I have a scene in my book in which a now-deceased dictator (Slobodan Milosevic) is giving a speech, which is an actual event in history. The text of the speech is on the internet, and so it is possible to get the 'gist' of it... is it necessary to quote it verbatim, or is it ok to use the sense of it and key phrases and make it into your own words?

Michelle

I assume, because he's dead, you can quote it verbatum.

Assuming he gave the speech in his own language, you could have a character providing an English 'translation' to give the gist of it.
However, if Slobodan Milosevic appears in the book, I'd be tempted simply to quote the actual words/translation of his speech.


- NaomiM