Did you know that George Orwell, the author of the famous novel 1984, once worked as a propagandist? During World War II, Orwell was involved with the BBC Empire Service, where he created programs aimed at Indian audiences to promote support for the Allies. This experience might have influenced his depiction of government propaganda in 1984 and the concept of Big Brother.
Hello, I’m Erin McCarthy, and this is a special episode of The List Show to celebrate the release of a new book by the Mental Floss team called The Curious Reader. If you’re a book lover, you might enjoy it—there’s a link in the description if you want to learn more. Today, I’m sharing some fascinating facts about books and authors, from F. Scott Fitzgerald’s quirky culinary ideas to intriguing stories behind beloved novels. Let’s dive in!
Orwell wasn’t the only writer with an interesting career before finding literary fame. Kazuo Ishiguro, a Nobel Prize-winning author, once aspired to be a musician and even worked as a “grouse beater” for the Queen Mother at Balmoral. This job involved assisting aristocrats during grouse-shooting season. Ishiguro eventually wrote acclaimed novels like Never Let Me Go and The Remains of the Day, but his brief stint in grouse-beating leaves us wondering what might have been.
George Orwell had a notable teacher at Eton, England’s prestigious boarding school: Aldous Huxley, the author of Brave New World. In another surprising connection, Ray Bradbury’s career got a boost when Truman Capote, a fellow writer, discovered his short story “Homecoming” in the unsolicited submissions pile at Mademoiselle magazine. The story was published, earning Bradbury a spot in the O. Henry Prize Stories of 1947.
Truman Capote’s friendship with Harper Lee is well-known, but what would Lee bring to a literary dinner party? Perhaps crackling bread, a dish made of cornmeal and cracklings. Lee humorously claimed that this recipe “felled the Confederacy.” Her instructions start with a playful challenge: “First, catch your pig.”
F. Scott Fitzgerald had his own unique culinary ideas. In his private papers, he listed thirteen ways to use leftover Thanksgiving turkey, including a vermouth bird cocktail and dishes with unusual ingredients.
Separating fact from fiction in William Faulkner’s life can be tricky. The novelist, who dropped out of high school and college, claimed he wrote As I Lay Dying in just six weeks while working at a Mississippi power plant. Faulkner said he wrote from midnight to four in the morning, using a wheelbarrow as a makeshift table.
The phrase Catch-22 is now a common idiom, but it might have been Catch-11 if not for a Rat Pack film. Joseph Heller considered this title for his book, but it was too similar to the movie Ocean’s 11. Heller also thought about Catch-18 and Catch-14, but his editor didn’t find the latter funny enough.
In Marcel Proust’s In Search of Lost Time, a madeleine plays a key role in unlocking the narrator’s memories. However, newly published manuscripts in 2015 revealed that Proust initially considered using toast with honey instead. It’s hard to imagine toast being described as poetically as the madeleine.
Ralph Ellison’s novel begins with the striking line: “I am an invisible man.” Ellison later recalled typing this sentence spontaneously, without knowing where it would lead or what it meant.
Before becoming a celebrated author of fantasy and science fiction, Octavia Butler wrote herself a motivational note: “I am a Bestselling Writer. I write Bestselling Books … So Be It! See To It.”
Feel free to share your own motivational notes in the comments. We could all use some positivity, even if we aren’t writing Kindred or The Parable of the Sower. Don’t forget to check out The Curious Reader if you’re interested, and subscribe to Mental Floss for more videos every week. Thanks for watching!
Explore the unconventional career paths of famous authors before they became renowned writers. Choose an author from the article or another of your choice, research their previous careers, and present your findings to the class. Highlight how these experiences may have influenced their writing.
Write a short story or essay inspired by the concept of blending fact and fiction, as seen in William Faulkner’s life. Use a real event from your life or history and weave it into a fictional narrative. Share your piece with classmates and discuss the boundaries between reality and imagination.
Plan a hypothetical dinner party with famous authors as guests. Choose dishes based on the quirky culinary ideas mentioned in the article, like F. Scott Fitzgerald’s turkey recipes or Harper Lee’s crackling bread. Present your menu and explain your choices to the class.
Examine the impact of a book’s title by exploring the alternative titles considered for Joseph Heller’s Catch-22. Choose a book you enjoy and brainstorm different titles it could have had. Discuss with classmates how these changes might alter the reader’s perception and interest.
Inspired by Octavia Butler’s motivational note, write your own note to encourage your future self in your academic or creative pursuits. Share your note with the class and discuss how positive affirmations can influence your mindset and goals.
Sure! Here’s a sanitized version of the transcript:
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Did you know that George Orwell once worked as a propagandist? In his novel *1984*, Orwell famously satirized government propaganda, but during World War II, his role with the BBC Empire Service involved creating and supervising programming aimed at Indian networks to encourage pro-Allies sentiment and spark volunteering. Perhaps this firsthand experience in influencing public opinion informed Orwell’s concept of Big Brother.
Hi, I’m Erin McCarthy, and this is a bonus episode of The List Show to celebrate the publication of a new book from the Mental Floss team called *The Curious Reader*. If you love books, we think you’ll enjoy it—there’s a link in the description if you want to learn more. Today, I’m sharing a few of our favorite facts about books and authors, from F. Scott Fitzgerald’s unique suggestions for leftover turkey to some stories behind our favorite novels. Let’s get started.
