Jason Arday memoir published amid plagiarism row

Black British academic Jason Arday published his memoir in the United States on Tuesday, days after resigning from Cambridge University amid allegations of plagiarism and claims of racism.

Arday's memoir, "Great and Unfortunate Things", has drawn scrutiny as the dispute over his academic work continues. Its British publisher said that no plagiarism allegations had been made about the memoir.

The New York Times published excerpts from the book. In one passage, Arday writes about speaking shortly before his 12th birthday. In another, he questions whether he has overestimated his abilities and whether his story could become a cautionary tale.

Arday, who was diagnosed with autism, says he was non-verbal until age 11 and learned to read and write at 18. He became Cambridge University's youngest Black professor in 2023, when he was appointed professor of sociology of education at age 37.

The dispute erupted after some academics and media reports accused Arday of plagiarising parts of his doctoral thesis. British right-wing newspapers and commentators have used the allegations to argue that he unfairly benefited from diversity, equality and inclusion policies.

On Friday, Cambridge University said it would continue to investigate Arday's appointment and tenure after he resigned from his professor post and as a fellow of Jesus College.

The Times of London and The Telegraph have published investigative articles about Arday's academic work and personal life. Arday has admitted mistakes but said he was being wrongly portrayed as "a liar and a fantasist and an academic fraud." He has also alleged that the campaign to remove him from his position was racially motivated.

The plagiarism claims were first made in July by Nathan Cofnas, a US academic and self-defined "race realist" whose research affiliation with a Cambridge college was terminated in 2024 amid racism accusations.