8 myths about writers that even well-read people believe

Myth 1. Ernest Hemingway advised "to write drunk and edit sober"

This rather popular recipe has been circulating on the Web for a long time. And Hemingway really liked to drink. Except he didn't combine alcohol with writing. In an interview, he was asked if it was true that he took a pitcher of martinis every morning to drink while he worked. Hemingway answeredDid Hemingway say "write drunk, edit sober"? Nope - he preferred writing sober / Writer's Digestthat while writing texts prefers to stay sober.

Most likely Hemingway attributedWrite Drunk, Revise Sober / Quote Investigator A quote from the novel "Reuben, Reuben" by American writer Peter de Vries. The character in this book, the poet Gowan McGland, talks about drinking and creativity like this: “Sometimes I write drunk and correct soberand sometimes I write sober and rule drunk.

Myth 2. Margaret Mitchell denied publication of Gone with the Wind 38 times

Usually this story is published in social networks with the wishes "not to give up and always go to the end, even when obstacles stand in your way." But in reality, Mitchell was not denied publication.

On the contrary, the literary agent Harold Latham from the publishing company Macmillan, who had heard about Margaret, literally begged her publishJune 30, 1936: "Gone With the Wind" by Margaret Mitchell Was Published / Lifetime romance soon. Mitchell was shy and doubted her abilities, so she dragged out the process.

Finally she decidedMargaret Mitchell: A Link To Atlanta And The World. A Teacher's Guide To The Author Of Gone With The Wind and gave Latham the manuscript, saying, "Here, take this before I change my mind." And immediately after the publication of "Gone with the Wind" became a hit.

Myth 3. Gogol was buried alive

An extremely popular myth among literature fans. Nikolai Gogol, three days after his death, was buried in the cemetery of the Danilov Monastery in Moscow. Then, under Soviet rule, it was decided to convert the building into an institution for homeless children and juvenile delinquents. The writer's grave became endureIN. G. Lidin. Transfer of ashes N. IN. Gogol and found that the remains were lying there in an unusual position, and the lid of the coffin was scratched from the inside.

It sounds creepy, quite in the spirit of the writer's work. But this is not true.

The story of Gogol buried alive was invented by the Soviet author Vladimir Lidin, who was present at the exhumation of the body of Nikolai Vasilyevich. Incidentally, he also tookMy Struggle on the Literary Front / Journal Room a piece of the deceased's coat as a memento.

At the same time, Lidin himself was confused about the state in which he saw the remains of the writer. then he toldLooting or veneration: what was missing from Gogol's coffin / RIA Novostithat the deceased's head was turned to one side, then wroteIN. G. Lidin. Transfer of ashes N. IN. Gogol, What scull totally stolen.

However, Gogol was definitely dead when he was buried, and the doctors confirmed the death. They even took off his death mask. The sculptor who made it, later wroteAbout death / Nikolai Vasilyevich Gogol: “Gogol said not to betray his body to the ground until all signs of decomposition appear in the body. After removing the mask, one could be fully convinced that Gogol's fears were in vain; he will not come to life, this is not lethargy, but an eternal deep sleep.

Myth 4. Before his death, Leo Tolstoy became a Muslim

This myth is based on a quote from Tolstoy: "Please regard me as a good Mohammedan." True, in the full version, the phrase from the letter to the great-aunt of the writer Alexandra sounds different.

Tolstoy at a certain point in his life became disillusioned with the Russian Orthodox Church, but he did not renounce the Christian God.

To his aunt's reproaches about apostasy, he answeredL. N. Tolstoy. Letters. 28. A. A. Tolstoy. 1884 April 22-23? Yasnaya Polyana: “I am often surprised at the annoyance my confession of faith causes. Why don't Protestantism, Unitarianism, Mohammedanism cause such irritation? I would be very glad if you were of the same faith with me; but if you are of a different faith, then I understand very well how it happened that you are of a different faith, and your difference with me cannot irritate me.... And therefore, please look at me as good Mohammedan, then everything will be fine.

In addition, a couple of years before the death of Tolstoy mentionedL. N. Tolstoy. Diaries. 1908 in a diary that he would like to be buried in a simple coffin, that is, according to Christian, and not Muslim custom. So, obviously, he still did not accept Islam.