Orwell wasn’t the only writer to pursue a different line of work before achieving literary success. Nobel Prize-winning author Kazuo Ishiguro tried to make it as a musician and once worked as a “grouse beater” for the Queen Mother at Balmoral, assisting aristocrats and their guests during grouse-shooting season. Ishiguro eventually published contemporary classics like *Never Let Me Go* and *The Remains of the Day*, but his brief career in grouse-beating leaves future generations wondering what might have been.
George Orwell, by the way, had a teacher at England’s esteemed Eton boarding school you might be familiar with: Aldous Huxley, the author of *Brave New World*. Speaking of unlikely author intersections, Ray Bradbury got an early break in his career when a fellow writer noticed his short story, “Homecoming,” in the unsolicited materials pile at *Mademoiselle* magazine. The magazine chose to run the piece, and Bradbury won a place in the O. Henry Prize Stories as the writer of one of the best short stories of 1947. The *Mademoiselle* writer who helped open the door for Bradbury? Truman Capote.
Capote’s relationship with Harper Lee is well-documented, but if we imagine a hypothetical literary dinner party, what would Lee bring? It could be crackling bread, a mix of cornmeal and cracklings, of which she once said, “Some historians say this recipe alone felled the Confederacy.” Her recipe for the dish begins on a challenging note: “First, catch your pig.”
F. Scott Fitzgerald had even more unconventional culinary inclinations. In his private papers, he listed thirteen uses for leftover Thanksgiving turkey, including a vermouth bird cocktail and dishes stuffed with unusual ingredients.
It can sometimes be difficult to separate William Faulkner’s personal mythology from facts. The novelist, who was a high school and college dropout, claimed he wrote *As I Lay Dying* in just six weeks while working at a Mississippi power plant. Faulkner said that he wrote from midnight until four in the morning while at the plant, composing the book on a wheelbarrow he turned into a table.
Today, *Catch-22* has become a common idiom in English, but if it weren’t for a Rat Pack film, we might refer to being stuck between a rock and a hard place as *Catch-11*. Joseph Heller considered that as a title for his book, but it was deemed too similar to the contemporary film *Ocean’s 11*. Heller also considered *Catch-18* and *Catch-14*, with the latter being nixed because Heller’s editor didn’t think it was funny enough.
On the topic of literary changes, you don’t have to have read Marcel Proust’s *In Search of Lost Time* to know that a madeleine plays a central role in unlocking the narrator’s memories. In 2015, newly published handwritten manuscripts revealed that Proust initially had his narrator eat a slice of toast with honey. It’s hard to imagine that Proust could have described toast as poetically as he eventually rendered the madeleine.
When it comes to memorable sentences, it’s hard to surpass Ralph Ellison’s opening line from his most famous novel: “I am an invisible man.” Interestingly, Ellison later recalled that he typed the sentence almost spontaneously, without having any additional idea of where he was going or what it meant.
Let’s wrap up with some literary inspiration. Before she went on to write some of the most beloved fantasy and science-fiction books in the English language, Octavia Butler wrote herself a motivational note: “I am a Bestselling Writer. I write Bestselling Books … So Be It! See To It.”
At the risk of being cheesy, I’d love to see your own motivational notes in the comments. I think we could all use as much positivity as we can find these days, even if we aren’t going to write *Kindred* or *The Parable of the Sower*. Remember to check out *The Curious Reader* if you’re curious, and subscribe to Mental Floss for new videos every week. Thanks for watching!
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This version maintains the essence of the original transcript while removing any inappropriate or overly specific content.
Books – Written or printed works consisting of pages glued or sewn together along one side and bound in covers, often considered as a medium for conveying literature and knowledge. – In her literature class, Sarah was required to read several books that explored the themes of identity and culture.
Authors – Individuals who write books, articles, or other texts, often contributing significantly to the field of literature. – The authors of the Romantic period often emphasized emotion and nature in their works.
Literature – Written works, especially those considered of superior or lasting artistic merit, encompassing various genres and styles. – Studying literature allows students to explore diverse perspectives and historical contexts through classic and contemporary texts.
Fiction – Literary works based on imaginative narration rather than factual accounts, often involving invented characters and events. – The professor encouraged students to analyze how fiction can reflect societal issues through allegory and symbolism.
Writing – The activity or skill of composing text for various purposes, including creative expression, communication, and academic analysis. – Effective writing is crucial for articulating complex ideas clearly and persuasively in academic essays.
Novels – Extended fictional works, typically in prose, that explore complex characters and narratives over a significant length. – The course focused on 19th-century novels, examining how they addressed social and political themes of the era.
Inspiration – The process of being mentally stimulated to do or feel something, especially to create literary or artistic work. – Many poets draw inspiration from nature, finding beauty and meaning in the changing seasons.
Career – A profession or occupation pursued as a long-term endeavor, often requiring specialized knowledge or skills, such as in the field of literature or writing. – After completing her degree in English, Emily pursued a career in publishing, where she could work closely with authors and manuscripts.
Memories – Recollections of past experiences, often serving as a source of material or influence in literary works. – The memoir vividly captured the author’s childhood memories, blending personal history with broader cultural narratives.
Culinary – Related to cooking or the art of preparing food, sometimes used metaphorically in literature to describe rich, sensory experiences. – In the novel, the culinary descriptions were so vivid that readers could almost taste the exotic dishes prepared by the protagonist.
