ABSTRACT

The paper examines the inherent anomalies of oral history and the distinctive role of oral sources in constructing historical narratives, drawing extensively on Alessandro Portelli’s seminal work The Death of Luigi Trastulli, and Other Stories. Portelli’s approach radicalizes traditional historiography by positioning oral history not merely as a supplement to written records, but as a unique epistemological domain in which meaning is dynamically constructed through the interplay of memory, narrative, and fieldwork. The study explores how oral sources, with their inherent subjectivity and fluidity, challenge the static, often overly deterministic frameworks of conventional archival history. Through detailed analysis, the paper demonstrates that oral narratives are not simply fragmented recollections; rather, they embody the collective consciousness and cultural identity of communities, revealing layers of personal and social meaning that are frequently obscured in written documents.

Central to Portelli’s argument is the idea that the historian must engage with the lived experiences of their subjects, acknowledging that the process of narration shaped by the interactions between the interviewer and the interviewee, inevitably transforms the factual event into a narrative imbued with desired meanings and social values. This paper also highlights the methodological innovations introduced by Portelli, which advocate for a flexible, interdisciplinary approach to oral history that integrates rigorous fieldwork with a critical understanding of language and performance. By juxtaposing the “errors, inventions, and myths” inherent in oral testimonies with the ostensibly objective but equally mediated nature of written records, the study underscores the need for historians to embrace the fluidity and multiplicity of oral sources. Ultimately, this paper argues that the anomaly of oral history lies in its capacity to disrupt conventional historical narratives, offering richer, more nuanced insights into the past that reflect the collective memory and lived reality of the people.