With all the talk these days about the late-in-her-life publication of Harper Lee’s Go Set a Watchman, I got to thinking about well-known novels that came out after the authors died. There are more of them than one might think.
Some posthumous books are released unfinished, while in some cases other writers are hired to complete the works. Then there are 100%-done novels that hadn’t yet reached the market when death came knocking for the authors.
Do posthumous books have anything in common? Not necessarily. Some are early-career efforts, with later author renown finally spurring the novels’ after-death publication. Other books are the last works of aging writers, and thus perhaps not the peak efforts of their careers. But most posthumous novels evoke a certain reader fascination, whether it involves lamenting that the authors aren’t around to enjoy the fruits of their labors or wondering if the books would have been better off staying in a desk drawer or computer file.
I’ll start with two authors who had summer births or deaths. The Aug. 1, 1819-born Herman Melville worked for years as an obscure customs inspector after his writing career foundered on meager sales of the critically blasted Moby-Dick and Pierre. The older Melville did write some (so-so) poetry in his spare time, and also penned much of a novella. That was Billy Budd — undiscovered and unpublished until the 1920s, more than three decades after Melville’s 1891 passing. The success of Billy Budd, along with a belated realization of Moby-Dick‘s masterpiece quality, retrospectively helped Melville join Mark Twain and Nathaniel Hawthorne in the top pantheon of 19th-century American authors.
Then there was England’s Jane Austen, who died on July 18, 1817. But it wasn’t until a number of months later that publication came for two of her six novels: Persuasion (my favorite Austen work) and Northanger Abbey (actually the novel Austen wrote first, from 1798 to 1803). Interestingly, a “Biographical Notice” written by Jane’s brother Henry for those two books was the first time the previously anonymous Austen’s name appeared with her novels.
In the 20th century, the most famous example of a posthumously released novel might be A Confederacy of Dunces. Its author, John Kennedy Toole, committed suicide in 1969 — at least partly out of despair over not being able to get his raucous, hilarious book published. Over the next few years, John’s mother Thelma resolutely tried to remedy that. Finally, with the help of author Walker Percy, A Confederacy of Dunces made it into print in 1980 — and won the Pulitzer Prize for fiction.
Even more recently, the page-turning Millennium Trilogy (The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo, etc.) was published after author Stieg Larsson’s death — and became a mega-seller. A fourth Millennium novel written by a different person is slated to come out later this summer, and the existence of that book just doesn’t seem right. Some Go Set a Watchman-like publisher greed? Yes, when very popular authors die, money grabs can ensue.
Among the most famous unfinished novels published after the authors’ deaths are Charles Dickens’ The Mystery of Edwin Drood, F. Scott Fitzgerald’s The Love of the Last Tycoon (aka The Last Tycoon), Robert Louis Stevenson’s Weir of Hermiston, and Ralph Ellison’s Juneteenth. The first two were good/not great Dickens and Fitzgerald works, while Weir of Hermiston was Stevenson’s deepest, most mature book. The book by Ellison — who saw only one novel, the classic Invisible Man, released during his lifetime — was a condensed version of a very long, unpublished manuscript.
Giuseppe Tomasi di Lampedusa wrote only one novel, but the posthumously released The Leopard is exquisitely written. The book was finished when di Lampedusa died in 1957, before a publisher was found.
Sometimes, novels are published long after an author’s death. One example is Alexandre Dumas’ unfinished The Last Cavalier, which was discovered in serial form in a periodical more than 125 years after Dumas’ 1870 death. Parts of it are among The Count of Monte Cristo author’s best writing.
Also many years after the author’s death, Jack London’s The Assassination Bureau was completed by another author. London’s section of the book is of course better, but still doesn’t come close to matching his top efforts (The Call of the Wild, etc.) released when he was alive.
Then there’s Maurice, which wasn’t published until after E.M. Forster’s 1970 death because of that novel’s then-controversial focus on same-sex love.
Outside the novel realm, the most famous example of posthumous publication could very well be the stellar poems of Emily Dickinson.
What are your favorite works (ones I’ve mentioned or not mentioned) published after their writers’ deaths? Also, you’re welcome to discuss the pros and cons of posthumous publication.
(The box for submitting comments is below already-posted comments, but your new comment will appear at the top of the comments area — unless you’re replying to someone else.)
—
I’m writing a literature-related book, but still selling Comic (and Column) Confessional — my often-funny memoir that recalls 25 years of covering and meeting cartoonists such as Charles Schulz (“Peanuts”) and Bill Watterson (“Calvin and Hobbes”), columnists such as Ann Landers and “Dear Abby,” and other notables such as Hillary Clinton, Coretta Scott King, Walter Cronkite, and various authors. The book also talks about the malpractice death of my first daughter, my remarriage, and life in Montclair, N.J. — where I write the award-winning weekly “Montclairvoyant” humor column for The Montclair Times. You can email me at dastor@earthlink.net to buy a discounted, inscribed copy of the book, which contains a preface by “Hints” columnist Heloise and back-cover blurbs by people such as “The Far Side” cartoonist Gary Larson.
Dave Astor on Literature 
It never ceases to amaze me that when I’m searching for a particular topic/subject on the internet, I find the most delightful websites. Such is the case here. The history of my arrival concerned a search re: posthumously-published works as in the great number of them that exist. I must confess that I can’t resist adding to the list. Consequently, I am going to throw the name of a particular author into the soup or rather hash as in re: hash, but before I do so, I must say that I have yet to read all the comments above, consequently, he may have already been mentioned. Yet, I must say it is with some degree of sorrow that I add his name since the discovery that several of his novels were posthumously published was heartbreaking. I believe they were published by some muckety muck who bought the rights to his material after his death. Needless to say I think of most posthumously-published works (as in this case) a very mean form of plagiarism. The author is Robert Howard, of Conan the Barbarian fame. Being a fellow Texan, as Mr. Howard, and having lived some miles close to Mr. Howard’s home, though many miles distant in age, I thought of him regionally as one native might think of another, muy simpatico re: nature of the territory, comprehensively, a kindred spirit. Perhaps it is a Texas thang, for Katherine Anne Porter is another author who engenders those same feelings in me as well. Enjoyed your website, Mr. Astor, hope to read more of your essays in the future. Respectfully submitted, S. Ross Walker
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks, Susi, for your eloquent/terrific comment — and welcome to this blog! I appreciate your kind words about it. 🙂
Very glad you mentioned Robert Howard, who I’ve never read but have heard a lot about.
Greed and other negative stuff can indeed be involved when posthumous works are published. The author isn’t around to assert her or his rights, and surviving family members may not have the energy, money, knowledge, etc., to fight the people benefiting from the late author’s popularity. 😦
And, yes, one can feel a strong affinity for an author with whom we share a state!
LikeLike
Hi Dave, I’ve been especially quiet here this week, too many depressing stories about family and friends; however, I was struck by an article about Bruce Springsteen appearing with U2 at a recent concert. I don’t know how you feel about Bruce, but I’m a huge fan of his music (not so much as one of my best friends from childhood who went to most of his concerts, like a Deadhead fan, and even drove up from North Carolina with another fan to drive past Asbury Park on Valentine’s Day — before he married Patti Scialfa)! However, that being said, I’m a much bigger fan of Patti than Bruce. I love her distinctive voice and her song writing skills. So I follow her Instagram account and the latest photo was Bruce with Bono and Jessica Springsteen. I just wondered if you had any strong feelings about Bruce either way, as a New Jerseyan. I promise I won’t be upset if you’re not a fan — we all have our personal likes and dislikes, whether if be of music, books or films.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Sorry it has not been the greatest of weeks for you, Kat Lib.
I’m also a big fan of Bruce Springsteen, though I’m an even bigger fan of U2. Nice that they got together at a recent U2 concert! I wish that happened at the U2 concert I attended two weeks ago. 🙂 But it was a fantastic concert even without Bruce.
When I was in college, a pre-superstar Springsteen performed in a campus venue that could fit just a few hundred people. Wish I had gone!
Patti Scialfa DOES have a wonderful voice.
Thanks for your comment!
LikeLike
I remember watching Chuck Berry with Bruce playing the band that Chuck used that weekend. Chuck said he doesn’t tell the band what songs he will sing, nor does he even tell the band what key he is in. He said he expects them to “just know my music.” That was SOME concert.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Chuck Berry and Bruce Springsteen — wow, Eric! Didn’t realize they had ever paired up in concert. Sounds great! And Chuck Berry’s spontaneous/improvisational approach with his band is really interesting.
