Authorship implications of presenting one’s manuscript as an older one in the prologue

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Umberto Eco, E. T. A. Hoffmann and others have pretended (in the introduction to the story) to have found and edited obscure old manuscripts. In my view this added to the charm of their writings.



If I attempt such a thing and do it well, do I risk the publisher denying my authorship and rights?






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    up vote
    2
    down vote

    favorite












    Umberto Eco, E. T. A. Hoffmann and others have pretended (in the introduction to the story) to have found and edited obscure old manuscripts. In my view this added to the charm of their writings.



    If I attempt such a thing and do it well, do I risk the publisher denying my authorship and rights?






    publishing legal







    share|improve this question

























      up vote
      2
      down vote

      favorite









      up vote
      2
      down vote

      favorite











      Umberto Eco, E. T. A. Hoffmann and others have pretended (in the introduction to the story) to have found and edited obscure old manuscripts. In my view this added to the charm of their writings.



      If I attempt such a thing and do it well, do I risk the publisher denying my authorship and rights?






      publishing legal







      share|improve this question















      Umberto Eco, E. T. A. Hoffmann and others have pretended (in the introduction to the story) to have found and edited obscure old manuscripts. In my view this added to the charm of their writings.



      If I attempt such a thing and do it well, do I risk the publisher denying my authorship and rights?






      publishing legal




      publishing legal






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      Ludi

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          Pretending to "have found and edited an obscure manuscript" is quite a common literary device. A few other examples include Neil Gaiman's The Dream Hunters (Illustrated by Yoshitako Amano, part of the Sandman series) and William Goldman's The Princess Bride.



          You will note that in all examples, while the pretence is maintained within the body of the text, the book is credited to the real author. It's right there, on the cover. Which is to say, it is a game played inside the story, but never crossing over into the world of publishing. You approach a publisher, you present your work as what it really is - your work, using a fun literary device.






          share|improve this answer



























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            1
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            I don't think so.



            It's purely a literary device



            And an old one, as that. Some classical, widely recognized authors have used it in the past (Manzoni's Promessi Sposi - or the Bethroted comes to my mind. Another one is Cervantes Don Quixote). I recall it was used in antiquity too, by Greek and Latin authors, even if I can't remember an exact example now. Authors used to do this for a variety of reasons - for example, Manzoni did it so he could place the opera in the past and avoid censorship for being labeled against the current governors of northern Italy.



            You may find other - more recent - examples in this researchgate question or searching "found manuscript" device on google.



            Aside from being a well-established literary device, you won't risk your publisher denying you anything. They would need a copy of the "found" manuscript to claim ownership, and such copies don't exist, and you can (i suppose) easily prove ownership of anything you've written.
            If your work is good - so good that they want to claim it - they will have better chances working with you rather trying to put up such a scam.






            share|improve this answer




















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              Pretending to "have found and edited an obscure manuscript" is quite a common literary device. A few other examples include Neil Gaiman's The Dream Hunters (Illustrated by Yoshitako Amano, part of the Sandman series) and William Goldman's The Princess Bride.



              You will note that in all examples, while the pretence is maintained within the body of the text, the book is credited to the real author. It's right there, on the cover. Which is to say, it is a game played inside the story, but never crossing over into the world of publishing. You approach a publisher, you present your work as what it really is - your work, using a fun literary device.






              share|improve this answer
























                up vote
                3
                down vote













                Pretending to "have found and edited an obscure manuscript" is quite a common literary device. A few other examples include Neil Gaiman's The Dream Hunters (Illustrated by Yoshitako Amano, part of the Sandman series) and William Goldman's The Princess Bride.



                You will note that in all examples, while the pretence is maintained within the body of the text, the book is credited to the real author. It's right there, on the cover. Which is to say, it is a game played inside the story, but never crossing over into the world of publishing. You approach a publisher, you present your work as what it really is - your work, using a fun literary device.






                share|improve this answer






















                  up vote
                  3
                  down vote










                  up vote
                  3
                  down vote









                  Pretending to "have found and edited an obscure manuscript" is quite a common literary device. A few other examples include Neil Gaiman's The Dream Hunters (Illustrated by Yoshitako Amano, part of the Sandman series) and William Goldman's The Princess Bride.



                  You will note that in all examples, while the pretence is maintained within the body of the text, the book is credited to the real author. It's right there, on the cover. Which is to say, it is a game played inside the story, but never crossing over into the world of publishing. You approach a publisher, you present your work as what it really is - your work, using a fun literary device.






                  share|improve this answer












                  Pretending to "have found and edited an obscure manuscript" is quite a common literary device. A few other examples include Neil Gaiman's The Dream Hunters (Illustrated by Yoshitako Amano, part of the Sandman series) and William Goldman's The Princess Bride.



