A family feud sparked by words is a powerful reminder of the perils of writing autofiction. In the world of literature, a simple book can sometimes be the catalyst for a legal battle, as we see in the case of French historian Cécile Desprairies.
Desprairies' novel, La Propagandiste, has sparked a defamation lawsuit from her brother and cousin. They claim the book, which depicts her late mother and great-uncle, is an act of family vengeance, filled with resentment and lacking evidence. But here's where it gets controversial...
The author, while inspired by her childhood, denies it's a roman à clef, a novel thinly disguised as fiction. She argues for the liberation of speech, especially when writing about the dead. And this is the part most people miss: the fine line between autobiographical fiction and legal consequences.
Autofiction, a genre popularized by writers like Elena Ferrante and Karl Ove Knausgård, often delves into painful childhood experiences. It's a hybrid, blending autobiography with experimental fiction, and it's this blend that can lead to legal troubles.
"The trouble is, it's hard to write about your own life without touching on others' experiences," says researcher Larissa Muraveva. And indeed, Knausgård faced threats of a defamation lawsuit before his series My Struggle was even published.
In Norway, families have found creative ways to respond to autofiction, with ex-spouses and rumored lovers writing their own 'counter-novels'. But in France, the legal landscape is different. Prominent autofiction writer Christine Angot faced invasion of privacy lawsuits, and now Desprairies' relatives are suing for public defamation of the dead.
English solicitor Mark Stephens believes their case is weak. "French law on defamation only protects the privacy rights of living people. Descendants must prove their reputation has been denigrated," he explains.
Desprairies' lawyer argues that linking the book to living relatives requires extreme knowledge or divination, which readers lack. Stephens agrees, stating, "French courts are unlikely to muzzle a novelist exposing truths. Family pride makes for bad law and worse literature."
The verdict in this case is expected on March 17th. Will it set a precedent for autofiction writers? The legal and literary worlds await the decision.
What are your thoughts on this controversial topic? Should writers of autofiction be held accountable for their depictions of family members, even if they are no longer with us? The floor is open for discussion.
