Some specific features of American entrepreneurs’ memoirs

Background.The article considers American entrepreneurs’ memoirs of the late 18th – early 20th centuries. Such study has never been conducted previously, which determines the scientific novelty of the article. The relevance of this study stems from the increased popularity of business memoirs among readers and researchers over the past twenty years. The aim of the workis to identify the specific properties of business memoirs as a genre modification. Materials and methods.The following methods were used: typological, historical-genetic, and biographical research methods. A comprehensive cultural approach allows us to examine business memoirs taking into account both the cultural specifics of the American nation as a whole and the cultural values of American business representatives. Results.Based on an analysis of cultural and historical events in the United States in the 19th century, the preconditions for the emergence of business memoirs as a genre modification are determined. The study resulted in the formation of a system of stable characteristics of memoir literature, and the identification of the specific properties of business memoirs. It has been established that "image" is a genre-defining cultural feature of this type of memoir writing, as it determines such properties of business memoirs as didacticism, professionalism, the separation of the personal and public aspects, and the business model.