Have you ever wondered if your favorite books were instant hits? Surprisingly, many world-famous books faced numerous rejections before finally seeing the light of day. These stories of perseverance highlight that even the greatest works sometimes need time to find their audience. From J.K. Rowling to Margaret Mitchell, these authors remind us that persistence is key.
Diary of Anne Frank
Anne Frank’s diary is a poignant reminder of the Holocaust. After the Gestapo arrested Anne and her family in 1944, her father, Otto Frank, was the only survivor. He later published Anne’s diary, revealing the hardships Jews faced during Nazism.
Rejected 16 times, many publishers felt the world wasn’t ready to relive the horrors of World War II. Since its publication in 1947, it has sold over 30 million copies. This powerful book remains a testament to the strength of the human spirit, despite being banned for its depressing content.
The Time Traveler’s Wife
Audrey Niffenegger’s debut novel, The Time Traveler’s Wife, tells the unusual love story of a man who travels through time and his wife who does not. The book explores their challenges as they try to build a normal life.
Initially rejected by over 20 publishers, a small San Francisco publisher eventually picked it up. After its release in 2003, the book became an international bestseller and was later adapted into a film in 2009.
DUNE
Frank Herbert’s DUNE, published in 1965, is now considered a science fiction masterpiece. However, it faced more than 20 rejections. The story is set on the desert planet Arrakis in the distant future.
In 1966, it won the Nebula Award for Best Novel. Today, the DUNE universe includes six published novels. Despite an initially poorly received film adaptation, a remake with a star-studded cast was released to greater acclaim, proving the lasting appeal of this epic tale.
Watership Down
Richard Adams created Watership Down while telling stories to his children. The tale follows a group of rabbits escaping a threatened warren. Adams decided to write it all down, a process that took over two years.
The book faced repeated rejections, with publishers claiming it was too long and the characters didn’t resemble typical, cuddly rabbits. Rex Collings finally published it in 1972, and it became a beloved children’s classic, later adapted into an animated film.
Chicken Soup for the Soul
Chicken Soup for the Soul, published in 1993, started as a collection of inspiring stories from motivational speakers Jack Canfield and Mark Victor Hansen. It has since grown into a series of numerous titles.
Remarkably, the first book was rejected 144 times! After every major publisher declined, a small Florida-based health and wellness publisher, HCI, took a chance on it. The first book sold over 11 million copies, launching the series into a massive success.
Carrie
Stephen King, the master of horror, has sold over 350 million books. His first published novel, Carrie, tells the story of a bullied teenage girl who uses her telekinetic powers to seek revenge.
Carrie faced 30 rejections before Doubleday published it in 1974. One rejection letter stated, “We are not interested in science fiction which deals with negative utopias. They do not sell.” King used these rejections as motivation. The book’s success allowed him to become a full-time writer, and it was later adapted into a film and remade.
Catch-22
Joseph Heller’s Catch-22, published in 1961, is a satirical novel set during World War II, following the experiences of Captain John Yossarian. Heller himself was a bombardier during the war.
The book’s name comes from being chosen by its 22nd publisher, Simon and Schuster. One rejection comment read, “I haven’t the foggiest idea about what the man is trying to say . . . Apparently the author intends it to be funny – possibly even satire – but it is really not funny on any intellectual level.” Despite mixed reviews, it has sold over 10 million copies and was adapted into a Hulu series in 2019.
Lord of the Flies
William Golding’s Lord of the Flies faced over 20 rejections before being published in 1954. Faber and Faber initially called it “rubbish and dull. Pointless.” The story follows a group of boys stranded on an island who descend into savagery.
A young editor, Charles Monteith, convinced Faber and Faber to publish it. The book has since become a classic, named one of the 100 best English-language novels since 1923 by Time magazine. The entire 1990s film version is available, showcasing the novel’s enduring impact.
Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone
The story of J.K. Rowling and her struggles with Harry Potter is well-known. The book follows an orphaned boy who discovers he is a wizard and attends Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry.
After 12 rejections, Bloomsbury published it in 1997. The Harry Potter series became one of the best-selling of all time, turning Rowling from an unemployed single mother into one of the richest women in Britain.
Rowling’s experience highlights the importance of perseverance, as she herself noted: “It is impossible to live without failing at something, unless you live so cautiously that you might as well not have lived at all.”
Gone With the Wind
Margaret Mitchell’s Gone With the Wind was rejected 38 times before its publication in 1936. Mitchell, a former reporter, wrote the novel while recovering from physical injuries, using family stories and conversations with Confederate war veterans as inspiration.
The novel tells the story of an Atlanta belle during the Civil War era. In 1937, Mitchell won the Pulitzer Prize for Fiction. The book sold millions of copies worldwide and was adapted into a successful film.
These stories of rejected books turned bestsellers teach us that success often requires perseverance and belief in your work, even when faced with numerous obstacles. Keep writing and keep believing!
Which of these books surprised you the most? Leave your thoughts in the comments below!