LikeLike
My parents took me when I was about 12 years old. I thought he was awesome back then, and still think he is now. Both Chuck and Bruce.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Great experience for a 12-year-old, Eric! Two amazing talents.
LikeLike
It’s even stranger than all that (and I think most of what I know about this stuff comes from something Springsteen wrote describing his experience)– the Chuck Berry approach to live performance (at least in the old days when Bruce was a pup)– not only did he hire local bands and not rehearse them a note before the show, but their efforts at self-preparation were doomed to end in confusion and failure on the bandstand, because Chess Records production of Berry 45’s nearly always entailed speeding up the master recording when making a pressing master. That way, Chuck sounded more youthful (he was 27 when he had his first hit)– but at the cost of the 45 being in a different key than he had employed during the recording session. In other words, a song recorded in C could become a song in C# or D when the single was pressed. So if you, the members of a band that saw this opportunity to back Berry a big break, took upon yourselves to learn every Chuck Berry hit not for note– you learned everything i different keys than those you had rehearsed. And you never knew it till you were on stage.
Berry also would not play at all unless the show’s promoter paid him in advance in cash. If the cash wasn’t in his hand upon request, he’d drive off, his guitar and amp in his backseat. There was no show if there was no cash– for this business practice, I am an admirer. He may have learned this practice from Albert King, another East St. Louis music-maker, or it may have been the other way around…
Fun fact: Hairdresser and part-time musician Chuck Berry recorded “Wee Wee Hours”, a slow blues, and “Ida Red”, a country jump number, and got Muddy Waters to listen when he traveled to Chicago to see if he could land a record deal. Muddy was impressed, therefore making him a pretty smart A&R guy without title, as were the Chess brothers when he took Berry’s music to them. Wisely, the Chess brothers saw the hit potential of the jump number, though Berry thought the blues was the hit side. Allan Freed, Cleveland dee-jay and inventor of the phrase “rock and roll” prevailed upon Chess to change the title of “Ida Red” to “Maybelline”– a sponsor of his radio show. The rest, like they say, is history.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks, jhNY, for the wonderful comment packed with fascinating information! I learned a LOT, and everyone else reading it will, too.
LikeLike
WOW! Frank Sinatra was the same way. No rehearsal, no preparation after deciding the songs he will sing for the concert WITHOUT telling the band conductor.
In a way, Gleason was similar in that he never rehearsed any of his lines.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Great information, Eric! I didn’t know that about Sinatra and Jackie Gleason. I guess some filmmakers are improvisational as well; for instance, I’ve heard that Jim Jarmusch has his cast ad lib lines.
LikeLike
Buster Keaton often worked without a script, shooting as the spirit moved him. When he ran out of ideas, he and the cast played a bit of sandlot baseball. Then, sometimes mid-inning, inspiration would strike, and they’d resume shooting.
I believe nowadays it’s common practice among many directors to shoot actors ad-libbing around a scripted dialog, using whatever works best. There’s confrontation scripted, say, and the actors confront each other with a general idea of what must be said to move plot forward, but have some leeway as to just how they get there. Heard the line “You can’t handle the truth!” was a spontaneous Jack Nicholson utterance made during filming of “A Few Good Men”, for example.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Interesting, jhNY! I’ve also heard that when Bert Lahr as The Cowardly Lion in “The Wizard of Oz” was in the poppy field as the witch-induced snow started, he was ad-libbing when he said: “Unusual weather we’re having, ain’t it?”
LikeLike
A Hollywood in-joke of sorts?– as ‘snow’ used to refer to cocaine, which is a stimulant, and thus suited to cancel the effects of a narcotic. That Bert Lahr cannot be over-praised for his CL portrayal. A show-stealer by way of sheer talent.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Hmm…it’s possible it was an in-joke. And, yes, an amazing performance by Lahr. I saw “The Wizard of Oz” in a movie theater last fall, and watching his performance on a big screen was a real treat.
LikeLike
I understand Sinatra never had any formal music education and yet he is one of the best signer of all times, amazing !
LikeLiked by 1 person
That IS amazing, bebe!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Yep– as was Bing Crosby, though in his later most-famous years, he was so relaxed that you might miss just how great his chops really were. But try to find him (young) with the Paul Whiteman Orchestra singing Ain’t No Sweet Man (Worth the Salt of My Tears)– he’s got it all!
Those early recording stars were incredible– complete takes only, no overdubbing, no punch-ins, no pitch correction— just singing. The best (Crosby, Sinatra, Armstrong)– often finished their work in one take!
LikeLiked by 2 people
Impressive, jhNY!
LikeLike
So it was true….and thanks to PBS they still show Frank Sinatra live…amazing easy singing. I just listened to ” Sweet man”….and then there was Nat King Cole….absolutely breathtaking.
I wonder of Sinatra and Armstrong ever played together.
On another note..when very young I had a 45 of Armstrong ” House of bamboo” it is not in my dream not of Andy Williams. That record walked away.
Never was able to find it in utube ..why not ?
I know for sure i am not imagining it…
I thought you might know of it.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Nat King Cole was another monster talent– fabulous vocalist, fabulous pianist
“On A Little Bamboo Bridge” is the closest thing I could find by Armstrong– maybe that’s what you had way back when….
LikeLiked by 2 people
That was good too….
LikeLiked by 1 person
Howdy, Dave!
— What are your favorite works (ones I’ve mentioned or not mentioned) published after their writers’ deaths? —
Because I did not learn of the rising of F. Scott Fitzgerald’s “Temperature” until today (via our droogies at The Associated Press: http://apne.ws/1I7TtZG), I do not know yet whether this short story will be a favorite or an unfavorite. However, its author considered it a finished piece, which, of course, was not the case with “The Last Tycoon.” Therefore, I have a good feeling about this . . .
J.J. (Alias MugRuith1)
P.S.: Congratulations on the “DAOLiterature” anniversary-related milestones!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Wow — major news about that F. Scott Fitzgerald story! Thanks for the link, J.J.! Seventy-five years after his death…
“…the rising of…’Temperature'” — nicely worded. 🙂
Thanks, also, for the anniversary congratulations! I appreciate that!
LikeLike
And to think, it will be in a literary magazine of all places.
LikeLiked by 1 person
That’s kind of nice!
LikeLike
I’ve read through all the comments, and unless I’ve missed them, no one has written in about these two, so:
1. Stendahl: He wrote “Lucien Leuwen”, what we have of it, after “The Red and the Black”, but never finished it, very possibly due to consideration of current politics and the likelihood the book would cost him his government job, were it published.. New Directions put out a version in two volumes– The Green Huntsman and The Telegraph. I have read the first book, and will, next order to A Libris, acquire the second and read it.
Stendahl’s voice in print is, for me, nearly always a delight, even if the story he tells remains incomplete. Perversely, I suppose, I found his own favorite work, “On Love”, in which he freewheelingly muses on the nature of love and lovers, to be surprisingly tedious in places, though his notion of crystallization therein is evergreen….
“Lucien Leuwen” was published in the 1890’s, long after its author’s demise. (Stendahl also wrote the beginnings of a biography, though it ends in his early youth, which I have also read and enjoyed: “Henry Brulard”, again unpublished in the author’s lifetime.)
2. Sigizmund Krzhizhanovsky: “Autobiography of a Corpse”- a collection of short fiction pieces, and so a bit of a fudge to be included here under the category of posthumously-published novels…
Krzhizhanovsky labored in near-anonymous obscurity and abject poverty in Moscow under Stalin, remembered by a very few for having been a theater critic in his early days, and as such a member of the Writer’s Union. His philosophical fiction, modernist, even surrealist,yet unique, was never printed during his lifetime, and lay “stored by his lifelong companion, Anna Bovshek, in her apartment,: in her clothes chest, under some brocade” for a quarter-century following his death, until its discovery by Vadim Perlmutter in 1976. Krzhizhanovsky’s fiction was finally published in Russian in 1988. The translation I have read was issued by NYRB Classics, copyright 2013.
“One of the greatest Russian writers of the last century”, wrote Robert Chandler in the Financial Times. And to think, had somebody tossed out that chest of old cloth….
LikeLiked by 1 person
jhNY, those were VERY informative and fascinating descriptions of those two books!
It’s always painful (as with Krzhizhanovsky) to hear about an author who got little or no appreciation/recognition in his or her lifetime. Glad that his work wasn’t ultimately lost to the world, when, as you say, it so easily could have been.
As for Stendhal, at least he got some recognition while alive and remains a somewhat well-known name to literature lovers. To be honest, I had never heard of Krzhizhanovsky before. Thank you for correcting that.
