Read, Share, Enjoy: Classics and More! discussion

"If the reader prefers, this may be regarded as fiction. But there is always the chance that such a book of fiction may throw some light on what has been written as fact."

I am just getting started and the version I picked up is called "The Restored Edition". They mentioned a few things that were embellished, but it is mostly straight from his memory, apparently.

There was an interesting quote in the preface that reminds me of the one you mention:

"This book contains material from the remises of my memory and of my heart. Even if the one has been tampered with and the other does not exist."

Remises, a French term, is used. It means a rebate or discount or remission. Weird word for what he is trying to convey. Sometimes there is no good translation and so his act of writing could only be expressed with that French word--he is writing what remains in the memory after all the living of the experience has gone out.

That makes me kind of sad but seems about right when you think about the way his life and career progressed.