Fall from Grace
question
When fiction runs cover for a rumor or difficult to prove fact
Rory
Aug 18, 2013 03:51PM
This book is great spy thriller. My question for you is do you think fiction is appropriate vehicle for non-fiction authors who cannot prove a theory, rumor, or risk being sued by survivors?
The whole "names changed to protect the innocent". I mean anytime I see that in a play or movie, I disregard anything that isn't a proven fact as fictionalized for Hollywood.
But in case of this book there is no such label, and the more I thought about ending it seemed very plausible, especially as the author had already written at least one fantastically detailed book on the subject. If he had come across a rumor or published this as fact he would have been blasted and sued into obscurity and bankruptcy. Instead, the book is an incredible thriller.
What is your opinion? Should fiction be used in these cases and what would make you think of it as true?
Thanks!
Rory
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Ken Follett showed how much could be got away with when he wrote 'Triple'.
This is becoming an age of scandal and recrimination (as everything becomes digital). But somehow it isn't bringing on the kind of regulation or integrity that really matters. Its an age of frivolous lawsuits; court cases strictly for gain; there's no widespread insistence on accuracy for the sake of itself.
This is becoming an age of scandal and recrimination (as everything becomes digital). But somehow it isn't bringing on the kind of regulation or integrity that really matters. Its an age of frivolous lawsuits; court cases strictly for gain; there's no widespread insistence on accuracy for the sake of itself.
Rory, I could see all the aspects of this book being based on fact. Perhaps Collins wanted to avoid a lawsuit, or maybe no matter how hard he looked, some information was missing. So why not fictionalize a interesting bit of history and fill in the gaps that the archives won't?
Paul's character is very similar to the real-life air controller for the Prosper network, Henri Dericourt. Lots of suspicion surrounding his actions during the war. Collin's Paris Gestapo chief, too, felt much like the actual Paris Gestapo chief. I haven't read of any agents that stuck out to me as a basis for Catherine, but that doesn't mean someone like her didn't exist. (There were some similarities to Noor Inayat Khan, who was also a radio operator, also left her gun in England, and also withstood tremendous torture, but I don't think Noor was involved in any sabotage projects.)
I'll withhold judgement on whether fictionalizing this story (if it's true) was a good idea, but I will say I found Collin's novel much more interesting than Flames in the Field, a nonfiction account where the author gave the reader the facts, then gave the reader all the rumors and conspiracy theories that couldn't be proved or disproved, and came to no real conclusion.
Paul's character is very similar to the real-life air controller for the Prosper network, Henri Dericourt. Lots of suspicion surrounding his actions during the war. Collin's Paris Gestapo chief, too, felt much like the actual Paris Gestapo chief. I haven't read of any agents that stuck out to me as a basis for Catherine, but that doesn't mean someone like her didn't exist. (There were some similarities to Noor Inayat Khan, who was also a radio operator, also left her gun in England, and also withstood tremendous torture, but I don't think Noor was involved in any sabotage projects.)
I'll withhold judgement on whether fictionalizing this story (if it's true) was a good idea, but I will say I found Collin's novel much more interesting than Flames in the Field, a nonfiction account where the author gave the reader the facts, then gave the reader all the rumors and conspiracy theories that couldn't be proved or disproved, and came to no real conclusion.
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