'Ukrainian' writer owns up to hoax
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.ROBERT MILLIKEN
Sydney
One of Australia's most bizarre literary hoaxes finally unravelled yesterday when the author of a prize-winning novel admitted that she had lied about her identity. Helen Darville, 24, the Australian-born daughter of British immigrants, apologised to the country's Ukrainian community for her portrayal of them in her prize-winning The Hand that Signed the Paper.
The novel, about the Nazi occupation of Ukraine during the Second World War, presents Ukrainians as collaborators in the persecution of Jews.
Ms Darville published the novel under the name Helen Demidenko and claimed her father was a Ukrainian peasant who narrowly escaped being drafted into the SS. Some critics attacked the novel's portrayal of history and accused Ms Darville of anti-Semitism. She insisted she had based her account on personal family history.
Newspapers in Brisbane, where she lives, last weekend disclosed that she was not Helen Demidenko, but Helen Darville, daughter of Grace and Harry Darville, immigrants from Britain. Her mother later admitted that there was no Ukrainian ancestry in the family.
Yesterday Ms Darville released a statement through Allen & Unwin, her publishers, saying she had taken the name Demidenko "in empathy with my characters ... This was my creative world. I do not have Ukrainian ancestry."
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments