Libra - History or Fiction?
Libra by Don Delillo explores the line between history and fiction in a unique way. By filling in the gaps of what is known about the Kennedy assassination, Delillo takes creative liberties, but also exemplifies a process many historians take. After all, history is simply collecting facts and drawing conclusions about them, which is not far off from what Delillo does. First, it’s important to acknowledge the truly divisive nature of the events depicted in Libra. Not only does it involve the murder of multiple people, but also the justification of it, and the involvement of the U.S. government. President John F. Kennedy’s assassination is one of the more controversial events of U.S. history. It’s the origin of great distrust in the government, leading many people to no longer take government statements at face value. The implications of this are huge - large scale investigations, conspiracies, politics, and more. The fact that one explanation...