Publisher blasts Oprah
2007-07-31 09:36
Dallas - The editor and publisher of James Frey's disputed memoir, A Million Little Pieces, has not had her last word yet on Oprah Winfrey's nationally televised pillorying of the author.
The book was a best-seller after Winfrey chose it for her book club in 2005. Frey later acknowledged that the memoir contained many fictitious episodes, and Winfrey, who initially defended the author, denounced him in person on her TV show.
Nan A Talese was with Frey on that show. At a session of a non-fiction writers' conference in Dallas on Saturday, she accused Winfrey of "fiercely bad manners" and said she would have done nothing differently in how she handled Frey's manuscript.
"I'm afraid I'm unapologetic of the whole thing. And the only person who should be apologetic is Oprah Winfrey," Talese said, according to The Dallas Morning News.
As for Frey's use of fictitious elements in his ostensibly factual account of addiction and recovery, Talese said: "When someone starts out and says, 'I have been an alcoholic. I have lied. I have cheated.' ... you do not think this is going to be the New Testament."
A judge approved a tentative settlement in May, calling for publishing house Random House and Frey to refund $2.35m to those who bought his book before his appearance on Winfrey's show.
- AP