LikeLike
Had no inkling Mr. K existed till I found the book on the outdoor table of one of my local suppliers 2 months ago. The title intrigued me enough to spring for it… Very happy to have made his acquaintance.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Kudos to that outdoor table!
Thanks to you, I and others here have learned about a number of authors who should be better known than they are.
LikeLike
Good Morning Dave…well said “the page-turning Millennium Trilogy (The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo, etc.) was published after author Stieg Larsson’s death — and became a mega-seller.” he died at 50 and could have written several best sellers. The originals was in Swedish but the translation was done brilliantly !
The forth book by a different author does not seem right but if money to be made there is no stopping. Unfortunately Mr. Larsson not having any children nor being married to his long time girl friend spoiled it all.
His father and Brother are the ones tried to milk his name as long as they could.
“We Are What We Pretend to Be”, contains two previously unpublished stories by Kurt Vonnegut. The first, Basic Training, was his first novella was written in 1950 when he was in his 20`s and struggling to make it as a writer and never published.
His daughter Nannette published the book with two previously unpublished novellas and as she she points out Both stories contain autobiographical elements, The first recalls a youthful love while the second reveals an aging, depressive life.
The Basic Training the first novella written by then 20 year old Kurt Vonnegut was his first step toward a brilliant writer.
On the other hand DSAW had controversial appearance in the literary field..but there is money to be had.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Good morning, bebe!
Such a shame Stieg Larsson died. Those three books he wrote were absolutely riveting. Couldn’t put them down! I don’t plan to read the fourth book; I think it’s mostly a money grab, as you note.
I read that Larsson didn’t marry his longtime girlfriend because his investigative reporting would have made that problematic — for safety reasons, being sued reasons, or some other reasons. (I can’t remember the details of what I read about that.)
That’s right! Those two Vonnegut works you recommended and we’ve discussed before were published posthumously. Thanks for mentioning them again, and for describing them so well!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Fourth book?
LikeLiked by 1 person
Eric, another author will be continuing the Millennium Trilogy saga in a book slated to be released in a few weeks. Just doesn’t seem right to me to continue the series after Stieg Larsson died. 😦
LikeLiked by 1 person
That reminds me of the Jason Bourne character continued on by Eric Lustbader after Robert Lundlum passed away. It just doesn’t feel the same with another writing style. Lustbader practically wrote one a year like a factory, ostensibly killing an enjoyment from the character.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Sounds like an issue of quantity over quality, Eric. And, yes, it’s almost impossible for a successor to be as good as the originator of a series. Just not the same “voice.”
LikeLiked by 1 person
HP Lovecraft’s themes and style were carried on years after his death by August Darleith, well enough to be enjoyed by HPL enthusiasts. I have yet to read his stuff, having more of the original to plow through first. A successful franchise can’t be allowed to die off, if there’s money to be made, I guess.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Didn’t know that, jhNY. While August Darleith might have been excellent, I can’t imagine him being as good as Lovecraft. Same goes for any “imitator” of a deceased author. If the “imitator” is so good, they should concentrate on their own original work. But of course, as you say, there’s money to be made for publishers, and “imitators” can sometimes also make a very good living with their copy-cat writing.
LikeLike
I’ve always thought it would be more fun to write such a thing than to read one.. but I’ve never tried my hand.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Dave..we have discussed before there are so many books on Darcy on the library shelf. Now I see many books of Tom Clancy…continuing on his legacy, they were perhaps approved by the author before as his ghost writers.
James Patterson of course very much alive and thriving. I used to read and loved them when he was the writer particularly all the Alex Cross series.
Now every single of his books are with another author thy all fly off of the shelf.
I have stopped reading his books long ago.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I’ve heard about all those Darcy books, bebe! Never read any of them. And Tom Clancy’s novels sold so well I’m not surprised they’re continuing in a way.
Have I ever mentioned the time I heard Tom Clancy speak live? He was so addicted to cigarettes that he smoked like crazy even as he talked. 😦
Yes, James Patterson has a real “factory” going on.
LikeLiked by 1 person
No Dave…i did not know that you’ve met Tom Clancy before, that does not surprise me you know so may literary notables , you yourself being one of them.
On a sad note…first Celil by blood thirsty american killer and now his brother Jericho had been gunned down by poachers. 😦
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you, bebe! 🙂
Not much of an author notable myself, but when I used to cover cartoonist, columnist, and editor conventions for a magazine, sometimes the speakers would be well-known authors. Tom Clancy spoke at one of those meetings.
I read about the killing of Cecil’s brother. How horrible. So many people have absolutely no respect for the lives of animals. 😦
LikeLiked by 1 person
Well now they say Jericho is alive…everyone is rushing for some news without verifying. Hope HE is alive Dave.
LikeLiked by 1 person
http://www.inquisitr.com/2300760/jericho-the-lion-cecils-brother-was-not-shot-by-poachers-tracking-information-shows-him-alive-and-well/
LikeLiked by 1 person
A big relief, bebe. Thanks for the update! Yes, many media outlets in this digital age want so badly to be first to break news that verification suffers.
LikeLiked by 1 person
last night I checked again..seems to me NPR is becoming the only reliable source ? As Jack says it is like a soap opera.
http://www.npr.org/sections/thetwo-way/2015/08/01/428426035/jericho-isnt-cecils-brother-and-is-probably-still-alive-lion-researcher-says
LikeLiked by 1 person
Wow! Perhaps not killed and perhaps not Cecil’s brother. This is indeed like a soap opera!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Just turned on ABC this morning.which I never do .and there thy said the same story again and now posted a picture of Jericho alive and well…
LikeLiked by 1 person
Great, bebe! Nice to see that confirmed by another media outlet.
LikeLiked by 1 person
He soon became a tour de force of writing with his “teams” of writers and polishers, but one of my favorites is Zoo. I also enjoy the TV adaptation of the book, which appears to match consistently to his novel, which may explain its slowness which is his long exposition,
LikeLiked by 2 people
I guess James Patterson has picked some talented people to help him, Eric. Glad you like “Zoo” and its TV version!
The “team” approach to writing novels personally bothers me, but I can understand why some successful authors do it.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I agree Dave…I don`t understand..one a month book or more are published, why he wants to do that ? Is it he wants to be ridiculously wealthy or is he helping the other writers we will never know.
LikeLiked by 1 person
bebe, I’m guessing there are stories somewhere online that explain why James Patterson wants to have so many books out. Or maybe Eric can explain it. I know very little about James Patterson, and have only read one of his novels.
LikeLiked by 1 person
So true..his books still fly off the shelves at the library. In the now section we need to have a big chunk of the shelf for his books.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Well, I guess he’s giving his fans what they want! My local library also has a huge number of James Patterson books on its shelves.
LikeLiked by 1 person
It may be found in his DNA: A, C, G, T. And the T stands for Trump-ishness.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I have never heard that he was magnanimous, but, one will never know. It just might be to become fabulously wealthy. Dumas also had his critics, as well.
LikeLiked by 2 people
Neither did I…perhaps good for co-authors ti earn a fraction is not so bad..
LikeLiked by 1 person
Didn’t Dumas have his “workshop” too?
LikeLiked by 1 person
I’m not sure, Eric, but that does sound kind of familiar! I guess James Patterson is hardly the only one.
LikeLike
There is the TV show, yes..I have seen a little bit..now i might borrow the book, I have not read him for a long time.
LikeLiked by 1 person
If you are tired of his detective series and police procedurals, give Zoo a try. It is very different.
LikeLiked by 2 people
Yes I am going to…basically watch PBS these days and Doc Martin is my favorite show now I have watch most of the Midsomer Murders starring John Nettles and can`t warm op to the new detective.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Then there’s the new new detective– the first replacement is gone in a half-dozen episodes or so, then a new new one comes along– who I like better than his predecessors.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Are you talking about Midsomer M`s ? Nettles and wife were so natural they became part of a family and one episode of the new one and wife was enough.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Yes I am– but I was referring to the young policemen who assist the Nettles character. Had no idea Nettles himself was replaced– and I have no doubt the series is the worse for it, as Nettles is irreplaceable. Guess I’m only getting older episodes on my PBS affiliate here. Can’t say I’m looking forward to the new ones now….
LikeLiked by 2 people
Oh I did like that assistant and I see another face instead of him in the library collection. Actually it was Nettles decision not to play Barnaby 😦
LikeLiked by 1 person
Yes…PBS..here on Thursdays they are playing Nettles after Doc. Martin..with number two assistant now. The third is the best one and now with the new detective there is a fourth one.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Favourite author #2.
