“He’s a walkin’ contradiction, partly truth and partly fiction.” From the song The Pilgrim, Chapter 33 by Kris Kristofferson
“Now then, that is the tale. Some of it is true.” From The Autobiography of Mark Twain
Introduction. These are vignettes, not necessarily parts of longer stories, which have been inspired by real incidents or ideas. They range from being slightly altered to highly modified from what may actually have transpired. Partly truth and partly fiction.
I have in mind writings such as Edward Abbey’s Desert Solitaire, long regarded as nonfiction narrative, which has since been found to be at least partly fiction. Another book that comes to mind is John Steinbeck’s Travels with Charley, published as nonfiction travel writing; but recent fact-checking revealed the book to be a mix of fiction and nonfiction or highly re-worked nonfiction, the latter of which may as well be labeled fiction (see this link). I am also reminded of Jack London’s novel Martin Eden, which draws heavily upon the author’s own experiences; and of what Jim Harrison wrote in The Ancient Minstrel, a collection of three novellas, that he would continue his memoir “…in the form of a novella. At this late date I couldn’t bear to lapse into any delusions of reality in nonfiction.”
Because I have fictionalized these stories from true experiences, I have created alter egos of myself and my wife Julie, and named them Vince and Annie. Any resemblances to reality were intentional.
Selections from this series are listed under the blog posts on this web site’s home page. Links to posts from Scenes From Life are listed below:
Thomas V. Lerczak 