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A True Story Based on Lies
A True Story Based on Lies is a remarkable and original novel that addresses the universal issues of class discrimination, male oppression, and female servitude through dual narratives of spellbinding power. Set in contemporary Mexico, the book charts the consequences of a sexual relationship between Leonora, a servant in the wealthy O'Connor home, and her master. When a child, Aura Olivia, is born from this union she is brought up as the daughter of the house. As the novel unfolds, the "true" story gradually emerges.
176 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2001
2 people are currently reading
526 people want to read
About the author
Jennifer Clement
27 books520 followersJennifer Clement is President Emerita of the human rights and freedom of expression organization PEN International and the only woman to hold the office of President (2015-2021) since the organization was founded in 1921. Under her leadership, the groundbreaking PEN International Women’s Manifesto and The Democracy of the Imagination Manifesto were created. As President of PEN Mexico (2009-2012), Clement was instrumental in changing the law to make the crime of killing a journalist a federal crime.
Clement is author of the novels A True Story Based on Lies, The Poison That Fascinates, Prayers for the Stolen, Gun Love and Stormy People as well as several poetry books including Poems and Errors, published by Kaunitz-Olsson in Sweden. Clement also wrote the acclaimed memoir Widow Basquiat on New York City in the early 1980’s and the painter Jean-Michel Basquiat, which NPR named best book of 2015 in seven different categories. Her memoir The Promised Party will be published in early 2024. Clement’s books have been translated into 38 languages and have covered topics such as the stealing of little girls in Mexico, the effects of gun violence and trafficking of guns into Mexico and Central America as well as writing about her life in the art worlds of Mexico and New York.
Clement is the recipient of Guggenheim, NEA, MacDowell and Santa Maddalena Fellowships and her books have twice been a New York Times Editor’s Choice Book. Prayers for the Stolen was the recipient of the Grand Prix des Lectrices Lyceenes de ELLE(sponsored by ELLE Magazine, the French Ministry of Education and the Maison des écrivains et de la littérature) and a New Statesman Book of the Year, picked by the Nobel Laureate Kazuo Ishiguro. Gun Love was an Oprah Book Club Selection as well as being a National Book Award and Aspen Words Literary Prize finalist. Time magazine, among other publications, named it one of the top 10 books of 2018. At NYU she was the commencement speaker for the Gallatin graduates of 2017 and she gave the Lectio Magistralis in Florence, Italy for the Premio Gregor von Rezzori. Clement is a member of Mexico’s prestigious Sistema Nacional de Creadores de Arte.
For Clement’s work in human rights, she was awarded the HIP Award for contribution to Latino Communities by the Hispanics in Philanthropy (HIP) Organization as well as being the recipient of the Sara Curry Humanitarian Award. Most recently, she was given the 2023 Freedom of Expression Honorary title on the occasion of World Press Day by Brussels University Alliance VUB and ULB in partnership with the European Commission, European Endowment for Democracy and UNESCO among others. Other laureates include Svetlana Alexievich, Zhang Zhan, Ahmet Altan, Daphne Caruana Galizia and Raif Badawi, among others.
Jennifer Clement was raised in Mexico where she lives. She and her sister Barbara Sibley founded and direct the San Miguel Poetry Week. Clement has a double major in anthropology and English Literature from New York University (Gallatin) and an MFA from University of Southern Maine (Stonecoast). She was named a Distinguished Alumna by the Kingswood Cranbrook School.
Clement is author of the novels A True Story Based on Lies, The Poison That Fascinates, Prayers for the Stolen, Gun Love and Stormy People as well as several poetry books including Poems and Errors, published by Kaunitz-Olsson in Sweden. Clement also wrote the acclaimed memoir Widow Basquiat on New York City in the early 1980’s and the painter Jean-Michel Basquiat, which NPR named best book of 2015 in seven different categories. Her memoir The Promised Party will be published in early 2024. Clement’s books have been translated into 38 languages and have covered topics such as the stealing of little girls in Mexico, the effects of gun violence and trafficking of guns into Mexico and Central America as well as writing about her life in the art worlds of Mexico and New York.
Clement is the recipient of Guggenheim, NEA, MacDowell and Santa Maddalena Fellowships and her books have twice been a New York Times Editor’s Choice Book. Prayers for the Stolen was the recipient of the Grand Prix des Lectrices Lyceenes de ELLE(sponsored by ELLE Magazine, the French Ministry of Education and the Maison des écrivains et de la littérature) and a New Statesman Book of the Year, picked by the Nobel Laureate Kazuo Ishiguro. Gun Love was an Oprah Book Club Selection as well as being a National Book Award and Aspen Words Literary Prize finalist. Time magazine, among other publications, named it one of the top 10 books of 2018. At NYU she was the commencement speaker for the Gallatin graduates of 2017 and she gave the Lectio Magistralis in Florence, Italy for the Premio Gregor von Rezzori. Clement is a member of Mexico’s prestigious Sistema Nacional de Creadores de Arte.
For Clement’s work in human rights, she was awarded the HIP Award for contribution to Latino Communities by the Hispanics in Philanthropy (HIP) Organization as well as being the recipient of the Sara Curry Humanitarian Award. Most recently, she was given the 2023 Freedom of Expression Honorary title on the occasion of World Press Day by Brussels University Alliance VUB and ULB in partnership with the European Commission, European Endowment for Democracy and UNESCO among others. Other laureates include Svetlana Alexievich, Zhang Zhan, Ahmet Altan, Daphne Caruana Galizia and Raif Badawi, among others.
Jennifer Clement was raised in Mexico where she lives. She and her sister Barbara Sibley founded and direct the San Miguel Poetry Week. Clement has a double major in anthropology and English Literature from New York University (Gallatin) and an MFA from University of Southern Maine (Stonecoast). She was named a Distinguished Alumna by the Kingswood Cranbrook School.
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Displaying 1 - 29 of 29 reviews
August 28, 2025
Este libro lo compré hace cinco años porque estaba demasiado barato como para no hacerlo. (Es la clase de compradora que era en aquel entonces, compraba muchas cosas baratas y no me enfocaba tanto en las que realmente quería.) Gracias a ese modo de gastar descubrí historias que hasta la fecha llevo pegadas al pecho y que de no haber tomado en ese entonces, quizá ahora no conocería. Este libro, que se quedó empolvado y sin tocar durante los cinco años desde su compra, me acaba de dar una sorpresa increíble en este día.
Es algo que no me siento capaz de explicar. La mezcla de la poesía con la forma tan corta en qué la autora va narrando los hechos te envuelve de una manera que ya no te logra soltar. Me lo leí en tan poquitas horas que aún no me la termino de creer. Iba a darle cuatro estrellas hasta que me leí el final... Fue una manera tan desgarradora para envolver todos los hechos en su lugar. Creo que no debió ser de otra manera.
«Tú estás en mí, Leonora. Imagínatelo: él te besa y luego me besa a mí. Te trae hasta mí. Nunca quise tenerte dentro de mí. Nunca lo pedí. Quién sabe cuántas mujeres habrá dentro de mí.»
Es algo que no me siento capaz de explicar. La mezcla de la poesía con la forma tan corta en qué la autora va narrando los hechos te envuelve de una manera que ya no te logra soltar. Me lo leí en tan poquitas horas que aún no me la termino de creer. Iba a darle cuatro estrellas hasta que me leí el final... Fue una manera tan desgarradora para envolver todos los hechos en su lugar. Creo que no debió ser de otra manera.
«Tú estás en mí, Leonora. Imagínatelo: él te besa y luego me besa a mí. Te trae hasta mí. Nunca quise tenerte dentro de mí. Nunca lo pedí. Quién sabe cuántas mujeres habrá dentro de mí.»
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 1, 2020
Una historia corta sobre lo que se vive todos los días en muchas partes del país. Si eres de México, sabes que hay muchas Leonoras víctimas de su propia ignorancia, de la desigualdad social, del machismo, y sientes cada una de sus emociones como si fuese tuya.
Sin hacer descripciones excesivas y apoyada en la poesía, Jennifer Clement logra que puedas ver en tu cabeza, como si fuese una película o una telenovela, todo lo que le pasa a Leonora y a las mujeres a su alrededor.
Él pisó mi sombra. No pude caminar. Y luego no pude respirar. No supe lo que había sucedido hasta que pasó. Fue como querer detener la lluvia. Fue como sujetar una escoba.
Sin hacer descripciones excesivas y apoyada en la poesía, Jennifer Clement logra que puedas ver en tu cabeza, como si fuese una película o una telenovela, todo lo que le pasa a Leonora y a las mujeres a su alrededor.
Él pisó mi sombra. No pude caminar. Y luego no pude respirar. No supe lo que había sucedido hasta que pasó. Fue como querer detener la lluvia. Fue como sujetar una escoba.
July 31, 2011
il a marché sur son ombre, elle ne pouvait pas bouger et n'a su ce qui s'était produit qu'une fois que cela se fut produit. C'était comme essayer d'arrêter la pluie.
Fantastique esprit si docile qui contient une voix sienne, tue et libre.
Et tant de poésie, de celle des pauvres mots des pauvres, de celle qui n'a pas de règle et ne tente pas de convaincre.
On traverse cette vie si rapidement à la lire et on s'étonne de vouloir tenir cette main trop longue et si fine dans la notre.
Fantastique esprit si docile qui contient une voix sienne, tue et libre.
Et tant de poésie, de celle des pauvres mots des pauvres, de celle qui n'a pas de règle et ne tente pas de convaincre.
On traverse cette vie si rapidement à la lire et on s'étonne de vouloir tenir cette main trop longue et si fine dans la notre.
July 15, 2018
No sé qué pensar, realmente no veía venir ese final.
2.5
2.5
October 26, 2008
I picked this book off of the shelf because it was small and pretty, and I was on vacation. I liked it fine. If you are looking for a small, portable book I would suggest this one. And I'm not going to ruin anything by suggesting that it has a surprise ending. But it might. It has some eccentric characters, a plus for me.
May 7, 2024
Este libro me lo encontré en una librería de viejo en la Colonia Condesa de Cdmx, me pareció muy atractiva la contraportada y pues aquí ando dejando mi review.
Sentí tanto asco por toda la situación en general, es sumamente triste que esta historia que pudo suceder a inicios de siglo XX pueda seguir sucediendo hoy.
El machismo, el racismo y el clasismo mexicano realmente matan.
Qué terrible.
Sentí tanto asco por toda la situación en general, es sumamente triste que esta historia que pudo suceder a inicios de siglo XX pueda seguir sucediendo hoy.
El machismo, el racismo y el clasismo mexicano realmente matan.
Qué terrible.
January 18, 2024
Women are at the heart of Jennifer Clement’s 2001 fiction debut, A True Story Based on Lies, which looks at the upstairs downstairs dynamics in wealthy Mexico City. Our gateway to this world is Leonora, a young villager sent for a convent education so that she may exceed her mother’s career of collecting twigs to make brooms. From there she’s taken into the employ of the O’Connors, to tend the house and look after their children.
Clement is first and foremost a poet, and she brings this to bear in her dual narratives that spill light and lyrical on the page. First of these is a third-person account centred on Leonora, and her relationships with the household, the old maids and the increasingly distant Lourdes. The other narrative comes from Aura Olivia, known as Fly, the O’Connor’s daughter, though unbeknown to her she’s really Leonora’s child with Mr O’Connor. Where there’s an unspoken bond between the two there’s clearly a separate affection.
In the confines of the O’Connor household, we are witness to the classism against Mexico’s indigenous people in the way Leonora’s life is controlled not just by her employers, but also the religious infrastructure that make her available for exploitation. But in the form of Mr O’Connor we see a patriarch exercising his will on all, overriding his wife, and enjoying his many infidelities without repercussion.
There’s much at play here, in what is, thanks to Clement’s breezy, isolated paragraphs, a short book with much to say. The derision of customs over the Christian teachings sees the staff conflict with the family, if somewhat toe the line. But there’s clearly depression, power struggles, and internalised misogyny. In one instance involving the law, the equality of the poor against the wealthy is cast in doubt. And there’s a few threads, briefly mentioned, that perhaps hint at an interest that would prominently manifest itself in Clement’s 2008 novel, The Poison that Fascinates.
At no point does the narrative seem contrived, with every event flowing with logic and sad inevitability. Though an interesting, if ultimately unsuccessful, denouement that revisits Leonara’s narrative as a purely mental journey looks to tie up the book before a final gut punch takes the book to a dark form of sorority. Every leaf is a mouth, as one narrative states, which seems to relate to the number of stories that can be told about a tree. With the title, if Mexico is the tree, then this story is a single leaf, and, although a work of fiction, the story that mouth tells is true.
Clement is first and foremost a poet, and she brings this to bear in her dual narratives that spill light and lyrical on the page. First of these is a third-person account centred on Leonora, and her relationships with the household, the old maids and the increasingly distant Lourdes. The other narrative comes from Aura Olivia, known as Fly, the O’Connor’s daughter, though unbeknown to her she’s really Leonora’s child with Mr O’Connor. Where there’s an unspoken bond between the two there’s clearly a separate affection.
In the confines of the O’Connor household, we are witness to the classism against Mexico’s indigenous people in the way Leonora’s life is controlled not just by her employers, but also the religious infrastructure that make her available for exploitation. But in the form of Mr O’Connor we see a patriarch exercising his will on all, overriding his wife, and enjoying his many infidelities without repercussion.
