Kingsolver Publisher Accuses Author of Plagiarism

Staff -- Library Journal, 4/30/2001

Publisher HarperCollins has accused author Melany Neilson of plagiarizing several passages from Barbara Kingsolver's 1988 novel The Bean Trees, which it published, for her novel The Persia Cafe. Kingsolver's agent Frances Gordon said: "Barbara Kingsolver was outraged when she heard about this. It is astonishing that a published writer, particularly one who has received acclaim for her work, could do this. We expect a public apology from the author and the publisher." Neither Neilson nor her publisher, St. Martin's, has issued an apology, but St. Martin's has agreed to blue pencil the pilfered passages in future editions. It will not, however, recall current copies.