Original research article
Humanities Review

Flakes of Truth: Book review of 'James Wood’s How Fiction Works'

2026, No. 1

Anna Oliynyk

0009-0005-0610-9378

Polish Academy of Sciences, Institute of Literary Research

DOI

10.31338/2657-599X.ph.2026-4.13

Publication date

17.10.2026

Publishing model

open access

License type

CC BY 4.0 Int.

Field

Humanities

Discipline

literary studies

Language of publication

Polish

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Article

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Abstract

The review shows how Wood engages with most essential creative writing issues such as: point of view, telling detail, and character building. The emphasis is placed on his attempt to solve the problem of 'truth in fiction'. Unfortunately, his arguments are superficial and indecisive, therefore unsatisfying for the reader.

Keywords:

creative writing,telling detail,truth

Bibliography

Márai Sándor, Żar, przekł. Feliks Netz, Warszawa: Czytelnik 2009.

Wood James, Jak działa literatura, red. przekł. Magda Heydel, Wrocław: Ossolineum 2026.