Author’s Fabrications Spark Debate Over Memoirs

The author of a best-selling memoir whose truth was called into question this week acknowledged yesterday that he had made up details of his life.

But Oprah Winfrey, whose recommendation last fall of the memoir, “A Million Little Pieces,” by James Frey, made it the best-selling book by any American author last year, said Wednesday that she would continue to recommend it despite Mr. Frey’s admission that he made up significant aspects of his story of addiction and recovery.

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That debate has exposed rifts throughout the publishing industry this week, not least one between a prominent author – Gay Talese – and the similarly prominent publisher of Mr. Frey’s book, Nan A. Talese. The two, of course, are husband and wife. | story