Literature is a world of its own, in which human creativity unfolds in an unlimited way. Passionate dramas, pink romances, historical novels, apocalyptic dystopias, science fiction… everything has its place in the pages of a good book. Curious facts about literature surprise us with strange stories about novels, their authors, the historical moments in which they were written… Today in Supercurious we launch ourselves into the pages of books, and we tell you about the best literary curiosities. Can you come with us? Well, let’s get started!
15 curious facts about literature that you should know
1. A fatalistic premonition
When it comes to literary curiosities, there are some that are truly shocking. Would you believe us if we told you that the sinking of the Titanic was written with amazing coincidences, long before? Well, it was Morgan Robertson who published, in the year 1898, a work that he called Futility. It was about the story about the sinking of an ocean liner during her maiden voyage from London to New York. Fourteen years later the premonition was fulfilled. The Titanic collided with the iceberg that caused its immersion in the icy waters of the North Atlantic.
2. Salinger in the worst landing in history
We continue our tour of the best literary curiosities by telling you that JD Salinger, the American writer of “The Catcher in the Rye,” participated in the Normandy landings. In fact, he supported himself throughout the war as an intelligence agent.
3. Nerval’s tragic end
Another of the curious facts of literature that is worth knowing is the story of the tragic death of Gerard de Nerval. This particularly romantic French poet committed suicide, due to economic problems and after several hospitalizations in psychiatric hospitals, hanging from a sewer grate rue de la Vielle-Lanterne.
4. A woman in the RAE
As has happened with many other disciplines, in literature women have also been historically marginalized. However, one of them notably broke this premise, becoming the first woman to be a member of the Royal Spanish Academy. It was Carmen Conde, who joined the renowned institution in 1978.
You may also be interested in learning about: women writers in history.
5. JRR Tolkien: danger on wheels
This is another of the most brilliant literary curiosities, which serve to illustrate the belief that all geniuses harbor some madness inside. JRR Tolkien did not have much of an attachment to automobiles. In fact, it is said that when driving with his car in the streets of Oxford he tried to collide with other vehicles claiming that ‘if you ram them, they move away’.
6. Did the events of “The Pied Piper of Hamelin” occur?
And this is one of our favorite literary curiosities. Well, we tell you that the story of the Pied Piper of Hamelin is essentially inspired by the disappearance of more than 100 children in the year 1204, in the city to which it refers.
7. A really precocious writer!
Enrique Jardiel Poncela, a Spanish writer and playwright, whose works are related to absurd theater, although later he was closer to the intellectual field, He wrote his first novel at the age of 11. and he read it to his entire family in an orchard in Zaragoza. Amazing!
8. A very expensive printed book!
We add to the curious facts of literature, the fact that the book John James Audubon’s “Birds of America” is the world’s most expensive printed bookgetting to pay for a complete copy in 2010, 11.5 million dollars at auction.
9. Trade weapons for chalk
Rafael Lapesa, Spanish philologist and member of the Royal Academy of History, he was spared shooting in the Spanish Civil War due to poor eyesight, Well, he was very myopic. He was sent, for this reason, to educate republican soldiers.
10. Few awards, a lot of talent
Literary awards are one of the best ways that great writers have to increase their prestige and recognition. However, not all literary geniuses are recognized with statuettes. In fact, among the curious facts of literature we tell you that Miguel Hernández, despite being currently considered a renowned and brilliant Spanish poet and playwright, only got a literary prize and it was with his work “Canto a Valencia”.
11. The Nomad Library
When we talk about libraries we usually think of heavy and rigid furniture, but among the literary curiosities we tell you about the history of the first traveling library. It dates from the 10th century and was run by the Persian vizier Abdul Kassem Ismael. The most curious thing about it was that it was transported from one city to another, on the humps of camels. These were trained so as not to lose order, thus maintaining the organization of their 117 thousand works. Amazing!
12. From Hamlet to The Lion King
If you like the classic Disney movie The Lion King, this is one of the curious facts about literature that you should know. And it is that the sensitive story has been the free adaptation of the work Hamletsfrom William Shakespeare.
The argument matches phenomenally: an envious brother kills the king, the heir discovers it and seeks revenge helped by two faithful friends, and the regicide finally dies. The only difference is that in Hamlet the crown prince also dies, and in The Lion King only the evil Scar dies.
13. Bambi, Forbidden!
It is very difficult for a cartoon to generate so much controversy as to be banned. But it was the case of Bambi, the protagonist of the following of the literary curiosities that we tell you about today. The author of the story was a Jew named Felix Salten. His religion was more than enough reason for Adolf Hitler to prohibit both the work of the little deer, like all the rest of the writer.
14. A work at risk of flames
One of our favorite literary curiosities has to do with the last wish, fortunately unfulfilled, of Franz Kafka. The writer expressed as his last wish that all his work be burned after his death. Luckily, his best friend, Max Brod, decided not to oblige.
15. A name that was not
And we close our tour of the best curious facts about literature by talking to you about the famous Frankensteintop work of mary shelley. Historically, this name was given to the novel, but the reality is that no name appears in his manuscript. And in any case, the author herself mentioned in a conference that the name of the work would have actually been Adam, alluding to the first man in the history of humanity.
Without a doubt, the world of books, their authors and the industry in which they operate are fascinating. And it is that They open up a range of possibilities in which every taste, every interest and personality can find their ideal work. If you’re a fan of fantasy, maybe science fiction books are your thing. If you prefer the mysteries of history, you may be interested in learning about the cursed books of all time. And if you are interested in the business universe, do not miss this list of books recommended by Mark Zuckerberg.
In short, a work for each person… And you, Did you know these literary curiosities? Do you know of other curious facts about literature that you would like us to integrate into our article? Go ahead and leave us all your opinions in a comment. We will be happy to read you! Until next time!