Mental Floss

WRITING

A stone in memory of Christopher Marlowe at Kings School, Canterbury

Christopher Marlowe is more than a footnote in William Shakespeare’s life—here are 10 facts about a man we should know more about.

Scott Beggs


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Mark Twain is widely considered the author of the first great American novel—'The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn'—but his rollicking tales aren’t the only legacy he left behind.

Emily Petsko








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Henry David Thoreau’s account of his time in the woods is much more than just fodder for motivational posters—it’s a work of transcendentalist philosophy that shaped how people see the natural world today.

Joy Lanzendorfer






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More than 200 years after her death, English novelist Jane Austen continues to be celebrated for her sharp, biting prose on love's various entanglements.

Jake Rossen
Hunter S. Thompson in Gonzo: The Life and Work of Hunter S. Thompson (2008)

Like any real-life legend, there are many myths surrounding the life and work of Hunter S. Thompson. But in Thompson’s case, most of those stories—particularly the more outlandish ones—are absolutely true.

Jennifer M Wood




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You’ve probably read (and re-read) 'Charlotte’s Web' and 'Stuart Little,' but E.B. White wrote books, essays, and poems for both children and adults.

Suzanne Raga