本书以成长小说的界定为突破口，一反传统的批评套路，把成长小说的批评视点从对其虚构性的过度专注而转到其具有的高度自传真实性方面：即不再把成长小说置于小说这种虚构文类的框架中研究，而是把其放于自传的新语境中来进行研究。另一方面，自传也因其本身具有描述传主自身经历的高度真实性特点而成为历来自传批评家所关注的中心；本书则通过对具体现代自传叙事作品的分析，揭示出自传本身具有一定的虚构性，为传主的叙事政治所服务，因而可以视为一种自传式小说，从而把自传的讨论从历史和事实论的束缚中解放出来。

Abstract

Acknowledgements

Introduction Bildungsroman-Toward a New Definition

Chapter 1 Bildungsroman and Autobiography: a Study of Their Relationship

 1.1 Autobiography: Toward a New Definition

 1.2 Bildungsroman: a Novel-form Autobiography

 1.3 Bildungsroman Vs. Autobiography-form novel

Chapter 2 Autobiography into Autobiograph: David Copperfield as One Version of the Growing Dickens

 2.1 Dickens and his David Copperfield: an Introduction

 2.2 David Copperfield: an Autobiography of David Copperfield

 2.3 David Copperfield and the Young Dickens: a Comparison

Chapter 3 Life out of Life: Stephen Dedalus as a Serf Portrait of the Young Joyce 57

 3.1 James Joyce and his A Portrait of the Artist as a YoungMan

 3.2 Stephen: a Recreation of the Young Joyce as the Artis

 3.3 Stephen the Artist andJoyce the Artist: a Comparison

 3.4 David CopperfieM Vs. Portrait of the Artist as a Young Man

Chapter 4 China Narratives, Mediation and the Problematic of Readership in Fifth Chinese Daughter and The Woman Warrior

 4.1 The Authors and Context

 4.2 Literature Review

 4.3 Mediation of Readership

Chapter 5 The Growing Up of the Self and the Politics of Narration in Douglass's Autobiographies of 1845 and 1855

 5.1 The Author and Context

 5.2 Comparison and Contrast: Autobiographies of 1845 Vs. 1855

Conclusion Bildungsroman and autobiography: Toward a New Conception

 1 Change de role: Bildungsroman Vs. Autobiography

 2 Bildungsroman and Autobiography Reconsidered

 3 An Ending and a New Beginning

Bibliography

Index