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Editorial
September 8, 1928
The Daily Alaska Empire
Juneau, Juneau County, Alaska
What is this article about?
The New York Times editorial defends a novelist's right to historical and geographical license in fiction, using Thornton Wilder's 'The Bridge of San Luis Rey' as an example. While American readers overlook inaccuracies, Peruvians in Lima disapprove of the book's deviations from real history and location.
Clipping
OCR Quality
98%
Excellent
Full Text
Fiction Is Not History.
(New York Times.)
The rights of a novelist generally include geographical and historical as well as poetic license. His readers do not expect him to confine himself with absolute literalism to nothing but the exact fact. He is permitted to draw on his imagination.
The very lack of too realistic adherence to minute details of scene and speech is one of the charms of "The Bridge of San Luis Rey." Americans reading "The Bridge of San Luis Rey" have cared little whether the Lima of early Spanish days was precisely as he describes it, or whether the bridge, or the personages who met their death crossing it, ever really existed.
In Peru, it appears, they take a different view. The failure of Mr. Wilder to hold himself strictly to correct details of location and history is disapproved in Lima, so returned travelers report.
(New York Times.)
The rights of a novelist generally include geographical and historical as well as poetic license. His readers do not expect him to confine himself with absolute literalism to nothing but the exact fact. He is permitted to draw on his imagination.
The very lack of too realistic adherence to minute details of scene and speech is one of the charms of "The Bridge of San Luis Rey." Americans reading "The Bridge of San Luis Rey" have cared little whether the Lima of early Spanish days was precisely as he describes it, or whether the bridge, or the personages who met their death crossing it, ever really existed.
In Peru, it appears, they take a different view. The failure of Mr. Wilder to hold himself strictly to correct details of location and history is disapproved in Lima, so returned travelers report.
What sub-type of article is it?
Literary Criticism
Fiction Vs History
What keywords are associated?
Fiction
History
Novel
The Bridge Of San Luis Rey
Thornton Wilder
Peru
Lima
Literary License
What entities or persons were involved?
Thornton Wilder
The Bridge Of San Luis Rey
New York Times
Peru
Lima
Editorial Details
Primary Topic
Novelist's Historical License In 'The Bridge Of San Luis Rey'
Stance / Tone
Defending Fictional Liberties Against Strict Historical Accuracy
Key Figures
Thornton Wilder
The Bridge Of San Luis Rey
New York Times
Peru
Lima
Key Arguments
Novelists Have Geographical, Historical, And Poetic License.
Readers Expect Imagination, Not Absolute Literalism.
Inaccuracies Add Charm To 'The Bridge Of San Luis Rey'.
American Readers Overlook Historical Deviations.
Peruvians In Lima Disapprove Of The Book's Inaccuracies.