Holocaust Profiteering

I was reflecting on the impact a novel has when it is fiction, nonfiction, or based on a true story. How much weight does that carry in the mind of the reader? When reading the Kosinski's novel I feel as if I am reading his life's story. This brought up the question of Holocaust Profiteering. We are all familiar with the concept of certain historical events and topics selling to an audience better than others. One of the articles I read compared The Painted Bird to The Diary of Anne Frank; however, how much weight does Anne Frank carry if she isn't actually in the attic?

The first link is an article about Kosinski's life where it makes the Anne Frank comparison. The second link is an article about holocaust profiteering, a common trade. I also included a link about Steps, because it seems to be equally fascinating and disturbing as The Painted Bird.

http://www.artsandopinion.com/2007_v6_n6/routh-3.htm

http://zaprasza.net/a.php?article_id=31340

http://biblioklept.org/2010/08/22/steps-jerzy-kosinski/