Fiction?

[Cherylann]

Why do you think that this book is categorized in fiction? I'm fairly certain it all happened.

[[deleted user]]

I hear what you're saying but at the end of the day if the Doctor wanted The Rum Diary to be recognised as non-fiction he wouldn't have christened his protagonist Paul Kemp.

There are countless works of fiction that are extremely autobiographical, extensively based on real experiences and yet still thinly disguised as fictional. Should they all be recategorised too?

[Cherylann]

No, I completely agree. Books like "In Cold Blood" that recount non-fiction events are categorized as fiction. I don't necessarily feel it should be recategorized. I suppose my real question is, why do you think Hunter S. Thompson chose to veil himself with the character of Paul Kemp?—or do you not consider if a veiling? The question of what constitutes fiction vs non-fiction is a complex question. There seems to be a fine line.

[Nick]

HST didn't want to BE the subject of his books, he merely wanted to chronicle the story in plain english (pre-gonzo).

I'm sure HST is unconcerned whether his book was named fiction or not; by the end of the day the story had most likely been embellished like most decent journalism.

[Dave]

Perhaps like HST's first book, Prince Jellyfish, The Rum Diary was written as a 'Roman a' clef' (real life overlaid with a facade of fiction).
Regardless, it is an enjoyable read and I hope the Johnny Depp movie based upon this book will soon be released.

[Dave]

Perhaps like HST's first book, Prince Jellyfish, The Rum Diary was written as a 'Roman a' clef' (real life overlaid with a facade of fiction).
Regardless, it is an enjoyable read and I hope the Johnny Depp movie based upon this book will soon be released.

[Alex]

also, certain contracts he may have been tied by only demanded fiction, therefore, disguising names of people...i have learned in reading a couple of hunter's books and many beatnik books that really the only fictional part of their novels, are the names.

dave, have you read prince jellyfish? if so, may i ask how you got your hands on it?

[bitfed]

I'm surprised no one else has brought up that while this is categorized as fiction, it's more specifically Gonzo fiction/journalism. Nearly all of the good doctor's works are defined by this style that he pioneered:

gon·zo/ˈgänzō/
Adjective:
Of or associated with journalistic writing of an exaggerated, subjective, and *fictionalized* style.

[Rick]

Calling the book fiction may have given Hunter some legal cover too, both for real and embellished parts of the book. All I know is the guy must have had a cast iron liver.