                  You will note that in all examples, while the pretence is maintained within the body of the text, the book is credited to the real author. It's right there, on the cover. Which is to say, it is a game played inside the story, but never crossing over into the world of publishing. You approach a publisher, you present your work as what it really is - your work, using a fun literary device.







                  share|improve this answer












                  share|improve this answer



                  share|improve this answer










                  answered 2 hours ago









                  Galastel

                  19.6k349109




                  19.6k349109




















                      up vote
                      1
                      down vote













                      I don't think so.



                      It's purely a literary device



                      And an old one, as that. Some classical, widely recognized authors have used it in the past (Manzoni's Promessi Sposi - or the Bethroted comes to my mind. Another one is Cervantes Don Quixote). I recall it was used in antiquity too, by Greek and Latin authors, even if I can't remember an exact example now. Authors used to do this for a variety of reasons - for example, Manzoni did it so he could place the opera in the past and avoid censorship for being labeled against the current governors of northern Italy.



                      You may find other - more recent - examples in this researchgate question or searching "found manuscript" device on google.



                      Aside from being a well-established literary device, you won't risk your publisher denying you anything. They would need a copy of the "found" manuscript to claim ownership, and such copies don't exist, and you can (i suppose) easily prove ownership of anything you've written.
                      If your work is good - so good that they want to claim it - they will have better chances working with you rather trying to put up such a scam.






                      share|improve this answer
























                        up vote
                        1
                        down vote













                        I don't think so.



                        It's purely a literary device



                        And an old one, as that. Some classical, widely recognized authors have used it in the past (Manzoni's Promessi Sposi - or the Bethroted comes to my mind. Another one is Cervantes Don Quixote). I recall it was used in antiquity too, by Greek and Latin authors, even if I can't remember an exact example now. Authors used to do this for a variety of reasons - for example, Manzoni did it so he could place the opera in the past and avoid censorship for being labeled against the current governors of northern Italy.



                        You may find other - more recent - examples in this researchgate question or searching "found manuscript" device on google.



                        Aside from being a well-established literary device, you won't risk your publisher denying you anything. They would need a copy of the "found" manuscript to claim ownership, and such copies don't exist, and you can (i suppose) easily prove ownership of anything you've written.
                        If your work is good - so good that they want to claim it - they will have better chances working with you rather trying to put up such a scam.






                        share|improve this answer






















                          up vote
                          1
                          down vote










                          up vote
                          1
                          down vote









                          I don't think so.



                          It's purely a literary device



                          And an old one, as that. Some classical, widely recognized authors have used it in the past (Manzoni's Promessi Sposi - or the Bethroted comes to my mind. Another one is Cervantes Don Quixote). I recall it was used in antiquity too, by Greek and Latin authors, even if I can't remember an exact example now. Authors used to do this for a variety of reasons - for example, Manzoni did it so he could place the opera in the past and avoid censorship for being labeled against the current governors of northern Italy.



                          You may find other - more recent - examples in this researchgate question or searching "found manuscript" device on google.



                          Aside from being a well-established literary device, you won't risk your publisher denying you anything. They would need a copy of the "found" manuscript to claim ownership, and such copies don't exist, and you can (i suppose) easily prove ownership of anything you've written.
                          If your work is good - so good that they want to claim it - they will have better chances working with you rather trying to put up such a scam.






                          share|improve this answer












                          I don't think so.



                          It's purely a literary device



                          And an old one, as that. Some classical, widely recognized authors have used it in the past (Manzoni's Promessi Sposi - or the Bethroted comes to my mind. Another one is Cervantes Don Quixote). I recall it was used in antiquity too, by Greek and Latin authors, even if I can't remember an exact example now. Authors used to do this for a variety of reasons - for example, Manzoni did it so he could place the opera in the past and avoid censorship for being labeled against the current governors of northern Italy.



                          You may find other - more recent - examples in this researchgate question or searching "found manuscript" device on google.



                          Aside from being a well-established literary device, you won't risk your publisher denying you anything. They would need a copy of the "found" manuscript to claim ownership, and such copies don't exist, and you can (i suppose) easily prove ownership of anything you've written.
                          If your work is good - so good that they want to claim it - they will have better chances working with you rather trying to put up such a scam.







                          share|improve this answer












                          share|improve this answer



                          share|improve this answer










                          answered 3 hours ago









                          Liquid

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