Myth 5. Victor Hugo and his publisher had the shortest correspondence in history

Here is the myth. Hugo wrote the novelOutcasts”, sent to the publisher and wanted to know how the public accepted the essay. And for this he sent a telegram of one character - "?". And in response, he received "!". This has been called "the shortest correspondence in history".

History is cool. Too bad it's a fantasy.

Hugo did not conduct such a correspondence with his publisher - this "fact" was invented in 1892 by biographer William Walsh, and then from his booksW. S. walsh. Handy-Book of Literary Curiosities the story has been spread all over the world.

He himself most likely borrowed the story from The Nottinghamshire Guardian of April 25, 1850. It told how two gentlemen had such a dialogue: "?" ("Eat news?”) - “0” (“None”). The novel "Les Misérables" was publishedLes Miserables by Victor Hugo, First Edition / AbeBooks only in 1862.

Myth 6. Remarque's real name is Kramer

As you know, Erich Maria Remarque is a woman... It's a joke. If everything seems to be clear with the gender of the author of All Quiet on the Western Front, then a very strange rumor is circulating about his name.

Allegedly, the real name of the German writer is Kramer, and he is of Jewish origin. To hide this, Erich, who was persecuted for his pacifist views, turned his last name backwards, and Remarque turned out.

But this too mythb. Murdoch. The Novels of Erich Maria Remarque: Sparks of Life. Remarque is the surname of the writer's father and his paternal relatives up to his great-grandfather, Johann Adam. At first the writer calledRemarque, Erich Maria / Encyclopedia.com Erich Paul, but later he changed his middle name to Maria - in honor of mothers, Anna Maria.

In 1966 Remarque askedE. M. Remarque. Significant and minor ironic moments in my life. Interview with myselfIs it true that his real name is Kramer. He replied: “No. And yet this nonsense went around the world, and still believe in it.

When he was asked why he did not come out with a refutation of this fiction, Remarque said: «What for? In nearly forty years I have never come forward with a refutation of any deceitful writings addressed to you. Nobody would have believed it… The newspaper is always right, if only because it comes out every day with new content.”

Myth 7. Bradbury confused Celsius and Fahrenheit

A myth for lovers of physics and exact sciences, which appeared thanks to a blog post by journalist and writer Harry Dexter. In it, he said that Ray Bradbury allegedly mixed up Celsius and Fahrenheit when he chose the title for his book Fahrenheit 451.

dexter suggestedHow Books Got Their Titles: 76. Fahrenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury / How Books Got Their Titlesthat the writer took the figure from Jens Borch's Manual of Physical Testing of Paper, which says: “The combustion temperature of paper is 450°C for viscose fibers, 475°C for cotton paper and 550°C for refractory cotton. AND bradbury, they say, mixed up ° C and ° F.

This “interesting fact” is now circulating on social networks, whose users laugh at the writer: a humanist, what can you take from him.

But in fact, Ray indicated the combustion temperature of the paper correctly: depending on the composition, it fluctuates1. T. C. Forensic. Physical Constants For Investigators 2. Ignition And Charring Temperatures Of Wood / Forest Products Laboratory, Forest Service, U. S. Department of Agricultme from 218 to 246 ° C, that is, the figure of 451 ° F (233 ° C), in principle, is correct.

Bradbury took 451 ° F not from the ceiling - so he saidN. Gaiman. The View from the Cheap Seats: Selected Nonfictionwhen he called the Los Angeles fire department and asked at what temperature paper burns.

Myth 8. Shakespeare didn't exist

Quite common conspiracy theory says: Shakespeare did not exist. And in fact it is a pseudonym of another author. Or groups of authors. Or royalty. After all, Shakespeare was a woman!

It sounds curious, but the scientific community has long passed its verdictM. W. Martin. Was Shakespeare a Lawyer Reviews on this issue: Shakespeare existed. Born in Stratford in 1564 and died in 1616, he belonged to a fairly wealthy family - his father was a member of the Stratford city government. Numerous researchS. Mccrea. The Case for Shakespeare: The End of the Authorship Question creativity showed that Shakespeare really is the author of all those plays that are attributed to him.

And here's what it looked like poetWe really can't say. All portraits were made after his death, and scientists doubtDo We Actually Know What Shakespeare Looked Like? / Mental Flossthat they faithfully reflect the appearance of this person.