The Free Press has delayed a book about Abraham Lincoln's sexuality after allegations of plagiarism and faked research were leveled against it by the book's former coauthor. Originally scheduled for November and now moved to January, The Intimate World of Abraham Lincoln by C.A. Tripp, who died in 2003, claims that the 16th president was gay.
Phillip Nobile, a longtime plagiarism watchdog, freelance journalist and former coauthor of the book, has charged that he left the project because Tripp fabricated research in support of the theory that Lincoln was gay. After he left the work, Nobile asserts, Tripp used his material in the first chapter of the book without proper attribution. Nobile told PW he contacted S&S and offered evidence for both the plagiarism and fabrication charges.
Adam Rothberg, a spokesperson for Simon & Schuster, parent company of the Free Press, acknowledged Nobile's "contributions" to the book and said that the book's pub date had been changed in order "to address" Nobile's concerns. Asked about claims of fabrication, Rothberg said Nobile "brought his concerns to us and we took his claims seriously."
Nobile maintains that S&S has refused to meet with him and has not adequately addressed the fabrication claim.
