De Paramnesie
The Paramnesia, the Book of Subversion and Implanted Truth (Vistarian: De Paramnesie, het Boek van Subversie en Ingeplante Waarheid), often referred to simply as 'De Paramnesie', is a literary hoax novel intended to satirically illustrate the arrogance of socialites trying to pass as well-read 'scholarly types' via proclaiming to have read whichever literary work became seen as 'best-selling'. While its origins dated originally to an inside joke passed around by frequenters of the Dode Mus Coffee Club in the winter of 1947, it did not rise to popular notice until the idea was brought to popular radio presenter Gerrit H. Rotshlid and his audience. According to Rotschlid, the suggestion was made that on the 7th of July 1949, a glowing review of the fictitious novella would be published by Hendrik J. Staathorpe - a prominent literary critic and close friend of Rotshlid. On the same day, Rotshlid urged his audience to go to their local bookstore and request De Paramnesia, generating artificial demand for the book alongside those who would unknowingly participate due to the review of Staathorpe. Wolter C. Aijtink, frequenter of Dode Mus and Sociologist, wrote later on the hoax that,
In Staathorpe's review, falsified Information on the book was included, originating from Dode Mus, as well as Rotschlid and his listeners. A fake author, one Willard A. Durkheim, who many 'sources' proclaimed to be a relative of the famous 19th Century Governor of Maankijkeland and underworld figure, Arendt C. Dirkheim (whose surname was written in both ways), despite no claim of such by Staathorpe. The book was given an outline as a novella drama set in Colonial Maankijkeland, with a main character forced into becoming embroiled within the political drama and intrigue synonymous with that time. Fans of Rotschlid, and those made interested by the positive review of Staathorpe, made reference to the book far and wide, bringing the hoax novel to social prominence, being placed on the Molebaai Times 'Featured Literature' list by the next Sunday.
Spreading of the Hoax
Rotschlid, who became thoroughly entertained by the events, began to grant a small segment of his late-night radio show to share updates on the spread of the hoax, not advertising it and simply relying on those who had taken as much interest in the story as he had to share knowledge of such via word of mouth. The stories generally began as minor occurrences of acquaintances and strangers claiming to have read the book when it came up in conversation, with one man recalling he had mentioned reading the book to his wife and her friends during a small social gathering and, to his amusement, was met with a surprising amount of the women claiming to have read it, sharing their opinions on the novella that did not exist, noting that two of the women began a heated debate over dissenting opinions on it - a matter which the man stated he had been forced to leave the room so as to not laugh at them.
As time passed, it soon became more and more common to find stories of those who had found themselves hearing opinions on the book, with Rotschlid beginning to compile them in what he began to call De Voetnoot ('The Footnote'), giving the notable example of a dissolutioned student in Tsurgudbyerg (Modern day Autsburg), having wrote a term paper on De Paramnesie and it's fictitious author during a course he had taken on Vistari Literature at the Khan's Royal University of Tsurgudbyerg, receiving a B+ on the paper for 'An excellently researched paper.'
Following four weeks of the frenzy, a report surfaced by the Leostad Weekly (Vistarian: Leostad Wekelijks) Newspaper - often known today simply as "LW", where a columnist had reported to have met with W. A. Durkheim, sharing lunch with the man and his wife, Eleonora. With no known origin for the reference to any 'Eleonora', the matter soon became the source for the Vistarian expression, to be having 'Lunchen met Eleonora', when referencing someone having propertied a made up story as true, equating to the Codexian phrase "Whatever you say." LW was not the only paper to have reported on it however, with numerous papers from Vistaraland, Alva and Suvania unknowingly persuading the gag by giving the so-called novella reviews, legitimizing it around the world. A notable case of such documented by Aijtink with the assistance of Rotschlid was the perpetuating rivalry between the presses of Ogedeikhota (Now Ajikhota) and Tugrikhota, with the former issuing a review of the novella which put in a negative spin, calling it 'derivative' and 'openly apologetic to Vistari colonials', with the papers from the latter accusing the former of taking only a 'cursory glance' at the themes present in the non-existent book.
Discovery and Aftermath
By August 9th the book had appeared as a 'best-seller' in cities both in and outside of the Alvan Sea, such as Vierbak, Urgabom, Tugrikhota, Arnstal and many more, though this popularity and international spread was enough to finally see the hoax discovered, with a Journalist for the Molebaai Times tracking the story to Rotschlid and Dode Mus on the 17th of September. After discussions with Rotschlid and Staathorpe, the Molebaai Times eventually issued a front-page report on the matter, with Rotschlid going on record to state that the book doesn't exist, causing a wave of distrust in Suvan and Vistari journalism for months after the incident, having exposed many trusted literary critics as farces. While many saw the humour in the scenario, with 'Lunchen met Eleonora' arriving into common usage, some journalists criticized the stunt as 'undermining the trust people had for the media irreparably.'
Staathorpe challenged this point, however, noting:
Publication
On July 7th, 1955, following a dying down of the book from public consciousness, Dode Mus collaborated to publish De Paramnesie, under the leadership of female author Beatrix Kerfaas - writing under the penname W. A. Durkheim. The book was advertised as a reprint in keeping with the irony of publishing a hoax novella, with the book including not only an interpretation of Staathrope's outline, but also the first published copy of De Voetnoot, adapted from the notes of Rotschlid. The book included many tongue-and-cheek references to the hoax, with the book's dedication page stating "To my lovely wife Eleonora, and our friends in LW".
The book received critical success, both as a stand-alone interpretation of the hoax and as a piece laden with hidden satire which intentionally went over the heads of many readers, in a way in which to embody the spirit of Rotschlid's spite towards those who only partook in literary works for social superiority.