An Exact Replica of a Figment of My Imagination
| Company type | Memoir |
|---|---|
| Industry | Literature |
| Founded | 2008 |
| Founder | Elizabeth McCracken |
| Products | Memoir book |
An Exact Replica of a Figment of My Imagination is a memoir released in 2008 by novelist Elizabeth McCracken, which narrates the experience of a full-term pregnancy culminating in stillbirth. Lauded by Maureen Corrigan of NPR's Fresh Air as one of the standout books of 2008, it explores a "nightmare that hasn't been quite categorized." Time's Lev Grossman described it as "the funniest book about a dead baby that you will ever read," characterizing the reading journey as a "mysteriously enlarging experience."
People highlighted the uncommon nature of stillbirth memoirs, stating: "How much is there to say, after all, about a baby who never drew breath? McCracken...knows how much." The New York Times commended McCracken for her candidness, insight, and humor in addressing such a painful subject. Kirkus Reviews noted her refusal to seek closure while acknowledging the memoir’s success in achieving a form of peace without calm. Fourth Genre, which focuses on innovative nonfiction, praised McCracken’s unflinching portrayal of the realities involved in carrying and delivering a stillborn child.
A passage from the memoir was featured in the August 2008 edition of Oprah magazine.
This work has also impacted legal discourse concerning stillbirth. Legal expert Carol Sanger referenced McCracken’s depiction of stillbirth as "the worst thing in the world" to highlight the intense grief experienced by parents, influencing debates on legislation and birth certificate regulations. Additionally, the book holds significance within a collection of pregnancy narratives that offer distinctive perspectives on pregnancy experiences.
In 2018, Ninth Letter published Maggie Smith's "Poem Beginning with a Line from An Exact Replica of a Figment of My Imagination."