March 25, 2007

One Reader Too Many

Ben Schott of "Schott's Almanac 2007" got into trouble recently when, according to Editor and Publisher, the New York Times had to admit that he copped material for his "Confessions of a Book Abuser" essay from Anne Fadiman’s book “Ex Libris.” Being the nosy type, I wanted to know just what he had done, and made plans to get her book.

I'm glad I googled "Ben Schott Ex Libris" instead, because Bookninja's post of March 5 — the day after the essay appeared — contains this comment from "Hannah":

If I’m not mistaken, that anecdote is pinched directly from Anne Fadiman’s book “Ex Libris.”

Later, she typed in the relevant passage.

Here is Schott's anecdote that opened the essay:

I have to admit I was flattered when, returning to my hotel room on the shores of Lake Como, a beautiful Italian chambermaid took my hand. I knew that the hotel was noted for the attentiveness of its staff. Surely, though, such boldness elevated room service to a new level. Escorting me to the edge of the crisply made bed, the chambermaid pointed to a book on my bedside table. “Does this belong to you?” she asked. I looked down to see a dog-eared copy of Evelyn Waugh’s “Vile Bodies” open spread-eagle, its cracked spine facing out. “Yes,” I replied. “Sir, that is no way to treat a book!” she declared, stalking out of the room.

I appreciate the chambermaid’s point of view — and I admire how she expressed it. Yet I profoundly disagree.

Now, here is Fadiman's version:

“When I was eleven and my brother was thirteen, our parents took us to Europe. At the Hotel D’Angleterre in Copenhagen, as he had done virtually every night of his literate life, Kim left a book facedown on the bedside table. The next afternoon, he returned to find the book closed, a piece of paper inserted to mark the page, and the following note, signed by the chambermaid, resting on its cover: SIR, YOU MUST NEVER DO THAT TO A BOOK.”

It should be noted that Schott denies having read Fadiman's book, and that the incident actually happened. On the other hand, the E&P article mentions other similarities: "references to a system of dog-earing pages either at the top or at the bottom depending on referential purpose and to travelers who rip previously read sections from paperbacks and discard them before boarding an airplane."

Now, I don't know if Hannah's comment was the one that sunk Schott, but I admire her recall. I had read "Ex Libris" and didn't remember the anecdote. Nor do I know for sure who's right, although if those little extra bits are in her essay, I'm less inclined to believe Schott. Outspoken book-loving chambermaids may be common on the European continent, but toss in a few more points of similarity between two essays, and plagiarism is far likelier.

Either way, Schott's shot his chance at seeing his work in the NYT anytime soon.

UPDATE: Edward Champion has some harsh words for the NYT and this compiler of renown.

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I haven’t read either essay, but with respect to being admonished by a maid regarding leaving a book open like that, I can readily believe that it could have happened to two different people.

Growing up in the late 60’s, I recall my grandmother making a similar remark when offering a bookmark to a fellow traveler on a cross-country train trip.

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