I’m still free-lance copyediting on occasion. The magazine I was working for today gave me a collection of fiction reviews to copyedit. And sure enough, there was a historical novel
whose reviewer was a bit hazy on historical fact.
The
reviewer says the novel is set in “Nazi and Fascist-occupied Venice, Italy, in
1945, just weeks before Italy’s surrender to the Allies.” Well, Italy
surrendered to the Allies in 1943, so is this novel set in 1943 or 1945? After the Fascist Italian government surrendered, Nazi Germany invaded, and there might well have also been Italian Fascists in Nazi-occupied Venice, but I don't think one could say the Fascists were "occupying" an Italian city. And if
it’s set in I945, then it’s just weeks before Germany’s surrender.
A little
fact-checking shows the book is set in 1945, so I know how to correct the
review. And I feel like I have earned my pay for the day.
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