The Lifespan of a Fact: A Literary Debate on Truth and Accuracy
The Lifespan of a Fact presents a unique exploration of the boundaries between truth and accuracy in literary nonfiction. This book documents the seven-year editorial struggle between essayist John D'Agata and fact-checker Jim Fingal over a single essay, offering readers an unprecedented look at the creative and ethical tensions in nonfiction writing.
What's Inside This Book
The book includes an early draft of D'Agata's experimental essay, originally commissioned by Harper's magazine in 2003 following the publication of his book Halls of Fame. After Harper's rejected the essay due to fact-checking disagreements, The Believer magazine accepted it but assigned their own fact-checker, Jim Fingal, to review the piece. What followed was an extensive, years-long negotiation about the nature of literary nonfiction itself.
Throughout the text, readers witness D'Agata and Fingal's detailed discussions, arguments, and revisions as they grapple with fundamental questions about nonfiction writing. The essay at the center of this debate eventually became the foundation for D'Agata's critically acclaimed book About a Mountain.
Key Features
- Complete early draft of D'Agata's controversial essay
- Extensive marginal notes and discussions between author and fact-checker
- Seven years of editorial correspondence and revisions
- Examination of the relationship between factual accuracy and literary truth
- Real-world case study of editorial process in literary journalism
For Writers, Editors, and Readers of Creative Nonfiction
This book serves as both a craft resource and philosophical inquiry. Writers of creative nonfiction will find practical insights into the fact-checking process and editorial negotiations. Students of journalism and literary nonfiction can examine the ethical considerations when crafting narratives from real events. The text raises essential questions: How negotiable is a fact? When is it appropriate for a writer to prioritize narrative truth over strict accuracy?
About the Authors
John D'Agata is the author of About a Mountain, Halls of Fame, and editor of The Next American Essay and The Lost Origins of the Essay. He teaches creative writing at the University of Iowa in Iowa City, where he lives.
Jim Fingal is now a software engineer and writer in Cambridge, Massachusetts.
