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Last update - 21:22 29/02/2008 Woman who said was saved from Nazis by wolves admits fabrications By Reuters Tags: Holocaust, Misha Defonseca The author of a bestselling autobiography that told the story of a young Jewish girl saved by wolves while hiding from the Nazis in wartime Europe has admitted that most of the story was made up. Misha Defonseca's book "Survivre avec les Loups" is known in English as "Misha, a Memoir of the Holocaust Years" and has just been made into a successful film. She said she had invented an alternative story to make up for her painful real experiences. Advertisement "It's true, I have always recounted to myself a life, another life, a life that cut me off from my family, a life far from the men I hated," she told the daily Le Figaro in an interview published on Friday. Defonseca's book told the story of a 7-year-old Belgian Jewish girl who journeys across Europe after her parents were arrested by the Nazis during World War Two. For much of the time she sleeps in forests, fed and protected by wolves, like Rudyard Kipling's character Mowgli in "The Jungle Book." Doubts over her story emerged recently and she has been involved in a long-running dispute with her publisher over royalties and the marketing of the book. Defonseca, who said her real name is Monique Dewael, was four years old when her father was arrested by the Nazis in Belgium and she was brought up by relatives. But critics have said that, contrary to the account in her book, her family was not Jewish and her father was arrested as a member of the resistance. She said she was called "the daughter of the traitor" because her father was suspected of having talked under torture. "Apart from my grandfather, I hated the people who looked after me. They treated me badly, I always felt different," she told Le Figaro, adding that she had "always felt Jewish." She said she had become fascinated by wolves as part of her fantasy escape from her real life. "And I mixed everything up. There are times when it is difficult for me to tell the difference between what was reality and what my interior universe was. I ask pardon of all those who feel betrayed," she said. Defonseca accused her U.S. publisher, Jane Daniel, who was ordered by a court in 2005 to pay her $22 million, of pressuring her into writing a book she had never wanted to produce. Her lawyer, Marc Uyttendaele, wrote to Belgium's Le Soir newspaper saying while the book may be improbable in places, it was a "message of hope." "In other words, it matters little whether the account is real or partly allegorical, it is the product of absolute good faith, a cry of suffering and an act of courage. In that it deserves only respect," he wrote. Related articles: Holocaust: A children's version Dror Etkes / Holocaust as alibi ANALYSIS: Sarkozy's Holocaust education plan baffles Jews Bookmark to del.icio.us   Getting online, already A gov't official is planning the first Web site 'to connect all Jews around the world'. Naim to meet you French-Israeli folk singer Yael Naim isn't worried about becoming too commercial.   1.   Mishan, Misha, Misha 21:49  |  Mary 29/02/08   2.   Would somebody please pressure me? 22:11  |  Colin Wright 29/02/08   3.   I`m surprised anyone believed such a wild..... 23:24  |  Deborah 29/02/08   4.   negativism of the holocaust 23:35  |  HS 29/02/08   5.   Holocaust Industry Abuse 00:24  |  Mr. Know-it-all 01/03/08   6.   She isn`t even Jewish 01:08  |  Na sowas 01/03/08   7.   #5na sowas, u have atheist jews too, y not? 02:33  |  raw truth 01/03/08   8.   # 1 did you enjoy reading it, mary? 04:17  |  eric 01/03/08   9.   To all who read the book 08:47  |  Pat 01/03/08   10.   The Jewish Jungle Book 08:57  |  Paulo 01/03/08   11.   # 10 - Paulo 11:33  |  Noami 01/03/08   12.   To Pat of NY 12:40  |  Hertzel 01/03/08   13.   The problem is 12:56  |  Paul Wood 01/03/08   14.   #10, Paulo 13:30  |  Avi 01/03/08   15.   #11 - Such as the fairy tale that Israel has a "right" to exist 13:32  |  Mr. Know-it-all 01/03/08   16.   #15 mr know f all and more anti semitic bile 15:04  |  v hardman 01/03/08   17.   W H O has the right tu judge her ? ? ? 15:45  |  Chaim 01/03/08   18.   Mary in Boston 15:50  |  Jay in Montreal 01/03/08   19.   I can just smile 15:54  |  Asher 01/03/08   20.   #15 15:55  |  born as Muslim 01/03/08   21.   #9 Pat, the number now is 599,998 not 5 million 16:22  |  Kevin 01/03/08   22.   Typical 16:54  |  goyboy 01/03/08   23.   wolves 17:12  |  hollingsworth 01/03/08   24.   One of many 17:59  |  John Bull Capistrano 01/03/08   25.   The audience is to blame 18:58  |  Jack Kuper 01/03/08   26.   Fact versus fiction 14:54  |  Motic 07/03/08   27.   Recent discussion 01:49  |  Susie Davidson 24/03/08

Today Online Hezbollah: We have proof Israel killed Mughniyah Responses: 148 Gideon Levy: Blind int'l friendship enables Israel to kill, settle Responses: 164 Editorial: Swiss gas deal with Iran a disgrace, like WWII neutrality Responses: 156 Barak to Cheney: Iran is a threat to the region, the world Responses: 104 Jerusalem official denies reported truce offer to Hamas, Jihad Responses: 76 Rosner's Domain New Guest, Daniel Kurtzer: since '93 U.S. didn't help peace process succeed Govt. to appeal ruling on classified material in AIPAC trial I've known my rabbi for more than 20 years... (WTR) There's no need for American pressure on Israel Poll: Mideast summit in Moscow, a good idea? More Headlines 03:13 Israel shifts stance on agreement with Hezbollah 03:07 Study: 'Big Brother' monitoring alive and well in Israeli workplace 22:52 IAF official: All F16I pilots were exposed to carcinogenic substance 01:28 Laser is future of anti-missile technology, despite doubts 23:45 Health Ministry requests urgent funds for refugee health care 02:09 U.S. Jewish movement embraces mixed marriages, reaches out to kids 16:36 Jerusalem official denies reported truce offer to Hamas, Jihad 03:10 Meretz in 'twilight of its years' according to own audit 03:19 Hamas, Fatah officials in Yemen sign deal to revive direct talks 03:20 PM aide planning Website 'to connect all Jews around the world' 22:18 PM: Israel to send back refugees who infiltrate from Sinai 21:40 Barak to Cheney: Iran is threat to region, world Previous Editions Select Day 23 mar 21 mar 20 mar 19 mar 18 mar 17 mar 16 mar 14 mar 13 mar 12 mar 11 mar 10 mar

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