This book presents an approach to narrative analysis from a critical social perspective. It describes the background to discursive and narrative approaches and then takes the reader through a variety of analysis at different 'levels'. These focus on narrative texts from a boy labelled as 'sexually abusive', analyzed seqentially from micro- to more global levels. Through this extended example, the book demonstrates the power of narrative analytic procedures and the different effects produced by different levels of analysis.
'If you are interested in conducting psychosocial research and curious about what the study of narrative offers, then this is the book for you. Emerson and Frosh provide a lucid and fluent account of the techniques of narrative analysis complete with highly accessible examples illustrating different levels of analysis. Their book, however, is much more than a simple 'how to' guide. It is a truly fine theoretical exegesis presenting the latest trends in discursive research and critical psychosocial thinking in ways which will inspire and intrigue clinical and psychotherapeutic practitioners as well as social science audiences.' - Professor Margaret Wetherell, Director ESRC Identities Programme, Open University, UK