Facts about writers

4 Interesting Facts About Famous Books

Old books on wooden planks with blur shimmer background
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Usually, when you spend an evening reading a particular book, you don’t think about the story behind its creation or its influence on those around it. And yet, behind every worthy work, there’s an equally interesting story or mystery.

1. Edgar Allan Poe’s “The Narrative of Arthur Gordon Pym of Nantucket”

In Edgar Allan Poe’s 1838 novel “The Narrative of Arthur Gordon Pym of Nantucket,” there is an episode where a ship is wrecked during a storm, and only four people survive on a lifeboat. To avoid dying of hunger, they decide to eat one of their own — a man named Richard Parker. In 1884, a real-life incident took place when the yacht Mignonette sank, and four survivors were stranded in a lifeboat. To survive, three of them killed and ate the cabin boy, whose name was also Richard Parker.

Fact Check: This remarkable coincidence between Poe’s fictional character and the real-life case of Richard Parker is well-documented. Edgar Allan Poe’s novel was published in 1838, and the real incident involved the shipwreck of the Mignonette in 1884, where indeed a cabin boy named Richard Parker was killed and eaten by the others to survive.

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2. J.K. Rowling’s “Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone”

In 1995, J.K. Rowling finished working on her book “Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone.” Her literary agent sent the manuscript to 12 publishers without success. A year later, an editor at a small publishing house called Bloomsbury agreed to publish “Harry Potter,” though he did not expect it to be successful. He even advised the author to find a regular job, as he believed she wouldn’t make money writing children’s books.

Fact Check: J.K. Rowling’s manuscript for “Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone” was famously rejected by numerous publishers—it’s widely reported that there were around 12 rejections before Bloomsbury accepted the manuscript. After being accepted, Rowling did receive a note advising her not to quit her day job. This story has been confirmed by various sources.

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3. Agatha Christie’s “The Pale Horse”

Agatha Christie’s novel “The Pale Horse” once helped save a person’s life because it describes the effects of the poison thallium. In 1977, a patient in a London hospital had an unknown illness. A nurse who had read the detective novel recognized the symptoms of thallium poisoning from the book. Thanks to this realization, the patient received the correct treatment in time and was saved.

Fact Check: The story of Agatha Christie’s novel “The Pale Horse” helping diagnose and save a patient’s life is true. In the 1970s, several reported cases showed how Christie’s detailed descriptions of poison symptoms helped medical professionals diagnose thallium poisoning. Specifically, in 1977, nurse Marsha Maitland recognized the patient’s symptoms from Christie’s novel.

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4. Ian Fleming’s “James Bond”

When Ian Fleming conceived his novel about the super-spy, he struggled to find a suitable name for the character. One day, a book on ornithology by James Bond fell into his hands. Upon reading this simple and short name, Fleming realized instantly how to name his hero. Interestingly, in the James Bond film “Die Another Day,” the main character infiltrates Cuba under the guise of an ornithologist. He is seen holding the actual book by the real ornithologist James Bond.

Fact Check: Ian Fleming indeed took the name “James Bond” from an American ornithologist whose book “Birds of the West Indies” he owned. Fleming wanted a simple, unremarkable name for his fictional spy. The cameo with the book “Birds of the West Indies” in the 2002 film “Die Another Day” is also correct: Bond is seen reading a book by the real James Bond as a playful nod to the name’s origin.

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10 Interesting Facts About H.G. Wells: Was He a Time Traveler?

H.G. Wells, a cornerstone of science fiction, possessed a mind that appeared to travel far beyond the confines of his own time, the Victorian era. With predictions and inventions that resonate profoundly with today’s technology and contemporary themes, one could whimsically wonder if Wells had a time machine of his own. Here are ten captivating facts about this prophetic author.

A plaque on Baker Street in London, marking the location where famous author HG Wells lived and worked.
A plaque on Baker Street in London, marking the location where famous author HG Wells lived and worked.
Photo by depositphotos.com

1. Prophetic Visions: Born in 1866, H.G. Wells was a British writer whose creative imagination foresaw inventions like emails, phones, and lasers. It was his groundbreaking novel, ‘The Time Machine,’ that introduced the concept of a ‘time machine’ to the lexicon in 1895.

2. Turbulent Personal Life: Wells’s personal life was as eventful as his literary one. He married his cousin Isabel Mary Wells in 1891 but their union ended when he fell for one of his students, Amy Catherine Robbins. This tumultuous period, however, coincided with his most prolific writing phase, giving us classics like ‘The War of the Worlds’ and ‘The Time Machine.’

