‘Overall, Freadman’s argument that concepts of the will are integral to the writing and understanding of autobiography – even by postmodernists who take the philosophical position that the will does not exist – is convincing…The book is a significant contribution to the field of life writing as well as to the history of ideas.  Freadman displays a remarkable range of knowledge about philosophical positions on and speculations about the will from ancient to modern times, and he consistently acknowledges the complexity of his topic, avoiding overly reductive definitions and explanations, yet his erudition is combined with an accessible, even surprisingly informal, writing style.’

(Biography)