.com offers thousands of detailed profiles, video documentaries, and curated lists of historical and contemporary figures—from heads of state to cultural icons—making it a go‑to online reference for life stories and memoir excerpts.
Biography Online
This crowd‑sourced portal catalogs concise biographies of notable individuals—scientists, activists, artists, and more—providing essential life dates, career highlights, and thematic subpages (e.g., doctors, humanitarians) alongside a companion blog of essays on historical milestones
Memoir Magazine
A visually driven online literary magazine devoted to personal essays and book‑length memoir excerpts, Memoir Magazine publishes creative nonfiction paired with original artwork and photography, hosts an annual Memoir Prize for emerging writers, and maintains interviews and craft features for life‑writers
Creative Nonfiction
Founded in 1993, Creative Nonfiction is the world’s first literary magazine devoted exclusively to narrative nonfiction—featuring in‑depth memoir chapters, biographical essays, and reportage that explore real lives with the craft and pacing of fiction
Narrative Magazine
While publishing fiction and poetry, Narrative also curates a robust nonfiction section—serializing book‑length memoirs, life‑writing essays, and literary biographies by both emerging and established authors, complemented by interviews and writing‑resources for narrative nonfiction storytellers
Brevity: A Journal of Concise Literary Nonfiction
Specializing in flash memoir and micro‑essays, Brevity showcases tightly focused personal narratives—often just a few hundred words—that capture life’s defining moments, pairing each non‑fiction vignette with craft commentary and writing prompts for memoirists
River Teeth: A Journal of Nonfiction Narrative
Published by the University of North Georgia, River Teeth features long‑form memoir, creative nonfiction, and biographical essays that emphasize narrative rigor and ethical depth, alongside interviews with authors and book‑review sections dedicated to life‑writing titles.
The Rumpus
An award‑winning online literary magazine, The Rumpus regularly publishes fiction, first‑person memoir essays, author interviews, and critical essays on autobiographies—championing diverse voices and personal storytelling with a distinctly candid, conversational tone.
Longreads
Curating the web’s best long‑form journalism and personal essays, deeply researched news stories, biographical features, historical retrospectives, and book excerpts.
The Millions
A leading literary blog, reviews, essays, and interviews, as well as our biannual Great Book Previews and annual Year in Reading series.
Maud Newton's Blog
collection of writings and reflections from author, editor and essayist Maud Newton, established in 2002.
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