News	News category

Author of hoax Holocaust memoir in legal fight with U.S. publisher

29.08.2008 21:02 Arts - Source: cbc.ca

An author whose Holocaust memoir was found to be fictional is fighting her publisher in a Woburn, Mass., court over the proceeds of a 2001 lawsuit.

U.S. publisher Mt. Ivy Press was ordered to pay $32.4-million to author Misha Defonseca and her ghost writer after discovering the publisher tried to claim the author's U.S. royalties.

In February, Belgian writer Defonseca admitted her book, Misha: A Mmoire of the Holocaust Years, was an elaborate fantasy.

The memoir tells the story of the Jewish girl who survives the Holocaust by living with wolves, then walks across Europe to try to find her parents.

Defonseca did have her parents taken by the Nazis, but admitted the rest of the survival tale was fictional.

Publisher Jane Daniel told a judge in Middlesex Superior Court the jury found in favour of Defonseca in the 2001 suit because they believed her harrowing Holocaust tale.

Does the truth matter?

But Judge Timothy Feeley said he didn't know whether the truth of the fictionalized memoir actually mattered.

"Is it important that it was a work of fiction or a memoir?" Feeley asked. "I have trouble seeing how this new information changes the extent of the wrong found to be inflicted."

Defonseca and ghost writer Vera Lee are arguing the statute of limitations has expired on Daniel's attempt to throw out the jury verdict.

The jury originally awarded Defonseca $7.5 million and Lee $3.3 million after finding Daniels had hidden profits from the authors. A judge later tripled those amounts after finding the small publishing house had misled the authors.

Misha: A Mmoire of the Holocaust sold only 5,000 copies in the U.S. and the jury found the publisher failed to promote it.

The authors later settled with Daniel to pay a lesser amount, including $425,000 to Defonseca and $250,000 to Lee as well as the rights to sell Daniel's home.

Frank Frisoli, a lawyer for Lee, said that verdict hinged on Daniel's deception, not on whether the book was true.

"I see no reasonable basis for this action. They're far outside any time limits," Frisoli said.

Judge Feeley said he would have to do further study to determine which legal arguments should be allowed in the case.

He has not said when he will make a decision.

The book was translated into 18 languages and became a bestseller around the world, with the exception of the U.S.

With files from the Associated Press

Story Tools: E-MAIL | PRINT | Text Size: S M L XL | REPORT TYPO | SEND YOUR FEEDBACK

Internal Links

Holocaust wolf memoir a fake, author admits

More Books Headlines

Acadian author honoured for 50-year careerThe 50-year publishing career of a New Brunswick author was honoured in Moncton as she launched her new book on Friday.Author of hoax Holocaust memoir in legal fight with U.S. publisherAn author whose Holocaust memoir was found to be fictional is fighting her publisher in a Woburn, Mass., court over the proceeds of a 2001 lawsuit.Dead Sea scrolls to go onlineScientists using American space technology have started a huge project to digitally photograph the Dead Sea Scrolls and post the images on the internet for all to see, Israeli authorities said Wednesday.Artists, actors say Tory arts cuts equal censorshipHundreds of people gathered in downtown Montreal on Wednesday to protest government cuts to arts and culture programs.Critics blast award for Australian children's bookA book hailed by Australia's Children's Book Council as "one of the great books of this century" has become a magnet for controversy because of its use of strong language.

More Arts Headlines

Acadian author honoured for 50-year careerThe 50-year publishing career of a New Brunswick author was honoured in Moncton as she launched her new book on Friday.'Best is yet to come' as Michael Jackson turns 50Michael Jackson marked a personal milestone Friday: his 50th birthday.Banksy hits New Orleans on Katrina anniversaryAs New Orleans watches the movement of potential hurricane Gustav, another force has hit its yet-to-recover neighbourhoods — the street artist Banksy.Cirque debuts permanent show in opulent Macau hotel casinoCanadian-born phenomenon Cirque du Soleil has opened the doors on its first permanent production in Asia, premiering its new show Zaia in Macau on Thursday.Stuntwoman known for Gone With the Wind scene dies Hazel Warp, a skilled horsewoman who was Vivien Leigh's stunt double in Gone With the Wind, has died. She was 93.