HB: Just came across this interesting article in the Observer that calls attention to some factual discrepancies in Ishmael Beah's memoir A Long Way Gone. Extra interesting to me because (i) IB's UK editor is Mitzi Angel, my own editor (*), and (ii) I've got the memoir beside me waiting to be read.
The truth is that IB seems to have revised his age downwards for the purposes of his tale, but otherwise told a pretty accurate story. Who cares, really? The truth is that publishers and the PR industry are mostly to blame, given their slavering enthusiasm for ever more deeply coloured stories. Surely being a youthful soldier, if not quite a child, and telling a remarkable story very well should be enough. Sigh. World gone mad. Good on you, Ishmael mate. Take the money & enjoy your success. You deserve it.
(*) Guess who's added more solid lustre to Mitzi's career - me or IB?
Eh?
What's that? Come now. Money, fame & critical success aren't everything you know.
Wednesday, 6 February 2008
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2 comments:
You seem to be obsessed by thoughts of money.
Aw, I wouldn't say that. I bet IB tells all his friends that he shares an editor with you.
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