How does biography differ from autobiography?

The primary distinction between biography and autobiography lies in the identity of the narrator and the perspective from which the life is told.

• Biography: This is a nonfictional literary form that recounts the life of an individual from the perspective of another person—the author. The biographer draws upon various forms of evidence, including written, oral, and pictorial materials, as well as memory, to re-create the subject's life.1
• Autobiography: This is defined as the biography of oneself narrated by oneself. It encompasses a wide range of personal writings, from intimate documents like diaries and letters to formal, book-length accounts.2

While a biography relies on the author's interpretation of external evidence, an autobiography offers a unique "biographical truth" shaped by the author's own recollection. Because this process involves the author's conscious and unconscious omissions and distortions, autobiographies are often viewed as subjective reflections rather than purely objective historical records.2