Eight Men by Richard Wright was published in 1961, less than a year after his death. This is a collection of eight short stories. All have the same social justice and philosophical themes. On a scale of 1 – 10, I would give Eight Men a solid 5. Some of the stories are pretty good, some…not so much. I wouldn’t put Eight Men in the same category as Uncle Tom’s Children, which was his first collection of short stories published in ’38. Every single story in Uncle Tom’s Children was soul-stirring and unforgettable.
Eight Men does not have many memorable characters or events. The overall quality of the short stories is ok. The majority of the novels and short stories Richard Wright created during and after his existentialism period in the 1950s were lacking, and that’s probably why Eight Men, The Outsider, Pagan Spain, and Lawd Today! are not as popular as his earlier books.
Richard Wright was one of those writers who was allowed to have some low points in his career. He was a phenomenal author, and even if I come across something that I’m not particularly fond of (such as Eight Men), I’ll still accept it.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Ana, Richard Wright was definitely one of those terrific authors who deserved posthumous publication — even if that short-story collection you mention was more good than great. Thanks for eloquently discussing the collection and Wright!
LikeLike
His older daughter Julia Wright was responsible for some of Richard’s posthumous releases. The Long Dream was republished in 1986; Rites of Passage in either 1993 or 1994.
Richard Wright could do no wrong, give or take a couple of questionable short stories. His only blemish was appearing in the role of Bigger Thomas in the 1951 film version of Native Son. Hands down, one of the worst movies ever made.
Give me a minute to remove the image of Wright as Bigger Thomas out of my head……………………………….
ok it’s gone.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Ha ha! Loved your last paragraph! There’s a reason authors are authors and performers are performers — though a few authors have credibly done both writing and acting (Fannie Flagg, Thomas Tryon, etc.).
Sounds like Julia Wright was a great custodian of her father’s work.
LikeLike
Nope, still there. The only thing that can remove the image from my memory is a rock concert. Got tickets to see Foo Fighters in September, so that should take care of it.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Ha! A band fronted by certain presenter at Rush’s Hall of Fame induction will be a nice antidote! And I imagine Dave Grohl’s broken leg will be a lot better by then.
LikeLike
Dave Grohl is an incredible artist. He writes lyrics, plays multiple instruments, and really knows how to work a crowd. I’ve been a major fan since his Nirvana days.
Speaking of Nirvana, I believe they were finally inducted into the RRHOF last year, 20 years after Kurt Cobain’s death. Musicians who received posthumous awards and honours could be a sub-topic on this thread.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Yes, a number of musicians have entered the Hall posthumously (some of whom, of course, died before the Hall was formed but a number who died afterward).
As for Nirvana not getting in until relatively recently, I guess bands and solo artists can’t make it until 25 years after their first recording.
I haven’t followed Dave Grohl much since his Nirvana days, but, from what you said, he sounds great! I wonder what Krist Novoselic is doing these days?
LikeLike
Krist is mainly known for his political work now, but there’s still some buzz about him on the Seattle music scene. He wrote a weekly column in on of our local newspapers for about 3 years. I think he’s more focused on the social and political side of music. I remember he rejected the offer to play bass in Foo Fighters because he thought fans would see them as a Nirvana-lite band who only wanted to capitalize on Cobain’s fame/popularity (Foo Fighters had, what, 2-3 ex-members of Nirvana in their early days??)
Dave, I never took you as someone who appreciates grunge and alternative music. That would earn you considerable street cred in the Pacific Northwest.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks, Ana, for that info about Krist Novoselic! Sounds like he’s living an eclectic, interesting, committed life outside the major spotlight. Good for him.
I’m a big fan of lots of alt-rock. A little less of a fan of grunge, although I liked some of the songs by Nirvana, early Pearl Jam, Soundgarden, etc. Your part of the country was the epicenter of grunge!
LikeLike
All solid bands. Nice selection, Dave. Grunge started as an underground genre. This guy (I can’t recall his name) operated a fan magazine called Subterranean Pop when he was a college student. He was looking for a particular sound unique to the Seattle area. Cassette tapes featuring demos and songs of local/underground bands were distributed along with the magazine, so of course the popularity of that sound and the bands grew as the tapes circulated.
Nirvana, Alice in Chains, Soundgarden, etc represented the first generation of grunge artists. We now have the second generation of grunge with a new style through Beach House, Fleet Foxes, etc.
Back in college, I got together with three other ladies from my sorority to participate in a fundraiser talent show. We did a dance performance to this song by The Smashing Pumpkins (the Pumpkins had a rage/alternative/grunge thing going on). This is an incredible song, from the lyrics to the string arrangement.
BTW, please thank bebe for mentioning that John Grisham title below. I do have that particular one in my container and will read it once I’m done with King of Torts.
I’m getting ready to go fishing, sooooo…have a good weekend:)
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks, Ana, for that info on grunge’s history! I didn’t realize a magazine was so influential in bringing attention to that music.
I haven’t kept up much with the second generation of grunge.
I loved some of the Smashing Pumpkins’ work — “Tonight, Tonight,” “1979,” etc. “Disarm” is also a terrific song. That sounds like quite a dance performance you were part of. 🙂
Have a great weekend, too!
LikeLike
Fannie Flagg came to national attention first as a regular on Candid Camera!
LikeLiked by 1 person
That’s right! A performer as well as an excellent author. 🙂
LikeLike
Two of my favourite authors I mention frequently on here had material published after their deaths. The Acts of King Arthur & His Noble Knights by John Steinbeck was published eight years after he died. This is a very fun and light-hearted book with creative interpretations of the Camelot tales. Think “Steinbeck meets King Arthur.”
Aside from the tales, the letters that Steinbeck wrote to a friend who assisted him in the research and to his agent provided deep insights into his thought processes. He was a borderline perfectionist while writing this book. Most of the letters were filled with historical facts and information, writing advice, things of that nature. Some letters were a little dark/moody/disturbing. There was obviously something else going on in Steinbeck’s world (personally, emotionally, physically, creatively, socially…who knows) that made him detour off his writing path. And based on some of the statements in his letters, it was challenging trying to translate 12th century folklore into modern times (the 1950s). This book is incomplete, but what Steinbeck did manage to complete was/is incredible. He really made the King Arthur stories come alive.
The second posthumously-published piece that I’m aware of is With Your Wings. This one is very recent…I think it was published in 2013, maybe 2014. Steinbeck never intended to develop this short story into a full novel. With Your Wings is set in WWII, and it tells the tale of an American soldier returning home. I love the brilliant way Steinbeck wrote this piece. While reading, you get the sense that the narrator is a proud father of a young serviceman who loves his country. He realises that war is unfortunate, but he is hopeful that peace will be restored. The young serviceman was also given an award and lots of praise from people in his community. He’s optimistic about his future and that of his family. So it has a pro-America, pro-military, patriotic theme.
But at the end of the story, Steinbeck revealed the race of that soldier. He is black. Now think about this for a minute: segregationist policies were commonly practised and accepted in the military during WWII. Black soldiers faced two battles (1) military conflict in Europe (2) racism and Jim Crow in America.
The reader will automatically assume that the narrator was white based on the good treatment that his son received upon returning to America, and, most importantly, the optimism he expressed. You wouldn’t expect a returning black WWII vet to have the same patriotic feelings as a white soldier, and I think that was the point Steinbeck was trying to make. Black soldiers faced the same dangers as white soldiers, engaged in the same battles, had the same hopes and dreams, yet they were treated differently based on race. I interpreted his message as “there is no black and white between men when they are fighting for the red, white, and blue.” Black soldiers, white soldiers…they were the same.
With Your Wings was originally written as a radio program for Orson Welles. Somewhere on one of my many flashdrives, I have digital versions of about thirty of his broadcasts. I enjoy listening to radio and comedy shows from the 30s, 40s, and 50s. I unfortunately do not have the Welles broadcast where he recited With Your Wings. Orson Welles was so dramatic and an excellent storyteller; I am positive he did a great job with the Steinbeck piece.
LikeLiked by 1 person
So glad you mentioned John Steinbeck, Ana! “The Acts of King Arthur & His Noble Knights” is one of the few Steinbeck works I’ve never read. It does sound fun and, as we’ve discussed, Steinbeck’s writing could be quite fun on occasion.
“With Your Wings” sounds stunningly good, too, as was your description of it and your thoughts about it. And, yes, I’m sure Orson Welles nailed that broadcast.
Thanks for the VERY informative comment!
LikeLike
Oh I have not read “The Acts of King Arthur & His Noble Knights by John Steinbeck “..he is one of my favorite author. Now I am going to my search engine….later….
LikeLiked by 1 person
I think you’ll enjoy it.
