Stealing and Lying is Wrong, But The Story Was Worth It!
In one of the most interesting stories of the year, popular fiction readers have discovered that the best-seller The Da Vinci Code may have been full of stolen concepts. Dan Brown is in London high court this week to protect his book, his research, and his reputation as two non-fiction authors from 1982 are claiming thievery of the highest regard.
This is not the only time that an author, in the last 3 months for that matter, has faced world wide scrutiny. Dan Brown and his publisher Random House have not been successfully sued, yet another author, James Frey, has been found guilty on all charges of being a fibber. The public documentation website The Smoking Gun revealed that the non-fiction super seller A Million Little Pieces was in fact full of blatant misrepresentations of the events of Frey’s life.
These two events, Brown’s supposed theft of research done by others, and Frey’s lies about his past, lead us, the common reader, to question motives by authors. Is it about the money? Is fabrication and copying an accepted practice? While Brown and Frey are in completely different situations, comparing their scenarios is an important discussion. By examining each author’s work as entertainment, their successes in sales and reputation, and the understood “rules” of publication, It is possible to understand that while every author is accountable for the work they create, the thirsty public needs a good story.
Let us be honest here. If you are a fan of reading, you enjoy a blazing novel filled with myth debunking, easily identifiable villains, and a twist leaving you with a still heart, or at least a feeling of total satisfaction. The Da Vinci Code is exactly that. So many people, myself and known others, read this novel in a matter of days. The pacing, the thrill of Langdon (male protagonist) and beautiful Sophie (female protagonist) successfully solving each riddle, then defeating their enemies is so enjoyable.
Now I suddenly read that Random House, ironically the publishers of the work supposedly ripped off by Brown, is being sued. Hogwash, I respond initially. Then I think about it. Maybe Brown knew his work was brilliant, from an entertainment aspect, and could not admit he had used someone else’s ideas for his novel. Wait a minute here. It is fiction, it is just a story, who cares if he borrowed the ideas without properly sourcing his research? As a reader I do not think I care. The book is too good, and even though I know, if he’s successfully sued by the plaintiffs Baigent and Leigh, he’s a thieving bastard and an immoral, money grubbing author, then so be it. I am still going to tell everyone to read it and they will not be able to put it down.
James Frey is a different situation, but his troubles and motivations mimic Dan Brown in many ways. The depressing, heart wrenching, and somewhat disturbing recount of a drug addict’s struggles with life, is an excellent if not frightening read. Even Oprah, whose word is similar to a religious text, claimed this to be one book all should read. With the Oprah’s Book Club seal of approval, Frey began to count his dollars. Worldwide accolades and a new readership breeding another title, My Friend Leonard, all gave Frey unprecedented success. Here is where it gets interesting though. Frey was proven to be a liar by those who stood by him, including Oprah, and was suddenly a man fabricating a story so people would buy his books.
Its awfully hard to blame him though. Granted, he had the opportunity to come forth and admit his weakness, yet he did not. The story was more interesting, more engrossing, and more addictive, pardon the pun, with an enhanced version of the past. The readers, always starving for a good story, true or not (Hollywood tabloids would be a good example), latched on. Do I hate him for lying to me, telling me its non-fiction, and creating scenarios untrue? Maybe, but in the end I just wanted a first-rate read.
Author: Sean Gray