3. Colonial Critique in Martian Fiction: The invasion narrative of “The War of the Worlds” emerged from Wells’s ponderings about a Martian invasion of Britain, drawing a dark parallel to the British colonial extermination of the Tasmanian indigenous population, which scholars now often refer to as a genocide.

4. Atomic Bomb Prediction: H.G. Wells not only anticipated the atomic bomb but also coined the term in his 1914 novel “The World Set Free,” astonishingly describing a type of weapon similar to nuclear bombs, two and a half decades before the Manhattan Project began.

5. Literature to Lethal Panic: In a tragic case of life imitating art, a radio adaptation of ‘The War of the Worlds’ broadcasted in Ecuador in 1949 incited a panic that led to a mob burning down the radio station when the hoax was revealed, resulting in over ten fatalities.

6. Disaster Movie Blueprint: With his 1897 short story “The Star,” Wells essentially created the prototype for the modern disaster movie. The narrative details the catastrophic near-miss of a meteor with Earth, causing natural disasters on a global scale, presaging a genre that would captivate millions.

7. Teaching A.A. Milne: Before A.A. Milne created the beloved Winnie-the-Pooh, he was a student of H.G. Wells, who taught at a public school that Milne attended, demonstrating Wells’s influence extended into the personal lives of other significant writers.

8. Gaming Innovator: Wells was not only a literary genius but also an innovator in gaming. In 1913, he laid down the foundational rules for turn-based strategy games, influencing a myriad of tabletop and video games and paving the way for giants like Warhammer and Dungeons & Dragons.

9. Diabetes Advocacy: Among his less known but impactful contributions, H.G. Wells was a co-founder of Diabetes UK, one of the main diabetes charities in the United Kingdom, showing his involvement in social issues of his time.

10. Monumental Legacy: A testament to his enduring legacy, a 23-foot high sculpture of a Martian Tripod from ‘The War of the Worlds’ stands in Woking, England, where H.G. Wells once lived, immortalizing his impact on literature and the imaginations of generations.

Woking tripod
Photo by wikipedia

Whether Wells had prescient abilities or simply a visionary mind, his legacy continues to influence and entertain, leaving an indelible mark on the worlds of literature, film, and even gaming.

Tolkien Tales: 7 Lesser-Known Stories about the Mastermind of Middle-earth

The creator of Middle-earth, J.R.R. Tolkien, wasn’t just a master weaver of tales; he was also a man of great depth and integrity. His life, filled with unique anecdotes and profound choices, is as engaging as his novels.

Hobbiton movie set in Matamata, New Zealand - Front door of the hole, Hobbit house
Hobbiton movie set in Matamata, New Zealand – Front door of the hole, Hobbit house
Photo by depositphotos.com

Here’s a peek into seven lesser-known moments from Tolkien’s life.

1. A Brave Response to Dark Times: When the Nazis hinted at releasing “The Hobbit” in German, they asked Tolkien to verify his Aryan background. Tolkien’s reply was both insightful and defiant. He enlightened them about the Aryan origins and poignantly expressed his wish that he had roots in the Jewish community, effectively shutting down any racial biases.
“I am not of Aryan extraction: that is Indo-Iranian; as far as I am aware none of my ancestors spoke Hindustani, Persian, Gypsy, or any related dialects. But if I am to understand that you are enquiring whether I am of Jewish origin, I can only reply that I regret that I appear to have no ancestors of that gifted people.”

2. A Unique Ashtray: Tolkien received an ornate goblet from an admirer, etched with the iconic “One Ring to Rule Them All…” in the black speech. Valuing the authenticity of the language, Tolkien decided against using it for drinking. Instead, it found its place as a holder for ash.

3. Birth of a Classic: While marking student papers, a blank page caught Tolkien’s eye. It was on this empty sheet that he penned the simple yet evocative line: “In a hole in the ground there lived a hobbit,” giving birth to a beloved narrative.

4. Missed Accolade: Tolkien’s literary brilliance wasn’t always universally acknowledged. In 1961, the Nobel Committee overlooked him for the Literature prize, citing concerns about his storytelling techniques.

5. Echoes from the Battlefront: Tolkien’s tenure as a Lieutenant during World War I, especially his time in The Battle of the Somme, had a deep impact. Many believe the harrowing sights of warfare influenced his portrayal of the desolate lands of Mordor.

6. The Beatles’ Dream: Imagine a world where The Beatles adapted “The Lord of the Rings” for the big screen! They even thought of roles – Lennon as Gollum and McCartney as Frodo. However, Tolkien didn’t share this dream and declined their request for rights.

7. Journey Beyond Middle-earth: Tolkien’s creative pursuits weren’t limited to hobbits and elves. He once began drafting a story, “The Lost Road,” weaving time-travel elements that aimed to connect Middle-earth to modern days.