Another title to put on your list is The Short Reign of Pippin IV. Steinbeck’s take on French politics is too funny. Pippin started out as a regular guy, somehow was handpicked as King, then became a regular guy again.
Humourous little gems are sprinkled throughout this book. I think you’ll like this one too.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Hey Dave hope you’ve fully recuperated from the U -2 extravaganza ya Rock& Roll animal 🙂 First name that comes to mind is Franz Kafka . Not only did the famous bug author have many of his major works published after he passed on it was done so against his firmly expressed and clearly written instructions. His best friend and executer Max Brod completely ignored his wishes that everything, letters and literature, be burned. Had he not the world would have been bereft of The Trial, Amerika , and The Castle among other foundational gems of modernism. The question than is while we owe old Max a debt of gratitude did he really do the right thing?
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks, Donny! I need to “recuperate” by going to another U2 show. 🙂 It may have been the best concert I’ve ever seen — the music, the innovative video setup, Bono’s storytelling stuff, etc. Rock & Roll animal? Perhaps Rock& Roll biped…
Franz Kafka is a GREAT addition to this discussion! As you say, much of his work appeared posthumously, and it’s fascinating that he didn’t want that to happen. Do you know why he didn’t destroy everything himself? Maybe he secretly wanted his unique work published?
I think Max Brod did the right thing. Do you?
LikeLike
Just happened on a Max Brod hardback yesterday–“Reubeni, Prince of the Jews” from the 1920’s– a translation into English, natch. But it’s one of only 100 printed. It’s sitting next to my Kafkas as we speak….yes, he did the right thing.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Wow — a very rare book, jhNY. Congratulations on finding it!
LikeLike
It was reading Donnie’s comment that reminded me of Brod and his role– probably would have passed over the book had it not been for this very blog!
Thanks, you and Donnie!
LikeLiked by 1 person
🙂
LikeLike
When I was in high school, I started reading a series by VC Andrews starting with “Flowers in the Attic.” The books were very creepy and sinister. I was told,though not completely sure,that later books in series such as “If There Be Thorns” were written posthumously. If so,this added even more to the allure and darkness,these books were scary but hard to put down.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks, Michele! Yes, there is something a bit spooky about posthumous novels, whether the novel itself is spooky or not! Almost like hearing a voice from the grave. Still, I’m happy some posthumous novels are out there, while not so happy with other posthumous ones… 🙂
I appreciate your mention and great description of the V.C. Andrews series. Will give it a try when I can!
LikeLike
If awards were given for the most posthumously-published books by an author, V.C. Andrews would win in every category. She’s been releasing material ever since her death in the late 80s.
LikeLiked by 1 person
That’s quite a literary afterlife!
LikeLike
I’m waiting on the next public appearance announcing her new book.
Either that or the announcement that she’s joining the cast for Dancing With The Stars.
LikeLiked by 1 person
So funny! Deadpan or “dead plan” humor. 🙂
LikeLike
Hi Dave, I’m glad that you mentioned the two Jane Austen novels that were published after her death. I believe it was two of her brothers that got them published. For whatever reason, they changed the names of the novels; “Persuasion” was known by Jane as “The Elliots;” and Northanger Abbey was known by her as “Catherine.” I’m not sure if she or her brother changed the name of the heroine of the latter to Catherine from Susan. There was an unfinished novel,”Sanditon,” which another writer finished many years later. I did read it, but after that decided not to go with any more of those books, no matter how true to the author they seemed to be. The same is true of a series of books written by someone who followed Lord Peter and Harriet after their marriage. So I agree that I’m not interested in a fourth Stieg Larrson novel. I’m still reserving judgment on whether to read Harper Lee’s first novel. I was discussing it with my sister who loved “To Kill a Mockingbird,” and was interested in Lee’s friendship with Truman Capote; her decision was to buy “Go Set a Watchman” and treat it as a rough draft. I couldn’t believe how many copies of that book were stocked at Barnes & Noble the last time I was there. I’ve never seen so many of a new release of any kind. One good thing is that the controversy seems to have piqued the interest of those who now want to read “Mockingbird.” My neighbor called me the other day and asked me if I had a copy of it to lend to her — which of course I did (actually a fancy, leather-bound edition of it).
LikeLiked by 1 person
Kat Lib, I didn’t know about the different titles of those two Jane Austen novels! I like the names “Persuasion” and “Northanger Abbey” better — perhaps partly because I’m used to them. Which do you prefer on those two books?
I agree about being wary of reading novels finished by another person or novel series continued by another person. Even if the writer is excellent, the same “voice” can’t be completely captured. And it almost always has a money-grab feeling.
Treating “Go Set a Watchman” as a rough draft seems like the sensible view. And as you say, I guess a silver lining in the problematic publication of “GSAW” is even more interest in the wonderful “To Kill a Mockingbird.”
Thanks for the great comment!
LikeLike
With a new James Bond movie coming out, I think Ian Fleming didn’t finish one or two novels, or they were finished after his death then published, possibly The Man With The Golden Gun. Now that is going back a ways. And since I did own the complete series, I wonder if I remembered correctly.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks for that information, Eric! I’ve never read a James Bond book, though I saw a couple of Bond movies way back when. With so many different actors playing Bond (a half dozen or so?) over the years, it makes different writers possibly finishing an Ian Fleming book or two seem normal!
LikeLike
The books were extremely thin, but the plot seemed to fatten them up.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Nicely stated, Eric! 🙂
LikeLike
Regarding Ian Fleming’s posthumous works, ‘You Only Live Twice’ just missed being posthumous as it was published in March of 1964 and he died in August. Therefore, ‘The Man With the Golden Gun’ and ‘Octopussy’ were both posthumous James Bond releases.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Appreciate the information, Brian!
I have no idea what the novel is like, but “You Only Live Twice” is a great title.
LikeLike
It was a great title as well as one of the best books from the series, in my opinion, although it’s been almost 50 years since I read it. ‘On Her Majesties’ Secret Service,’ ‘You Only Live Twice’ and ‘The Man With the Golden Gun’ could be seen as a trilogy windng up the Bond series. I don’t know if he intended that although if he knew that his lung cancer would more than likely kill him it could have crossed his mind. The first two of those are fantastic (in my distant memory), the third is pretty good. All of them are better than the films although the film of ‘OHMSS’ was surprisingly faithful to the book, including the downbeat ending.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I thought the author said that the books could be read in any order, similarly with The Chronicles of Narnia.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Regarding the sequence of the James Bond books, for the most part they could be read in any order. Many of them alluded to events from the previous books. However, at the end of ‘From Russia With Love’, Bond is poisoned by SMERSH agent Rosa Klebb’s poison-tipped boot. He recovers, of course, and in the following novel, ‘Dr. No’ (the sequence of the films was reversed) M gives him an easy assignment in Jamaica, which of course is anything but as he runs into the monomaniacal Dr. No. The last three books that I mentioned before do pick up right where the predecessor left off and must be read in sequence to get the maximum effect.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks for the follow-up.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Also, it’s my favorite Bond theme song since Goldfinger….
Worth a listen!
LikeLiked by 1 person
The songs are definitely not the same anymore.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Better memory than I have. I only remembered The Man With the Golden Gun.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Eric, I was a huge fan of all of the James Bond films, although I did not see the last one. They were my go-to movies when I was recovering from frequent bouts of asthmatic bronchitis; although some may be seen as sexist or racist today, I loved them for the wonderful locations and the action — something I couldn’t do at the time. I think I only read “The Spy Who Loved Me,” but as I recall it was vastly different from the movie.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Dave, I was trying to cancel this post after I saw my typo in the first sentence. Can you please fix it? Thanks!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Ugh, there’s also a typo in the second sentence as well — my typing skills have diminished greatly since I retired!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Not a problem, Kat Lib! Both fixed. 🙂
LikeLike
Did I just sue the word –way?? Ugh!
LikeLike
Dave is way too busy working on all of mine
LikeLiked by 1 person
I told Dave the books are actually quite thin, and a great read if you have a few hours per novel. i remember growing up with Connery, disliking Lazenby, loving Moore, welcoming Conner’s return, feeling so-so towards Brosnan, and enjoying Craig. I would like to see Denzel next.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I never read a James Bond novel, nor did I watch any films until Timothy Dalton became Bond. I LOVED his portrayal, but that probably had more to do with my crush on Timothy Dalton after I saw him playing Mr. Rochester in a production of Jane Eyre than it did with his portrayal of James Bond 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
Having a major role in a “Jane Eyre” movie is definitely a feather in the cap of an actor or actress. 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
The first four films of the series, from the 60’s, with Sean Connery, actually attempted to include many of the plot points of the novels on which they were based. After that, possibly only ‘On Her Majesties’ Secret Service’ and the most recent ‘Casino Royale’ attempt to resemble the books. About 90 % of the other films have nothing but the title in common with the books.
