Gobsmacked

[Andrew C.]

I randomly googled my great great grandfather's name only to discover that his details, name, job and circumstances of his death where used in a fictional book which didn't cast him in a good light. To be honest I think there may be something to the character assisination but I feel slightly aggrieved on his behalf all the same!

[garibaldired]

I had a similar experience, Andrew. Only mine was my gt grandfather and the book wasn't fictional!
I contacted the author as he knew more details about my gt grandfather than I had and he was really apologetic about painting him in such a bad light! I ended up feeling quite amused

Best wishes,
Meg

[Orlaith17]

If the book was fictional, there is probably some sort of statement that any similarities to persons living or dead is entirely coincidental. That said, why not contact the author to ask the source of this "fictional" information?

[Andrew C.]

I've just googled the author, Dr. Bruce Durie, and he is probably known to some on here as he seems to run a Genealogy service as well as being an author and academic. My ancestor only has a small mention in his book "The Murder of Young Tom Morris" and what details there are of his character have been lifted from newspapaer reports which are readily available on the net, he has only slightly embellished them by saying he took his own life, which I was not aware of so not sure if this was true (apart from perhaps drinking his self into an early grave). My father who was a keen golfer and member at St. Andrew's would have been tickled pink (and annoyed at the same time) that Dr. Durie had written about his great great grandfather playing on the Links.