[Ads-l] Request Help Verifying Quote: Misquotation is, in fact, the pride and privilege of the learned

[ADSGarson O'Toole]

Thanks for sharing this intriguing information, Rich. Despite this
extraordinary episode it appears that Pearson's later biographies of
luminaries were commercially successful.
Garson

On Sun, Nov 23, 2025 at 10:03 AM Rich Lowenthal
<000018596069864c-dmarc-request at listserv.uga.edu> wrote:
>
> An additional note on Hesketh Pearson (compiler of "Common
> Misquotations").
>
> Pearson was arrested in 1926 and charged with obtaining money under
> false pretenses for the publication of the book "The Whispering
> Gallery." The book, which Pearson had told publisher Allen Lane was from
> the diary of the diplomat Sir Rennell Rodd, contained anecdotes and
> conversations about many famous people. The book however had nothing to
> do with Rodd and was actually a complete fabrication invented by
> Pearson. The publisher, however, believed Pearson that the source was
> Rodd's diary.
>
> The defense admitted that Pearson was a repeated liar, but argued that a
> liar is not necessarily a defrauder. Pearson said that he assumed the
> publisher knew there was no real diarist, and gave the name of Rodd as
> he could not think of anyone less likely to have written the book.
>
> The jury found for the defense and agreed there was no intent to
> defraud.
>
> Perhaps this puts a little more light on Pearson's view of the
> superiority of misquotation. (One should perhaps also take Pearson's
> references and writings with considerable salt.)

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