LikeLiked by 1 person
A great book that I thoroughly enjoyed was a novel published posthumously written by James Agee titled “A Death in the Family”. This was a very poignant novel about a young family in rural Kentucky, where the father dies in an automobile accident. The novel, although written in the 1950’s, take place in the early part of the century – dying in a car accident was an anomalous way to go in the 1910’s. I believe that the story was somewhat autobiographical, in that Agee’s father died this way at a young age. It’s been awhile since I’ve read this, but I recall that it was primarily through the eyes of the young son. It was very touching.
As you point out, posthumous novels can certainly be hit or miss. Often it is either unpublished because the author didn’t deem it worthy to be published, or was uncompleted or unedited at the time of death. With regard to “Death in the Family”, my understanding is that if was written, but unedited, and that Agee’s widow had it edited and published because she really needed the money. This book, however, was a success in my opinion. It won Agee a posthumous Pulitzer Prize, although that doesn’t necessarily mean it was a great novel. In this circumstance, however, I believe it was warranted.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you, drb, for the interesting comment and the mention/excellent description of James Agee’s novel! The book sounds poignant and well worthy of a Pulitzer. And it’s wonderful that, among other things, “A Death in the Family” financially helped Agee’s widow. Now on my to-read list!
LikeLike
Definitely a good piece of writing, and a good period piece all around. The POV shifts among a few characters as I recall. The little children are drawn with empathy and tenderness.
Never knew its publishing history; glad Agee’s widow needed the money, as otherwise, who knows when it might have seen light of day, if ever?
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks, jhNY, for seconding the worth of that Agee novel, and describing it so well!
LikeLike
Dave,
There are a number of authors I’ve read that have books published posthumously. Starting with the most recent death, Terry Pratchett, has two (so far, there may be others.) “The Long Utopia,” written with Steven Baxter, is the fourth last in a series Pratchett also gave over most of the writing to Baxter in the end as his Alzheimer’s began to take its toll. He did finish one last “Discworld” novel “The Shepherd’s Crown.” His estate has stated no one will be allowed to finish any “Discworld” novels though there is no mention of any other books that were near completion.
Tom Clancy, had his last novel published just months after his death in 2013. Though there are two more books in his universe that have been written by his co-author Mark Greaney
Robert Jordan, the author of “The Wheel of Time” series and several Conan books didn’t finish his series before he died in 2007. He left so many notes and details though that fan and author Brandon Sanderson was able to complete the series, three books from 2009-13.
Coming off of a Conan author I’ll mention that famed character’s creator. Robert E Howard was so prolific that after he died in 1936 at age 30, his literary estate manager kept publishing short stories and poems for decades. Fragmentary stories being completed by hired hands. His most famous character keeps getting new stories from different authors, even his lesser known characters, like Solomon Kane, have lived on in other stories and works.
I’ll go forward a bit to mention Tolkien, whose son has published numerous books; note collections, translations, and stories finished by Christopher, for quite some time. Last year along “Beowulf” was published with notes.
I’ll leave it there or this could get longer than the original blog.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks, GL, for your excellent and comprehensive comment!
I’m not surprised that a prolific author like Terry Pratchett will have some posthumously published work. Robert E. Howard DOES sound incredibly prolific, too, during his short life. And you’re right about how the Tolkien work keeps on coming — sort of like all the Jimi Hendrix albums released since that rock god died 45 years ago. (Heck, J.R.R. Tolkien outlived Hendrix. 🙂 )
“I’ll leave it there or this could get longer than the original blog” — very funny!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Hendrix’s pile of recordings are above the norm even for an older artist from the same time frame. I can think of two others similar in their prolificness, Buddy Holly and Tupac Shakur but neither comes close to Hendrix.
I forgot my favorite mystery writer and my favorite character. Agatha Christie’s “Miss Marple.” They found a single complete novel from 20 years earlier that she never released but the quality is not lower in any way, it just seems the story wasn’t one she wanted in the canon for the character.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Very true about Hendrix, GL. He must have spent a LOT of time in the studio during his short life. And life was of course also short for Buddy Holly and Tupac Shakur.
Didn’t know about that found Agatha Christie novel. Nice! Certainly a VERY prolific author in addition to being a great author.
LikeLike
Hendrix pretty much lived in the studio or spent it jamming in clubs when he wasn’t dallying with a female fan or sleeping. He even took his guitar with him to the bathroom supposedly
LikeLiked by 1 person
That about sums it up, bobess48! A hardworking, hard-partying genius. Not surprising that he died so young.
LikeLiked by 1 person
The ones with the best talent either seem to live forever or burn out quick.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Very true, GL! That explains Hendrix, Janis Joplin, Jim Morrison, Kurt Cobain, and…on the other end of the age spectrum…Keith Richards still being alive. 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
Same could be said for writers.
LikeLiked by 2 people
You’re right, Eric. Some died young (the Brontes, Jane Austen, Chekhov, Stephen Crane, F. Scott Fitzgerald, etc.) and some lived into their 90s (W. Somerset Maughan, P.G. Wodehouse, P.D. James, etc.) or even to 100 (the still-alive Herman Wouk).
LikeLike
Indeed, I can think of a couple Dave didn’t mention that went that way.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Sylvia Plath always sticks out in my mind about that.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Sylvia Plath! Of course! A memorable example of a writer sadly dying very young. Thanks, Eric!
LikeLike
Yeah, I keep waiting to hear that Mick broke a hip dancing, but hasn’t happened yet.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I hear you, GL. Mick Jagger must be a workout demon! (“Sympathy for the Demon”? 🙂 )
LikeLiked by 1 person
It would be funnier if news broke that he already had hip replacement surgery,
LikeLiked by 1 person
That would indeed lead to some humor “Satisfaction”… 🙂
LikeLike
Knew a man who taught at Oxford– St. Antony’s College. He claimed that Tolkein the son loathed the Hobbit and all that followed its publication, but that Tolkein the writer made explicit in the terms of his will that the son must see to to all the Hobbit biz or be left without his inheritance. Perhaps he warmed to his task over time; perhaps my friend repeated idle gossip….
LikeLiked by 2 people
Interesting. Maybe the son wanted to travel his own road; create something of his own.
LikeLike
I’d heard that it was the changes to the “Hobbit” he didn’t like. The original version wasn’t as tied to Middle Earth as it was after Tolkein changed the story to make Bilbo’s ring The One Ring.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Very interesting information, GL!
LikeLike
Robert Jordan, eh?
Perhaps another Hemingway ref (FWTBT), if subtle….
LikeLiked by 2 people
It was a pen name, so its very possible. He was a well read man by all accounts.
LikeLiked by 1 person
That might bring us back to posthumous novels, somewhat. I tend to think without knowing a backstory to a posthumous novel, It may take the air out of it somewhat if we find out it was maybe a first draft when we think of it as a later draft, a stand-alone work instead of it originally being in a series, or written in an early period of the person’s life and finding out it was written much later. I love a great backstory, which Go Set a Watchman gives us. Perhaps with many novels published without the consent of the author, we may never know the true story behind the work.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Great points, Eric! You’re right that posthumous novels are not always exactly what they seem, and the writer isn’t around to explain. Unfortunately, some publishers will release almost anything — and perhaps obscure some truths about those releases — when there’s money to be made.
LikeLike
“Unfortunately, many publishers will release anything — and perhaps obscure some truths about the work — when there’s money to be made.”
Now THAT would make a great posthumously found Dickens’ plot.
LikeLiked by 1 person
It would, Eric!
LikeLike
The Mystery of Edwin Greed!
LikeLiked by 1 person
LOL, jhNY! Or “Nicholas Dollarby?” 🙂
LikeLike
I’m thinking now of publishing the Nickeldime Quarterly– for a price: $.40.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Ha! Your idea makes cents (40 of them)…
LikeLike
Let’s not forget Islands in the Stream by Papa Hemingway. Think of For Whom The Bell Tolls set in Cuba with chasing U-boats instead of blowing up bridges.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks, Almost Iowa! I definitely have more Hemingway books to read, and “Islands in the Stream” would be one of them. “For Whom the Bell Tolls” is my favorite Hemingway novel I’ve read so far, so that gets me even more interested in “Islands in the Stream”! Great thumbnail description by you. 🙂
LikeLike
I am more of a Snows of Kilimanjaro fan than a fan of For Whom the Bell Tolls.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Another Hemingway work I need to read. Thanks, Eric!
