7 most popular books today, the first publication of which was a failure

2024 Author: Richard Flannagan | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-15 23:55

Some books become bestsellers almost at the moment of their release. However, many famous works after the first publication failed: the books were not accepted by readers, and critics could well write very unflattering reviews. Several years, or even decades, had to pass for readers to be able to appreciate the ingenious work of the great author at its true worth, to accept and understand the meaning embedded in it.

Lord of the Flies by William Golding

In the first year after Golding's allegorical novel was published in 1954, 3,000 copies of The Lord's Husband could not be sold. And before its publication, the book visited 21 publishers, none of whom agreed to publish. The only book company, Faber & Faber, ventured to publish this novel, and only after the author had removed the first few pages of the text, which dealt with the unthinkable horrors of nuclear war. But after a few years, William Golding's novel not only became a bestseller, but was also introduced to the curriculum of some colleges and schools, and then included in the list of the best works of that time.

Boris Godunov, Alexander Pushkin

Today it is even difficult to imagine that the publication of the historical drama of Alexander Pushkin was greeted not only with a fair amount of doubt, but generally quite coldly. The novel in verse, written for the stage, was, in the opinion of some critics, a very indigestible reading. And on the theatrical stage "Boris Godunov" was first staged four decades after the first publication, and even then after very significant censorship withdrawals. Today, Boris Godunov is considered one of the best works of Pushkin.

The Grapes of Wrath by John Steinbeck

John Steinbeck's novel, a Pulitzer Prize-winning novel, considered one of the author's finest works, was received extremely negatively by farmers. The work, describing the hard life of seasonal workers, caused a very violent reaction among US farmers: the books were burned in protest, and the author was called a liar and a propagandist. It is unlikely that anyone of those about whom Steinbeck wrote his work read "Grapes of Wrath", but their employers did everything to make the novel fail.

"Metamorphosis" by Franz Kafka

For the first time, the work of the great Kafka was published in a magazine in 1915, and at the same time it was greeted by readers very indifferently. However, the author himself called the tragedy of loneliness described by him as "an exceptionally sickening story." The lack of interest on the part of readers in the story, which was to be included in the book "Kara" along with two stories, led to the fact that the author did not publish his works. And only thanks to his friend Max Brod, who did not fulfill Kafka's will with a request to burn all his manuscripts, readers were able to get acquainted with the work of the writer and philosopher.

Moby Dick, or the White Whale by Herman Melville

A long 70 years had to pass since the first publication of the truly brilliant novel by Herman Melville, so that readers could appreciate the deep meaning of the work. And the writer's contemporaries considered "Moby Dick" too complicated, pompous and even snobby, and literary critics could not understand why Melville needed to make many long digressions, which, as it seemed to them, serve only to distract the reader from the fascinating plot … Only decades later, descendants appreciated the imagery and symbolism of Moby Dick.

The Catcher in the Rye by Jerome David Salinger

When Salinger's novel was released in the 1950s, society categorically rejected it. The speech of the heroes was too harsh, the reasoning about intimate life was too frank. The first edition of The Catcher in the Rye was not only misunderstood, but also prohibited: it was impossible to find the novel in libraries. True, the scandal with the banning of the work caused a completely opposite reaction from the readers, who began to get acquainted with the novel, trying to form their own opinion about it. Today the Catcher in the Rye novel has been translated into almost all languages of the world and is included in the list of the best works of the twentieth century.

The Great Gatsby by Francis Scott Fitzgerald

In the 15 years from the publication of Fitzgerald's novel to the author's death, only 24,000 copies were sold. The writer's contemporaries were unable to appreciate the author's talent and the greatness of the novel itself. Only when the novel was published after the death of the author, it aroused an unexpectedly huge interest from readers. He was even introduced to school and university programs in English-speaking countries.

It is difficult to find an educated person who does not know the names of these writers and poets. However, not all literature lovers can say with confidence that they have read all of their books. Among the little-known books of eminent writers, there are real masterpieces that, for unknown reasons, were left without the attention of the mass reader. We propose to fill this gap and read the books of famous writers from our review.