Associated Press

In the wake of the recent Assassin of Secrets plagiarism scandal, I started looking for novels and stories with characters who have performed similar transgressions, whether attempting to pass off another’s creative work as their own, or trying to push a memoir that’s a complete fabrication. Alas, what is so sadly despicable in real life makes for delightfully fiendish fun in fiction. Fortunately or unfortunately, there isn’t a list on the Internet I could plagiarize so here’s a quick list of 8 titles:

My Life as a Fake – Peter Carey

The Thieves of Manhattan – Adam Langer

Secret Window, Secret Garden – Stephen King (from the collection Four Past Midnight)

Chatterton – Peter Ackroyd

Operation Shylock – Philip Roth (this one is more about impersonation, which is still a form of plagiarism)

EPICAC – Kurt Vonnegut (a short story from Welcome to the Monkey House)

Old School – Tobias Wolff

Plot It Yourself (A Nero Wolfe Mystery) – Rex Stout

I feel like there are a few big and obvious ones that I’m missing, and I bet you know what they are. Please feel free to add onto this list in your comments. First person to comment gets a free pass to plagiarize me. What a deal!