I did recently (and finally) get to “The Old Man and the Sea,” which I liked a lot. Felt bad for that huge fish, though. 🙂
LikeLike
It might be easier to come to grips with sympathy for the fish, than for the old man.
LikeLiked by 1 person
The old man was admirable in his way, but he, rather than the fish, was certainly the “aggressor.” 🙂
LikeLike
And in a more Hemingway way(?), the man was in the twilight of his life and maybe the fish may not have been so important after all, But for the fish…. Was the fish young or old? I can’t remember, possibly making it the more nobler of the two animals/mammals(?).
LikeLiked by 1 person
I guess trying to capture the fish was a way for the old man to prove to himself and to others that he still “had it.” I’m sure there were other symbolic and metaphoric undertones as well.
Eric, I can’t remember the fish’s age, either! It did have a LOT of energy for a while, so most likely young?
Often, I think animals and other creatures are nobler than many humans.
LikeLike
I am actually thinking of a movie right now, with all of this great Hemingway discussion, of a movie about a character finding a Hemingway-like script on a train and publishing it as his own.
Does that ring a bell?
LikeLiked by 1 person
It doesn’t ring a bell, Eric, but I hope someone else reading your comment recognizes the film. I’d like to know!
In general, my movie knowledge tends to be so-so.
LikeLike
Could you be thinking of this one?
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1840417/?ref_=nv_sr_1
I didn’t see it but I did see the previews for it and, in the manner of most trailers these days, it pretty much summarizes the film.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Yes, thank you. I think it was based on a theory about one of Hemingway’s books.
LikeLiked by 1 person
and didn’t Hemingway always say he lost everything he’d written, or very nearly, on a train in Europe very early on in his ex-pat years?
LikeLike
Judging by its size, I’d guess: old.
LikeLiked by 1 person
You may have a point there, jhNY!
LikeLike
I have been so busy with summer camp here, and now that I have some free time, I am not sure where I really want to start, but I will start with the last column. With harper lee’s Go Set a Watchman, probably the back story to the book will be much more exciting than the book itself, probably because we know it might have been To Kill a Mockingbird before TKAM became TKAM. It appears that the book was what TKAM was going to be except rejected by whoever was in charge, Scout became a child, Atticus became more righteous and heroic, and people became models for other people. Go Set a Watchman just blurred the lines between good and evil and blurred them so much that it is even hard to feel sympathy toward and unsympathetic or caring older Scout. I read the novel and the geography of the town changed, the outcome of the trial was somewhat different as also Tom’s injury, and Scout also mentions a love interest who does not actually appear in TKAM. Not revisionist, but a changed precursor.
As for Dumas’ The Last Cavalier, it might be hard to know exactly when he wrote t, like so many others, but as one of the most prolific writers, it would be high praise indeed, if it were one of his best. I think it is definitely up there near the top of his game. Bit, with so many novels of his pushing 1000 pages, it is simply a great story of a man who loses everything, but by the end, has everything restored and more, a la Count of Monte Cristo.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Great to hear from you, Eric! I hope summer camp has been busy in a good, or mostly good, way.
“…probably the back story to the book will be much more exciting than the book itself” — you may be right about that! All the greed, intrigue, uncertainty about whether Harper Lee approved the “Go Set a Watchman” publishing, etc., would make for quite a novel in itself!
As you know, “The Last Cavalier” — whenever it was written — was not as consistently good as some of what Dumas published in his 1840s prime. But some parts were darn good. Great human drama, and exciting/action-packed scenes — including the Battle of Trafalgar stuff. And some lighter, warm, “human” moments, too, as when the protagonist made friends with that elephant.
LikeLike
A Dumas novel spans so many class disciplines: literature, history, etc., that any of his novels is worth reading. It may or may not be his best, but his books are always exciting.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Very true, Eric! Dumas is literary and very readable at the same, and many of his books are definitely historical novels to a certain degree or to a MAJOR degree. Yes, and most of his work is SO exciting. It’s hard to put down a Dumas novel — even when he writes about flowers (“The Black Tulip”). 🙂
LikeLike
Especially when he writes about flowers.
LikeLiked by 1 person
LOL, Eric! Nice deadpan line.
The book I mentioned did involve a tulip contest, so that upped the excitement ante. 🙂
LikeLike
And for Dumas, I am surprised that describing flowers didn’t consume at least 50 pages.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Eric, Dumas could indeed ramble on. But as you know, he was rarely boring and had a very smooth writing style.
LikeLike
Much more sophisticated than Sir Walter Scott, at any rate.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks, Eric! I’m a fan of many of Sir Walter Scott’s novels, but Alexandre Dumas was definitely a better wordsmith as fiction writers go.
I’ve read very little of Scott’s poetry, but he did have some eloquent/sophisticated lines, most notably: “Oh, what a tangled web we weave/When first we practise to deceive” — from “Marmion.”
LikeLiked by 1 person
That great line, and others, at east kept him somewhat afloat in Twain’s world.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Glad Mark Twain didn’t totally despise Walter Scott’s writing! As much as I love Twain and his work, I think he was a bit hard on Scott (and on James Fenimore Cooper).
LikeLike
Nothing was more biting than for the sinking steamboat in Huck Finn to bear Scott’s name.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I had forgotten that, Eric. Wow! That was biting indeed on Twain’s part. 🙂
As I think we’ve discussed before, I found some of Scott’s novels quite absorbing: “Old Mortality,” “The Heart of Midlothian,” “Ivanhoe,” “Rob Roy,” “Quentin Durward,” etc. Obviously, Twain didn’t…
LikeLike
And according to dear old Roger Ebert, the best fight scene in any movie was the sword duel at the end of Ron Roy.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Didn’t know Roger Ebert had said that, Eric! That sword duel between Liam Neeson (Rob Roy) and Tim Roth WAS amazing.
I saw the “Rob Roy” movie before I read the novel, and they are VERY different. But both great in their way.
LikeLike
I don’t think a movie version will ever be as vivid as one’s imagination while reading a book, but, with new advances in CGI, the difference is certainly decreasing.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Excellent observation, Eric! CGI technology has advanced tremendously in recent years. While movies still are rarely as good as the novels they’re based on, some special-effects scenes can indeed almost match what we see in our imagination while reading.
LikeLike
I hope we don’t “find” another JD Salinger novel any time soon. That would just be extremely suspicious.
LikeLiked by 1 person
That would indeed be suspicious “money grab” territory, Eric! And as we might have discussed, I’m not a big fan of Salinger’s work — including “The Catcher in the Rye,” which I think is overrated.
LikeLike
Actually, the posthumous ‘Islands in the Stream’ and ‘The Garden of Eden” are both novels of Hemingway’s. Twain’s ‘Mysterious Stranger’ is a novella and ‘Letters from the Earth’ is, like so many of his satirical pieces, not really non-fiction but falls in that gray area of much of his writing. Even huge portions of the ‘non-fiction’ works such as ‘Innocents Abroad,’ ‘Roughing It’, ‘Life on the Mississippi’ and ‘A Tramp Abroad’ are flights of his hilarious imagination. None of his non-fiction could ever avoid being strained through the Twainian filter.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks, bobess48! Well said! Definitely more fiction and part-fiction in the posthumous mix for Twain and Hemingway than I had remembered at first thought. And you’re totally right about Twain — his nonfiction contained a healthy dose of (often-hilarious) fiction.
LikeLike
Wonderful blog, Dave! I am woefully ignorant about the personal lives of most authors so everything you said is news to me! I did Google the Bronte sisters and found that Charlotte had a novel published posthumously. It was called “The Professor,” and I’ve never heard of it.
As we have discussed before, Margaret Mitchell was supposed to be working on a sequel to “Gone With The Wind” at the time of her death, but I’m convinced that that’s not the case. The novel “Scarlett” was pure invention by the author and didn’t have anything to do with an unfinished manuscript written by Margaret Mitchell.
I can’t wait for your assessment of “Go Set A Watchman”. I WILL read it and I hope I’m not disappointed.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Well, I’m anonymous again tonight 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks, lulabelle, for the kind words and excellent comment — including your thoughts on a supposed “Gone With the Wind” sequel by Margaret Mitchell and an actual “sequel” by another author.
I just looked up “The Professor” online, and it was apparently Charlotte Bronte’s first novel (before her “Jane Eyre” blockbuster). An example of how fame can lead to the publishing of a lesser novel years later, whether the author is deceased or not. A somewhat similar situation to “Go Set a Watchman,” which I’m STILL deciding whether to read. I’d be very curious to hear what you think after you read it!