There’s much at play here, in what is, thanks to Clement’s breezy, isolated paragraphs, a short book with much to say. The derision of customs over the Christian teachings sees the staff conflict with the family, if somewhat toe the line. But there’s clearly depression, power struggles, and internalised misogyny. In one instance involving the law, the equality of the poor against the wealthy is cast in doubt. And there’s a few threads, briefly mentioned, that perhaps hint at an interest that would prominently manifest itself in Clement’s 2008 novel, The Poison that Fascinates.
At no point does the narrative seem contrived, with every event flowing with logic and sad inevitability. Though an interesting, if ultimately unsuccessful, denouement that revisits Leonara’s narrative as a purely mental journey looks to tie up the book before a final gut punch takes the book to a dark form of sorority. Every leaf is a mouth, as one narrative states, which seems to relate to the number of stories that can be told about a tree. With the title, if Mexico is the tree, then this story is a single leaf, and, although a work of fiction, the story that mouth tells is true.
Read
February 22, 2025No me gusta hablar mal sobre un libro porque como lo mencioné al principio de mi primera review, el leer un libro está sujeto a interpretaciones dependiendo de tu estado de humor, es un acto íntimo en donde pones a prueba tu retención y tu imaginación…
Pero este es uno de los pocos libros con los que he terminado con dolor de cabeza, enojado. Lo sentí súper estereotipado, clasista y vulgar, como si fuera algún guion de “La Rosa de Guadalupe “ o “Lo que callamos las mujeres” como una especie de Roma de Alfonso Cuarón chafisima, vaya, ni esa película me gusta.
No sé si era el propósito
No la recomiendo.
Pero este es uno de los pocos libros con los que he terminado con dolor de cabeza, enojado. Lo sentí súper estereotipado, clasista y vulgar, como si fuera algún guion de “La Rosa de Guadalupe “ o “Lo que callamos las mujeres” como una especie de Roma de Alfonso Cuarón chafisima, vaya, ni esa película me gusta.
No sé si era el propósito
No la recomiendo.
July 24, 2020
📌Si le preguntasen cómo era él, ella respondería que él era como él mismo. Si alguien le preguntase a qué olía o a qué sabía él, ella diría que olía y sabía a él mismo.
The end, THEEEE ENDDDD, ¿cómo me dejan así?
Lo disfruté mucho, creo que es una historia muy real y es horrible que aún estén pasando estas cosas en México y en otros países, la forma tan poética y bien escrita que está el libro me gusto mucho.
CÓMO ODIEEEE AL SEÑOR O’Conner, realmente me despertaba muchísimo.
Solo puedo decir que no me esperaba el final, para nada.
Cómo diría Josefa “Cuerdas” 👀
3.4/5
•🐺
The end, THEEEE ENDDDD, ¿cómo me dejan así?
Lo disfruté mucho, creo que es una historia muy real y es horrible que aún estén pasando estas cosas en México y en otros países, la forma tan poética y bien escrita que está el libro me gusto mucho.
CÓMO ODIEEEE AL SEÑOR O’Conner, realmente me despertaba muchísimo.
Solo puedo decir que no me esperaba el final, para nada.
Cómo diría Josefa “Cuerdas” 👀
3.4/5
•🐺
December 6, 2019
Me pareció muy triste el hecho de que puedo imaginar perfectamente que historias como esta sigan sucediendo hoy en México. Leonora despertó mucho mi instinto protector y sus compañeras me parecieron personajes muy interesantes.
Me parece muy recomendable si quieren conocer un poco más acerca de la mentalidad que muchos en Mèxico han tenido y algumos aún tienen hacia la mujer, especialmente hacia las indígenas.
Me parece muy recomendable si quieren conocer un poco más acerca de la mentalidad que muchos en Mèxico han tenido y algumos aún tienen hacia la mujer, especialmente hacia las indígenas.
April 30, 2018
This is a heartbreaking story, altogether more so
because the narrative probably reflects a truth
to the plight of young women in poorer parts
of Mexico.
I did not get the long italicized portion toward
the end of the book, but I was surprised at
the (non-italicized) ending. A shocker that
makes story even sadder.
Be prepared for depression but also for a very
moving short novel.
because the narrative probably reflects a truth
to the plight of young women in poorer parts
of Mexico.
I did not get the long italicized portion toward
the end of the book, but I was surprised at
the (non-italicized) ending. A shocker that
makes story even sadder.
Be prepared for depression but also for a very
moving short novel.
April 17, 2019
Beautiful, poetic short novel - a very young Indian maid, from convent school, seduced by employer, of course unfairly treated after she becomes pregnant. But told in a way that emphasizes her loving support from the other "staff" in the house, and her daughter (who does not even realize that she's the maid's daughter.). Worth reading.
