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Frey Admits Fictions, Oprah Apologizes
The Translation of Wiesel's 'Night' Is New, but Old Questions Are Raised
Quotes
- Gil Troy
An e-bulletin (or whatever you call it) from Publisher’s Weekly regarding the shall-we-say-creative memoirist James Frey’s upcoming Oprah appearance declares: “Other guests will include publisher Nan Talese and"some of the country's leading journalists"--to address the headlines and controversy surrounding his memoir.” It’s instructive that amid this firestorm over “A Million Little Pieces” journalists are pleading the case pro and con, and the great Oprah herself is emerging as the ultimate arbiter (with a little assist from Larry King).
Yes, journalists do struggle with questions of fact and fiction – and have suffered from some infamous embarrassments (Stephen Glass, Jayson Blair, Janet Cooke), but THIS IS OUR TURF TOO. I haven’t heard or read one professional historian weighing in on the question – and standing for the importance of sticking to facts, truth in labeling, constructing compelling narratives while staying within the realm of nonfiction. Maybe, as Alonzo Hamby pointed out, we’re too busy waiting for Steven Spielberg to show up for his historical award or still talking about the convention appearance of Oliver Stone, who should be on the Historical Profession’s Ten Most Wanted List for making such a mess of fact and fiction in his JFK and Nixon movies.
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