10 Significant Novels That No One Wanted To Publish At First

Reading through certain literary works, not all of us think about how they are published.

Often readers do not even suspect that the writers who created a brilliant novel or story have a hard time, because publishers did not like their work for one reason or another, and they refuse to publish it.

In our article, you can learn about 10 significant novels that at first no one wanted to print.

10 Herman Melville “Moby Dick”

The creator of one of the best works of American Romanticism turned to Bentley & Son (an English publishing house), which had a positive reputation, for help.

However, the editor-in-chief refused the writer to publish his manuscript. He felt that the novel had no commercial potential. After this rejection, Melville ran into many others and tried his luck again at the place he first applied.

The manuscript fell into the hands of another employee of the publishing house, he agreed to publish it, but the writer had to pay some expenses for its release on his own.

9. Marcel Proust “Towards Swann”

This novel is part of the In Search of Lost Time series. Today it is considered one of the finest examples of modernist prose.

But when the author came to the Editions Gallimard publishing house with an offer to publish his work, he was refused. Three other major French publishing houses also refused to publish his book.

Then Proust decided to print the novel at his own expense in 1913. The work was a hit with readers.

His next book was published by the Editions Gallimard publishing house without problems and did not fail; in 1919, the writer won the Goncourt Prize.

8. William Golding “Lord of the Flies”

The author of the allegorical novel “Lord of the Flies” was denied publication about 20 times. For example, one of the largest English publishing houses, Penguin Books, left a rather rude review of the book, speaking of its nonsense.

Not really believing in luck, the future winner of prizes and awards in the field of literature sent his work to another publishing house, which not only undertook to print the novel, but also offered the author a contract.

7. Jack Kerouac “On the Road”

The novel, which later became a model of beat generation literature, was repeatedly rejected by numerous publications, although its author was very upset after the refusal of an employee of Alfred A. Knopf, since he dreamed of being published by them, everything changed after his meeting with Tom Ginzburg.

The head of the Viking Press helped Kerouac edit the manuscript, which was printed in 1957.

Over time, the novel became one of the best-selling, repeatedly included in the lists of the type: “100 best novels” according to versions of various magazines and other publications.

6. Vladimir Nabokov “Lolita”

The book has become one of the most significant in the work of Vladimir Nabokov. Written in 1953, most publishing houses, including Viking Press, immediately refused to print it, citing their fear of being in jail if they published it.

It was eventually released in 1955 by Olympia Press (a publishing house in France), which was said to specialize in publishing works of an erotic nature and not of the best quality.

The novel caused an ambiguous perception, many literary critics tried to smash it to smithereens. But today the work has been appreciated in many countries, the author himself called it a serious book.

5. Francis Scott Fitzgerald “The Great Gatsby”

The fate of the novel “The Great Gatsby” was not easy. In 1923, the author showed the work to his friend, who was also an editor, who immediately showed the writer what needed to be corrected and brought to perfection in the novel.

The work on the piece was very painstaking. Finally, Charles Scribner’s Sons agreed to publish it. After publication, he did not bring special fame to the author.

The book received popularity and recognition after the death of Fitzgerald, when it was republished.

4. William Faulkner “The Sound and the Fury”

The fourth novel by William Faulkner was not published immediately. At first, the author made an offer to publish his work in Harcourt, which published many other literary figures, but was refused.

After that, the writer brought his creation to Jonathan Cape. The book was published by them in 1929. Further, the author signed a contract with this publishing house and released four more of his works from them.

3. Ernest Hemingway “Fiesta (The Sun Also Rises)”

The work was published in 1926 by Charles Scribner’s Sons, having previously been rejected by Peacock and Peacock.

The young Hemingway was fortunate to meet Maxwell Perkins, who was Fitzgerald’s editor and friend. He managed to appreciate the book of a novice author at its true worth, come up with an interesting advertising campaign for it, so that readers would like it and sell well.

2. John Updike “Rabbit Run”

Random House employees did not let Updike’s creation go to print, believing that the actions in it were too different from the real ones and looked outrageous.

The work and Alfred A. Knopf did not like it, but its editors nevertheless decided to release the book, advising the author to remove too explicit scenes.

Reviews of the novel were varied, for example, in Ireland it was banned, believing that it was propaganda of promiscuous sexual relations outside of marriage.

However, according to Time magazine, the work was included in the top 100 from 1923 to 2005.

1. Anita Luz “Gentlemen Prefer Blondes”

Charles Scribner’s Sons in 1925 refused to publish a novel by Anita Luz, who by this time was already an icon of feminism.

Then the writer attributed her work to their competitors – Boni & Liveright, who had previously published books by Theodore Dreiser and other famous authors.

The novel was published, the print run was sold out in a matter of days, and in 1953 a film based on it was released, in which Marilyn Monroe played the main role.