Handwritten Manuscript Pages From Classic Novels

This fantastic post by Flavorwire gathers pages of handwritten manuscripts from classic novels. Jane Austen, John Steinbeck, F. Scott, Fitzgerald,… They’re all there! Gaze at the hand of masters, and see who actually rewrote their stuff.

Flavorwire

These days, almost all works of literature are written on computers — from their first inklings, saved in a document called “notes,” to their final, emailed-out drafts — and even, increasingly, read on them. In such a climate, we are even more fascinated by the handwritten drafts and original manuscripts of classic literature, from which much can be inferred via handwriting, paper choice, and strength of pen marks. But mostly, they’re nice to look at, so with more than a little help from awesome Tumblr Fuck Yeah, Manuscripts!, we’ve collected a few of our favorite specimens. After the jump, sneak a peek at the handwritten manuscripts and drafts of some of the world’s greatest novels, and peer at the elegant script or frantic cross-outs of your favorite authors to your heart’s content.

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Stop the fucking swearing

I confess. I swear. And secretly, I like to. One time, when I bumped my toe, I even swore so vigourously, my grandma chased me with holy water. And simple observation proves I’m not the only one. Actually a lot of people swear a lot.

For that reason sometimes I let a bit (or a lot) of cursing and swearing slip into my writing. And every time I throw all that foul-mouthing out again in the rewrites. Not because I fear the wrath of heaven. Not because I fear to alienate a part of my potential audience. I cut it because it makes the writing weaker.

Why do women love Fifty Shades of Grey?

Try writing a book about a regular mailman with a beer belly and bad teeth, offering a BDSM contract to a girl, and see how many books you sell. Picture: sxc

 

“It’s taking all my self-control not to fuck you on the hood of this car, just to show you that you’re mine, and if I want to buy you a fucking car, I’ll buy you a fucking car,” he growls.”

These kind of quotes, according to many, need a sociological explanation. Because when E.L. James sells millions of copies of Fifty Shades of Grey, a novel that introduces an image of a man that is not feasible for most, that means there has to be something wrong with us, women, doesn’t it?

An contra-emancipatory movement. The democratization of BDSM. Or best of all: the economical crisis sending women adrift, and making them long again for a man who takes the reigns again.

These are a few of the reasons why I ardently disagree with these kind of interprations.