Literary Afterlife: The Posthumous Continuations of 325 Authors' Fictional Characters - Softcover

Drew, Bernard A.

Softcover

ISBN 10: 0786441798 ISBN 13: 9780786441792

Publisher: McFarland, 2010

Synopsis

This reference book describes literary pastiches in which fictional characters have reappeared in new works after the deaths of the authors that created them. It includes book series that have continued under a deceased writer's real or pen name, undisguised offshoots issued under the new writer's name, posthumous collaborations in which a deceased author's unfinished manuscript is completed by another writer, unauthorized pastiches, and "biographies" of literary characters. Authors and works described are divided by genre: action and adventure, classics of the 19th and 20th centuries, crime/mystery, espionage, fantasy and horror, humor, juvenile fiction, poetry, pulps, romance, science fiction, and western. Within each section, entries are arranged alphabetically by the original author's last name, and each entry includes a short biography, a list of original works, and a list of pastiches based on the author's characters.

About this title

About the Author:

Bernard A. Drew is a journalist and reference book writer in Great Barrington, Massachusetts.

From Booklist:

Drew, a freelance writer and editor, has produced a unique resource that provides information on literary characters who live on in pastiches, that is, “a fiction sequel or continuation of a book series by someone other than the originator.” The entries are listed alphabetically within 15 sections, for example, “Espionage,” “Juveniles (19th Century),” and “Pulps.” Each entry begins with the author’s name, which is followed by a short essay that includes a biography of the author and a description of the work and characters that have been continued by others. The essay is followed by citations for the original works, then by citations for the various continuations. The index includes titles, authors of original works, and authors of pastiches. Among the authors who are included are Jane Austen, whose characters appear in numerous adaptations; and J. K. Rowling, whose Harry Potter is featured in a number of illegal Chinese publications. (Rowling is here despite the fact that the book’s subtitle and introduction imply that all the authors are deceased.) This is a worthwhile purchase for both public and academic libraries. The entries are written in an accessible style, and the material cannot be found in other sources. --Cynthia Crosser

About this edition

• Publisher: McFarland
• Publication date: 2010
• ISBN 10: 0786441798
• ISBN 13: 9780786441792
• Binding: Paperback
• Number of pages: 420