June 13, 2025
I had forgotten how much I like this author's writing/story telling. What a remarkable little book! It captures everything about the Mexican culture that I hate in a way that breaks my heart. Can I say I loved this book? The word love seems so inappropriate and insensitive given the brutality of the story. I normally don't even like something so "poetic". Brava....
July 29, 2019
Lettura diversa, pregna di profumi e sangue. Albicocca, coriandolo, riso, bucato. Condanne cui solo una donna può far fronte. Specchi che solo una donna può guardare senza distogliere lo sguardo. Bello, mi è piaciuto!
December 31, 2019
Sorprendente. Me encantó como está narrado el libro de una forma tan poética y tierna.
El libro te llena totalmente de todas las emociones, de cada personaje.
El libro te llena totalmente de todas las emociones, de cada personaje.
August 20, 2020
Desde el inició de la historia me temía lo peor y no me equivoqué.
January 23, 2015
Een boek met een voor mij verwarrende schrijfstijl. Door het verhaal staan er om de paar zinnen schuin gedrukt stukjes gebed/gedachten/gedichten/liedjes etc. Dat maakt het verhaal verwarrend en onduidelijk vanuit welk van de 2 oogpunten dat je kijkt.
Er zijn 3 huishoudsters in het huis van meneer en mevrouw O'Conner, waarmee Leneora met meneer O'Conner het bed gedeeld heeft. Leonora wordt zwanger en mevrouw O'Conner besluit dat het kind als haar dochter opgevoed zal worden. Je leest het verhaal vanuit het oogpunt van de dochter en de Leonora. Verleden en heden.
Het is op zich een goed verhaal maar je moet dus wel echt van de schrijfstijl houden. Het zou niet een boek zijn die ik mensen aan zou raden om ook te lezen.
Er zijn 3 huishoudsters in het huis van meneer en mevrouw O'Conner, waarmee Leneora met meneer O'Conner het bed gedeeld heeft. Leonora wordt zwanger en mevrouw O'Conner besluit dat het kind als haar dochter opgevoed zal worden. Je leest het verhaal vanuit het oogpunt van de dochter en de Leonora. Verleden en heden.
Het is op zich een goed verhaal maar je moet dus wel echt van de schrijfstijl houden. Het zou niet een boek zijn die ik mensen aan zou raden om ook te lezen.
July 22, 2020
Una historia interesante sobre la vida de una mujer indígena que trabajaba como (odio esta palabra pero pues así se dice y así lo expresan en el libro) sirvienta. Como es vivir rodeados de racismo, clasismo, y misoginia en México aunado de problemas mentales de la señora de la casa. Un infierno, sin duda y un claro ejemplo de lo que viven y han vivido muchísimas mujeres no sólo indígenas, también mujeres en general que sufren de diferentes tipos de discriminación día a día. Un libro corto e interesante.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 14, 2012
A short original Mexican narrative, mainly on prose but also combined with some poetry. This is a story of dominance, explaining the socially accepted abuses of men over women, of the rich over the poor. Also the undertaken over the natives populations.
An hardous world for poor, indigenous, women. Females which seem to survive by tightly bonding among them, by providing each other with the minimum affection humans need, love, that unjust societies forcefully eliminates from them.
An hardous world for poor, indigenous, women. Females which seem to survive by tightly bonding among them, by providing each other with the minimum affection humans need, love, that unjust societies forcefully eliminates from them.
April 18, 2011
Superb novella based around the contemporary issues of servitude and abuse. Really well written and gripping in it's presentation of life.
Want to read
July 29, 201102 long list-orange prize
December 31, 2012
Poetic and highly evocative. Beautifully told.
June 9, 2014
Una pequeña joya que ha pasado desapercibida. Gran voz narrativa la de Jennifer Clement. Todo un descubrimiento.
September 21, 2015
desperately beautiful, desperately sad
January 7, 2018
Interspersed prose/poetry: servant’s child raised by rapist boss. Captivating.
See my other ten word book reviews at my blog: https://tenwordbookreviews.wordpress....
See my other ten word book reviews at my blog: https://tenwordbookreviews.wordpress....
September 13, 2020
Una obra práctica, cotidiana, con personajes bien creados... entretenida y emocional. El final puede tener muchas opiniones, y vale la pena leerlo para crearse esa conclusión.
November 20, 2007
twas good.
March 24, 2013
beatiful and poetic.
January 15, 2015
No pude soltarlo desde que lo abrí.
Displaying 1 - 29 of 29 reviews