Abstract

This paper explores the ethical dimensions of narrative truth in Sir Ranulph Fiennes' The Feather Men, a self-described "factional" work blending fact and fiction. Through the lens of philosophical narrative theory, it examines how the book’s portrayal of vigilante justice—embodied by the Feather Men protecting SAS veterans from a vengeful assassination squad—raises questions about the moral responsibilities of storytelling. The ambiguity of its truth claims, coupled with its immersive narrative, shapes reader perceptions of justice, heroism, and legality in ways that conventional ethical theories, such as deontology or consequentialism, fail to fully grapple with. This analysis argues that factional storytelling, as exemplified here, acts as a moral agent, complicating the boundary between reality and imagination. This inquiry extends to modern factional narratives, from docudramas to autofiction, where truth’s ambiguity shapes public moral discourse, prompting a reevaluation of how narratives influence ethical understanding.