Well, Jane Austen was anonymous, too. 🙂
LikeLiked by 2 people
Hi Dave..great topic..on non-topic..I just looked up my library holds..John Grisham`s latest…Rogue Lawyer I am on 2790 of 2803 holds. Compared to GSAW 643 of 786 holds…interesting.. 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks, bebe! Glad you like the topic!
Wow — the new John Grisham book more desired than “Go Set a Watchman.” Interesting.
“Rogue Lawyer” — excellent title!
LikeLike
THat was hilarious I thought…I have never requested a newly released book and I am not sure if I would want to read GSAW but I’ll keep you posted.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I’ve never requested a newly released book from the library, either, bebe. I’m always happy to wait. If I REALLY want a book immediately, I’ll buy it. 🙂
Like you, I’m still not sure if I want to read “Go Set a Watchman.”
LikeLiked by 1 person
Dave go ahead and request it , you might get it sooner than you expect it.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks for the suggestion, bebe! Might not be a bad idea.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Buy some CD`s instead or another book or better yet…buy TKAM DVD..just a suggestion Dave 😀
LikeLiked by 1 person
More good suggestions, bebe. 🙂
I wonder what Gregory Peck would have thought of “Go Set a Watchman”?
LikeLiked by 1 person
That Rogue Lawyer list will probably get longer since the book won’t be released until the end of October. I pre-ordered the eBook. It will be delivered to my Kindle on 10/20.
LikeLiked by 2 people
Hallooooooooooooooooooo Ana…oh I did not even know the book is not published as yet. I could even purchase it. I regret donating all my Grisham Books to the library.
Dave remember i was fretting about “The Racketeer ” that I was going to buy from the book sale and that man with bushy eyebrows wanted it badly so I gave it to him ?
Now that ended up having a lovely tough..one gentleman a library volunteer involved in used book sale made a trip to our branch and handed me a brand new book and would not accept any payment from me. : )
LikeLiked by 1 person
bebe, sounds like that positive experience helped make up for that negative one! 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
Still will be looking for Low Land 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
A terrific novel! Glad you recommended it to me, bebe. 🙂
LikeLike
bebe, I swearz….if I see that book title one more time, I will be forced to buy it. Everytime you mention The Lowland, I WANT TO READ IT.
This blog is such a bad influence on me. I’m sitting here minding my own business, innocent as always, and you guys just keep tempting me with interesting book titles and authors. SMH.
…and I just logged into my thriftbooks.com account, and ordered a copy of The Lowland. See…while riding my high-horse and talking about how this blog was a bad influence on me, I was also purchasing this book at the same time. LOL.
LikeLiked by 2 people
HA…Oh why not borrow ?
Oh now you have ordered the book you would love it…her writings are like prose.
LikeLiked by 1 person
With deep sadness please allow me to post this…
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks, bebe. I’ve read about that awful killing of Cecil the lion and watched this great segment about it. I hope the disgusting man who did the killing gets prosecuted in some way, and loses his dental practice. He deserves all the social-media anger he’s gotten. What a lowlife.
LikeLike
Poachers and game hunters disgust me. I’ve been to Africa, lived in Africa, and I know how the wildlife and natural resources are treasured.
The population of the beautiful loggerhead turtles in Cape Verde is rapidly declining due to poachers killing them for their eggs, shells, and meat. People who engage in this violence don’t care about the natural history and environment. What type of depraved individual takes pleasure in hunting down and killing animals in the name of sport? SMH.
LikeLiked by 1 person
It may be one thing to read a classic by Hemingway about hunting, another now to realize just how few animals are actually left.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Well said, Ana. Such a shame the way some people cruelly treat animals. Those people are depraved indeed.
LikeLike
You’re right, Eric — nowadays, a number of species are unfortunately losing their numbers more than in Hewingway’s day.
As much as I like some of what Hemingway wrote, the whole hunting, fishing, run-with-the-bulls mentality in some of his work partly hinders my enjoyment of that work.
LikeLike
I think looking at it from a modern perspective, it does. Especially reading about the “splendor” of the “colonial,” days of Empire forging, not 18th century America, I don’t know how many novels I have read about the colonial times of India, Africa, and even Europe, and coming away with different feelings than when I read them over 20-30 years ago.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Excellent observation, Eric! Viewing Hemingway’s work, colonialism, and other things from a 2015 perspective is very different than the view from years, decades, or centuries ago.
LikeLike
The Goodwill store where I purchase about 40% of my used books occasionally has a buy-one-get-one-free type of sale. Last year, I bought two paper bags filled with John Grisham and Lisa Jackson books. I don’t have any space on the bookshelf to put them, so they are in a big plastic container in the garage.
The last Grisham title I read was Street Lawyer. Maybe it’s time to pull another out to get me in the mood for Rogue Lawyer.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Sounds like you got a GREAT bargain, Ana!
The last Grisham novel I read was one of his early ones: “The Firm.” Riveting book.
LikeLike
The Goodwill and Habitat for Humanity ReStores are neat places to shop for books and small household items. The money made from sales is used for low-income housing programs. So it’s win-win…you have a nice selection of items at deeply discounted prices, and you’re helping out worthwhile organisations.
Props for liking The Firm. As a former Memphian, I can appreciate all shout-outs to my old city.
LikeLiked by 1 person
That is definitely a win-win, Ana.
As for the great novel “The Firm” and its Memphis setting, I’m sure most of that city’s residents are nicer than the villains who run The Firm in that book. 🙂
LikeLike
I already donated..not long ago The Firm, Rainmaker, Client…now starting all over with The racketeer..did i mention that Ana ?
You would love that !
LikeLiked by 1 person
I was not reading Grisham for many years…and now reading them again.
Good idea..now start collecting them again…
LikeLiked by 1 person
bebe, you were one of the people who got me interesting in reading Grisham. Thank you! His novels are excellent, and, as we’ve discussed, he hates social injustice.
LikeLike
When I’m introduced to a new author, I usually check out 1-2 books just to give him/her a trial run. If I like what I read, then I’ll purchase more titles. But sometimes I will bypass that approach and buy the books anyway. I do that when I sense I’m going to enjoy a particular author (like Jhumpa Lahiri, in this case). And I like adding books to our home library (we both do), so…I don’t mind buying.
I went out to the garage and pulled The King of Torts from my John Grisham container. This should satisfy my Grisham fix until Rogue Lawyer is released.
Have a good evening, bebe:)
LikeLiked by 1 person
lulabelle, I just finished “The All-Girl Filling Station’s Last Reunion” after you recommended I read more Fannie Flagg (in addition to her fantastic “Fried Green Tomatoes at the Whistle Stop Cafe”). “Last Reunion” is a warm and wonderful novel! As you might know, it’s set both in the 21st century and during World War II (when some characters serve as pioneering women military pilots). Have you read it?
LikeLike
In the case of Mark Twain and Ernest Hemingway, there has been an almost second-career level number of posthumous releases, including the latest, Mark Twain’s ‘complete’ autobiography. The third volume hasn’t been released but, per his instructions, the first volume was published within months of the 100th anniversary of his death, April 21, 2010. Within five years of the death of Mark Twain’s literary descendant, Kurt Vonnegut, at least three collections have been released, mostly late career essays. The posthumous fiction to my knowledge consists of earlier works. He notably said that he had given up fiction, saying all he had to say, after ‘Hocus Pocus’ (1990) and then seven years later wrote a mess of a novel, ‘Timequake’ (1997) which, nonetheless, contains moments of brilliance. Then there’s the posthumous literary pygmy, ‘Answered Prayers’ by Truman Capote. I heard him boast on talk shows in the 70’s that ‘Answered Prayers’ would have the depth and scope of Proust’s magnum opus, ‘In Search of Lost Time’ and that he had written literally thousands of pages. While he did publish a pretty good collection, ‘Music for Chameleons’ When ‘Answered Prayers’ finally appeared in 1986, two years after his death, it was only a 181 page fragment. If he had, in fact, written those thousands of pages, he must have destroyed them. So ‘Answered Prayers’ was probably a casualty of the self-destructive spiral that was the last 20 years or so of his life.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Very true, Brian, about the many after-death releases of works by Mark Twain and Ernest Hemingway! I think of their posthumously published books as more nonfiction than fiction. Would that be correct?
Thanks, also, for the mentions of Vonnegut and Capote! Thinking of Capote writing anything remotely like Proust’s opus does defy belief.
I appreciate the very interesting and informative comment!
LikeLiked by 1 person