ABSTRACT
Ward’s (2011) commentary on Youngs and Canter’s (2011) exploration of the forms of personal narrative revealed in interviews with offenders provides a valuable elaboration of the utility of the narrative approach. Furthermore, by identifying areas for further clarification he shows the fruitfulness of this perspective and the rich research opportunities it provides as well as many practical applications. By opening up the background to the consideration of narratives tracing this back to Plutarch he shows their long-recognised value in providing insights into the human condition. All this is most encouraging and supports our view that the time is now ripe for the careful elaboration of the study and application of personal narratives within forensic and related contexts.
