Quote Originally Posted by Rocky
should the memoirs be written based on what this now-literate woman now knows was happening in the world as she grew up, or should she only use inferences that the men were discussing financial problems, that there was talk of "Japs" and "Krauts" and a war going on "over there?"
If you are writing a fictional memoir you should consider why the character is writing her memoirs. She will have a particular readership in mind and will write for that readership.

If she is writing to the world at large she will be talking about how the major movements of history affected her personally, perhaps explaining the wrinkles that others might not know, such as the personality of her father's bank manager but assuming they know that times were hard.

If, on the other hand, she is writing for, say, her granddaughters, then she has to tell about the way things were in simplified terms that they can understand but assuming no prior knowledge.

There is another level to consider. How good a writer is she? Does she have an editor? But that may be getting a bit baroque.

Good luck with the writing. Have fun with it, so that you make fun with it.

Spike