Angel Girl Controversy
Lerner Publishing Group recently has pulled one of their books, Angel Girl, from the shelves and canceled all reprints. The company also is offering full refunds for those who have purchased the book already.
Angel Girl is the story of a young man trapped in a concentration camp who comes into contact with a young girl that sneaks him food and provides him company. In the story the young man quickly falls in love with the girl and after being separated for years is later reunited with his savior by chance through a blind date in the United States. The two are then married.
The book was given the all familiar tag, “Based on a true story.”
However on December 27, Mr. Rosenblat (the subject of the story) and his agent released statements to the public announcing that certain parts and events in his own version of the story were made up. Rosenblat revealed that his accounts of time in the concentration camp were true, but the love story aspect was all false, including the reunion later on in life.
Laurie Friedman, the author of the book, said, “I, like many others, am disappointed and upset to now learn of Herman’s fabrications.”
Friedman had interviewed Mr. Rosenblat at an earlier time in order to prepare for writing the novel. “My goal in writing Angel Girl was to communicate that even in the darkest of times, no one should give up hope.”
Apparently now her stance has changed.
Adam Lerner, president of Lerner Publishing Group announced to the public, “We have been misled by the Rosenblats, who gave us and our author what we believed to be an authentic and moving account of their lives.”
Misled, indeed. Although being a writer myself, I don’t understand why the author would agree to having the novel removed from the shelves. The company only needs to remove the “Based on a true story” tag.
What do you think?
