Constructing narratives: considerations in the letters of Theodor M. W. Hirschberg and his family

Abstract

ABSTRACT Based on the letters of Theodor Hirschberg held in the special collections at the University of Southampton, this article will problematise our understanding of letters as a source for narrative construction. Theodor fled from Berlin to London in 1939 and wrote to various members of his family until 1941. In discussing the biographies of individuals encountered in the collection, the article will note the problems but also the opportunities and nuances of using the epistolary as a source. Centring around three core debates, narratives created from Theodor’s letters will speak to silences and epistemology, ethical practice, and pragmatic concerns.