How to handle fraudulent authorship?

[LP]

This concerns a Japanese Christian publisher who wrote a book under the name Isaiah Ben-Dasan. Far from being a mere pen name, the book's real author, Yamamoto [surname first] Shichihei insisted for years that the author was a Jew who chose to remain out of the public eye. What's more, his book contains some made-up "autobiographical" remarks aimed at shoring up the authenticity of the purportedly Jewish author and his claims.

Years later, Yamamoto admitted to the fraud. This is documented on the Internet and in books like Jews in the Japanese Mind (Goodman, Miyazawa) and Jews and the Japanese (Shillony).

If I may suggest a solution: I would recommend retaining the fictitious Isaiah Ben-Dasan in quotes, followed by the word alias in parentheses and the addition of the author's real name:

"Isaiah Ben-Dasan" (alias), Yamamoto Shichihei.

Or do you already have an established format for fraudulent authorship (as opposed to merely pseudonymous works)?

Please note that this book is also listed at Goodreads in its original Japanese edition. Whatever changes you decide to make should be made there as well.

Thanks.

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/1...

[Banjomike]

Leni wrote: "This concerns a Japanese Christian publisher who wrote a book under the name Isaiah Ben-Dasan. Far from being a mere pen name, the book's real author, Yamamoto [surname first] Shichihei insisted for years that the author was a Jew who chose to remain out of the public eye. What's more, his book contains some made-up "autobiographical" remarks aimed at shoring up the authenticity of the purportedly Jewish author and his claims.

Years later, Yamamoto admitted to the fraud. This is documented on the Internet and in books like Jews in the Japanese Mind (Goodman, Miyazawa) and Jews and the Japanese (Shillony)."

Pen names regularly have fake biographies so is 'fraud' really the right word to use?

EDIT: I've added Shichihei Yamamoto to the editions that I can see

[Sandra]

I don't know that I would call this fraudulent. JK Rowling wrote a book under a different pseudonym and made up a bio for the author. Is that fraud? Would we know if it hadn't been leaked and she hadn't admitted to it?

The book in question was published under the author's pseudonym. Lots of authors do that. Some get found out, some don't. Neither is fraudulent, IMHO.

I'll let a more experienced librarian decide the course of action.

[LP]

Yes, I think what he did was clearly fraud. Yamamoto, the book's publisher, didn't merely claim to have "translated" Ben-Dasan's work. He also created an elaborate hoax, alleging that Ben-Dasan was a Jew born in Kobe and raised in Japan who fought in Israel's war of independence and settled in Terre Haute, Indiana. This prompted many visits to Terre Haute by Japanese journalists, who failed to turn up any such person. Yamamoto continued to lie about "Ben-Dasan" in interviews and at conferences.

As I mentioned, years later Yamamoto admitted he had made the whole thing up.

In addition, his book claims authoritative understanding of Jews and Judaism based on the fictitious author's ethnic identity and experiences.

[LP]

Sandra wrote: "I don't know that I would call this fraudulent. JK Rowling wrote a book under a different pseudonym and made up a bio for the author. Is that fraud? Would we know if it hadn't been leaked and she h..."

J.K. Rowling didn't offer authoritative advice based on made-up credentials.

Yamamoto's book, in part, purports to show how Jews "really are" by posing as one.

[LP]

Banjomike wrote: "Leni wrote: "This concerns a Japanese Christian publisher who wrote a book under the name Isaiah Ben-Dasan. Far from being a mere pen name, the book's real author, Yamamoto [surname first] Shichihe..."

Thanks, Banjomike. That's certainly an improvement.

I guess I'm still uncomfortable with the idea of listing Yamamoto that way. It makes him, (the publisher and sole author) look like a coauthor, at best.

[Cait]

We should treat this as any other pseudonymous publishing for cataloging the book.

The context for the name is something which should be addressed in the bios for the two authors.

[Banjomike]

I've added a link from the Isaiah Ben Dasan page to Yamamoto. I haven't done one the other way because all the Ben Dasan books are on the Yamamoto page anyway. Thoughts?

https://www.goodreads.com/author/show...
https://www.goodreads.com/author/show...

[LP]

Thanks, Banjomike. Yes, I think you're right to handle it that way, since Ben-Dasan doesn't exist and since Yamamoto did write other works that had nothing to do with his Ben-Dasan persona.

So far I've only clicked on the first link, but I noticed a minor misspelling of Yamamoto.

[Banjomike]

Leni wrote: "Thanks, Banjomike. Yes, I think you're right to handle it that way, since Ben-Dasan doesn't exist and since Yamamoto did write other works that had nothing to do with his Ben-Dasan persona.

So far I've only clicked on the first link, but I noticed a minor misspelling of Yamamoto. "

Oops, fixed.

[Feliks]

Its an important issue because it illustrates that authors should not be treated like demi-gods; they should not be granted any kind of diplomatic immunity on any internet book-based sites like GR.

They should always be open to scrutiny and blowback, by their audiences and fanbases, (even if it resembles 'attack' or 'slur').

They should always be held accountable for their spamming, their fraud, their faulty research, their outright lying, their over-aggressive self-promo, or anything else 'seedy' that they engage in.

Goodreads has things completely backward, in browbeating readers. When an author misbehaves (like in this incident above) why are we to blame for the natural and proper backlash we respond with? Screw the whole notion that disgruntled readers 'may hurt author sales'. I mean, seriously, wtf? Why should authors be pampered in this relationship? They're the ones causing the havoc.

Dictatorship of the dollar sign.