Source link : https://las-vegas-news.com/8-abandoned-manuscripts-that-later-became-celebrated-masterpieces/
Picture this: a dusty manuscript shoved into the back of a drawer, forgotten for years or even decades. The author has moved on, maybe convinced their work was worthless. Then someone stumbles upon it, and suddenly the world realizes what it almost lost forever. It’s a story that plays out more often than you’d think in the literary world.
These aren’t just tales of procrastination or writer’s block. We’re talking about complete works that their creators actively abandoned, sometimes burning drafts or leaving them to gather dust in attic boxes. What makes someone give up on a manuscript that would later captivate millions? Let’s dive into these fascinating stories of literary resurrection.
A Confederacy of Dunces by John Kennedy Toole
John Kennedy Toole’s story is heartbreaking. He spent years trying to get his novel published, only to face rejection after rejection. The final blow came from a prominent editor who kept him dangling with rewrites before ultimately passing. Toole fell into depression and took his own life in 1969 at age 31, convinced his masterpiece would never see the light of day.
His mother, Thelma, refused to let it die with him. She spent years pushing the manuscript on anyone who would listen, eventually cornering novelist Walker Percy at Loyola University. Percy later admitted he expected it to be terrible but found himself captivated by the adventures of Ignatius…
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Author : Matthias Binder
Publish date : 2026-02-11 12:21:00
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