ABSTRACT
Memoirs of rebuilding, reconstruction, and public service appeared later in the century. In the 1970s and ’80s emphasis and interest have shifted decisively to other areas of the world, away from Europe. The vision of a single European Market may inspire writers of autobiographies and memoirs and refocus our interest on Western Europe again. European women active in politics in the 20th century who have written autobiographies include Rosa Luxembourg’s friend Clara Zetkin; Dolores Ibarruri, famed for her courageous speeches during the Spanish Civil War; Vera Brittain, who turned the experience of one wartime generation into literature. During the 20th century there have been a number of historical events so important in people’s lives that they provided the catalyst to memoir writing. Belgium and the Netherlands are represented by the memoirs of Paul-Henri Spaak and Elko van Klaffens, both active political figures on the side of the Allies.
