writing

The World's Work, Wikimedia Commons // Public Domain

Today, F. Scott Fitzgerald is considered one of the most astute American novelists of the 20th century. But his best-known work, 'The Great Gatsby,' wasn't a bestseller.

From her groundbreaking essays to Pulitzer Prize-winning novel 'The Color Purple,' Alice Walker's work explores Black American experiences.

British Library, Wikimedia Commons // Public Domain

Geoffrey Chaucer—known as the "father of English literature"—has written many texts, but none loom as large as 'The Canterbury Tales.'

Kerouacs First Draft Of Seminal Book "On The Road" Displayed

Many of Jack Kerouac's novels drew details from his own life. Here's what you need to know about the author of 'On the Road.'

Before Vladimir Nabokov gained fame for ‘Lolita,’ he helped hone the writing skills of a future Supreme Court icon.

Lily James as Mrs de Winter and Armie Hammer as Maxim de Winter in Rebecca (2020).

Mention Daphne du Maurier's 'Rebecca' to any bibliophile and they will no doubt share the many reasons why the novel has charmed and captivated so many generations of readers.

We have a difficult time catching our own typing mistakes.

Errors in writing aren't easy to detect when you're proofreading your own work. The problem is your brain.

A baby Hemingway tottered through the halls of this idyllic edifice.

The museum is a tribute to Ernest Hemingway’s legacy in Oak Park, Illinois, and a reflection of the salon culture of his era.

Two of Roald Dahl’s books are dedicated to his daughter, Olivia, who died from measles complications in 1962.

A photograph of Alexandre Dumas by Nadar, circa 1855.

Alexandre Dumas’s action-packed adventure novel is definitely a classic, but the inspiration behind it isn’t very well-known.

The cover of the English edition of the book.

It’s literally about a mighty king’s love affair with a commoner, but it’s figuratively about Operation Desert Storm.

“Perhaps I don’t want to become like Ronald Reagan or like the president of General Motors... Perhaps I don’t want what you think I want.”

The last lines from The Great Gatsby are also on F. Scott Fitzgerald's gravestone.

Celebrate National Book Lovers Day with the last lines from ‘The Great Gatsby,’ ‘Little Women,’ and 17 other classic novels.

What does the Crunchwrap Supreme have to do with queer politics? A lot, actually.

While you’re waiting for 'Taco Bell Quarterly' Volume 3 to drop, catch up on works like “Ode to Nacho Fries” and “Imagining Our Taco Bell Wedding” in previous issues.

Gloria Steinem is the face of feminism and the reason it's cool to put your glasses on over your hair.

Gloria Steinem is so much more than the world’s most famous feminist—she’s also Christian Bale’s stepmother.

Louisa May Alcott in 1870, when she was nearly Aunt Nellie's age.

‘Little Women’ author Louisa May Alcott penned the long-lost story when she was just 17 years old, but we’ll never know how it ends.

Abolitionist William Lloyd Garrison devoted his life to opposing slavery.

The letters shed light on how leading abolitionists were protesting slavery during the Civil War era.

When it came to books, Albert Einstein subscribed to the "oldie but goodie" mentality. He wasn't the only one.

These reading quotes from Albert Einstein, Theodore Roosevelt, and more might help you choose your next great read.

Universal Pictures, Wikimedia Commons // Public Domain

In this episode of 'Misconceptions,' we explore the plot holes, incorrect quotes, and other mistaken beliefs that surround beloved books and writers.

So, you’d like to write for Mental Floss? We've assembled a handful of helpful tips to help you craft the best pitch possible.

Find out more about Leo Tolstoy, the author behind classics like 'War and Peace' and 'Anna Karenina.'

Ernest Hemingway and his first wife, Hadley, on their wedding day in September 1921.

Hadley Hemingway thought it would be a “swell joke” if the three of them were cooped up together. A few months later, she was divorced.

George R.R. Martin, the man behind 'Game of Thrones,' is using his self-quarantine to work on the long-awaited next book in his 'A Song of Ice and Fire' series.

J.K. Rowling’s handwritten and illustrated Harry Potter book, featuring content from Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone.

J.K. Rowling wrote and illustrated the one-of-a-kind, pocket-sized Harry Potter book for a charity auction in 2004.

7 Fascinating Facts About F. Scott Fitzgerald

10 Things You Might Not Know About Alice Walker

7 Epic Facts About The Canterbury Tales

10 Fascinating Facts About Jack Kerouac

How Lolita Author Vladimir Nabokov Helped Ruth Bader Ginsburg Find Her Voice

Remembering Rebecca: 11 Facts About Daphne du Maurier's Enduring Novel

The Reason It's So Hard to Spot Your Own Typos

The Ernest Hemingway Birthplace Museum in Illinois Might Shut Down Forever—Here’s How to Help Save It

Read Roald Dahl’s Heartbreaking 1986 Letter About the Importance of Vaccinations

Google Pays Tribute to Alexandre Dumas’s The Count of Monte Cristo With Doodle

Zabiba and the King: The 2000 Romance Novel ... Written by Saddam Hussein

Watch James Baldwin Discuss Racism on The Dick Cavett Show in 1969

The Last Lines From 19 Popular Books

Taco Bell Quarterly, a Taco Bell-Themed Literary Journal, Exists—And You Can Read It Online

15 Trailblazing Facts About Gloria Steinem

'Aunt Nellie’s Diary,' An Unfinished Story by Louisa May Alcott, Is Being Published for the First Time

The Boston Public Library Needs Help Transcribing Anti-Slavery Letters

7 Pieces of Reading Advice From History’s Greatest Minds

Common Misconceptions About Famous Books and Authors

How to Pitch a Story to Mental Floss

Leo Tolstoy

When Ernest Hemingway Spent the Summer of 1926 Quarantined With His Wife and His Mistress

George R.R. Martin Says He's 'Writing Every Day' In Self-Isolation, Teasing The Winds of Winter Release

A Miniature Harry Potter Manuscript, Handwritten by J.K. Rowling, Could Sell for More Than $180,000 At Auction