This greatly anticipated update of The Oral History Reader is a comprehensive, international anthology of major, ‘classic’ articles and cutting-edge pieces on the theory, method and use of oral history.

This wide-ranging volume illustrates similarities and differences in oral history from around the world, including examples from North and South America, Britain and Europe, Australasia, Asia and Africa. It also details the subjects – such as women`s history, family history, gay and lesbian history, ethnic history and disability history – to which oral history has made a significant contribution.

This second edition is arranged into five thematic sections. The collection details issues in the theory and practice of oral history and covers influential debates in its development over the past sixty years. New chapters include:


interview methods and the oral history relationship


the use of testimony in truth and reconciliation politics


memory and interpretation


the digital revolution and new technologies for the creation, use and dissemination of oral history


community oral history projects


memory and history.

The Oral History Reader is an essential tool for all students of modern history, memory studies, sociology, anthropology, media studies, cultural and heritage studies, gerontology and archives, library and information studies.