Mental Floss

BOOKS

How many Christopher Pike books did you read in the '90s?

In the ‘90s, it felt like every teenager had their nose buried in a Christopher Pike novel. Here are the stories behind novels like 'The Midnight Club,' 'Fall Into Darkness,' and 'Chain Letter.'

Erin McCarthy








Wuthering Heights—Emily Brontë’s only novel—shocked readers when it came out. Today, the story about the lovers on the English moor is so well known, it’s iconic. Here's what you should know.

Joy Lanzendorfer

Virtually every artist dreams of making an impact with their work, and writers are no different—but in some cases, authors don’t live to see their works become classics.

Anastasia Rose Hyden
Stephen King is one of the biggest names in publishing.

Stephen King once opened the doors to his Bangor, Maine, home to Halloween trick-or-treaters in the 1980s. More than 1000 people showed up.

Jake Rossen
















Jacob and Wilhelm Grimm.

You’re probably familiar with Sleeping Beauty, Cinderella, Snow White, and Rapunzel, but many are unfamiliar with the origins of the popular versions of these stories. Here's what you need to know about brothers Jacob and Wilhelm Grimm and their tales.

Ali Parr
Portrait of Frankenstein author Mary Shelley.

Between writing 'Frankenstein' and carrying around her dead husband's heart, Mary Shelley earned her title as the original goth girl.

Michele Debczak