Joe Burleigh answers “how much of this is based on fact and how...”

Marie (UK) asked this question about The Alienist (Dr. Laszlo Kreizler, #1):

how much of this is based on fact and how much fiction?

Joe Burleigh Mr. Carr had published some successful non-fiction works and his publisher didn't want him attempting a novel. He pitched the idea of the story as tru…moreMr. Carr had published some successful non-fiction works and his publisher didn't want him attempting a novel. He pitched the idea of the story as true but said that he wanted to publish it in novel form. The picture you see in the back of the book is a shot that he made to help sell his idea. The photo is actually a cut out of composer Edvard Grieg copied onto a picture of Roosevelt. With that fake picture and a real historical figure in Teddy Roosevelt, he was able to fool his agent and editor into believing it was a true story. When he admitted it was a fictional story, they took a chance, published it, and it became a best seller. (less)

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