Thursday Thirteen #71

Writing a book is one thing.  Finding a good title for it is another.  This can often take several attempts before the author gets it right and even then it can still be far from settled. Since the title (and cover design) of a book are considered marketing decisions rather than artistic ones, the publisher usually has the last word in the event of a dispute with an author.   Anyway, here are...

 13 Classic (or at least well known) books and their rejected titles

“First Impressions”  A good enough title for a book, but not as good as the one Jane Austen settled upon, namely “Pride And Prejudice”

For the most autobiographical of his novels, Charles Dickens  decided that neither “Mag’s Diversions”  nor “The Copperfield Survey Of The World As It Rolled”  would do and he called it after the main character, “David Copperfield”

“All’s Well That Ends Well”   There’s a nice optimistic title for you.  Maybe Tolstoy remembered that Shakespeare had already used it so it was hardly original.  Or maybe there was some other reason that he picked “War And Peace” instead.

Somehow “The Sea Cook” doesn’t have the same adventurous ring about it as “Treasure Island”

F. Scott Fitzgerald thought of the descriptive “Incident At West Egg” and the more metaphorical “Among Ash Heaps And Millionaires”  before rejecting them both in favour of “The Great Gatsby”

“Tenderness”   Is this a gentle romance?  A fluffy love story?  Not quite.  So probably it was just as well that D. H. Lawrence decided instead to call his book “Lady Chatterley’s Lover”

“Something That Happened”  could really be the title of any work of fiction.  John Steinbeck at one time considered it  for the work that we now know as  “Of Mice And Men”

Somehow “Catch-18”  doesn’t sound nearly as right as “Catch-22” which is probably why Joseph Heller didn’t pick it.

“The Terror Of The Monster”,  “The Summer Of The Shark”,  “The Jaws Of Leviathan”   I don’t know if it was Peter Benchley or his publishers who decided that the best title would be one succinct word:  “Jaws”

Stephen King chose the title “Cancer” for one of his books but on the advice of his wife, who thought it was far too downbeat and negative a title, he changed it to “Dreamcatcher”.   I think his wife was right.

Xaviera Hollander suggested the title “Come And Go” for her ghost written autobiography but was persuaded to call it “The Happy Hooker” instead and in so doing she stumbled upon not only a name for her book but a catchy soubriquet for herself.

“Before This Anger” may have described his mood, but Alex Haley was right to reject it as a book title, and to call it “Roots” instead.

First she thought of “Tote The Weary Load” and then she came up with “Bugles Sang True” followed by  “Ba Ba Black Sheep” which she rejected in favour of “Tomorrow Is Another Day”  but then, thankfully, Margaret Mitchell decided that her novel should rightfully be called “Gone With The Wind”

I am indebted for some of the information in this list to The Book Of Lists 2

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Comments

[Sue]

This is definitely a fun list! Hubby's favourite book series is the Book of Lists. I find it fun to look through the original, and realise how the times have changed. :) Happy TT

[Tobias]

I don't think people give Steven King's wife nearly enough credit. She's a bright woman without whom we wouldn't have Carrie or any of King's other works.

[AnthonyNorth]

I was once lucky enough to have two books published. Suffice to say, both of my titles were changed.
Why is at that some authors are excellent at writing books, but terrible at naming them?

[On a limb with Claudia]

This is fascinating. I thought that titles were picked by publishers, book packagers, book designers and/or editors. I had no idea that any author picked his/her title.... well, except ME - and YOU! :)

Cheers!

[FickleMinded]

another great post of course,that's why you're on my fav list at
My 13 List

[Adelle Laudan]

What a kewl list. Thanks. Happy T13!

[Lazy Daisy]

You always amaze me with your literary lists. Some how the original titles just didn't have the same punch. I have been known to read a book because I loved the title.

[SandyCarlson]

The change ups for The Great Gatsby were good moves!

[Ruth]

I think it is interesting how usually the shorter, more succinct titles seem to work best, and are the most memorable.

[YummY!]

It is interesting to think that probably every book we've ever read had a different title before it was printed.

[Kensana Darnell]

From “Tenderness” to “Lady Chatterley’s Lover” Whoa that's good. Another good list!

[SGC]

this is very interesting. I'd take any book title if I ever get published.

[Bernie]

Kool list, really. I loved your points on picking Catch 22 and Jaws. That was so right on!

My TT is up 13 Things to Consider before Hiring

[Jen]

I love this list! I am an English teacher and have printed this off to bring into my high school class tomorrow! Thanks!

[mielikki]

Very cool list, I loved reading these :)

[Journeywoman]

Great list! I didn't know about Gone with the Wind.

[she]

Wonderful and fun list. We always learn so much from your lists.

[Gattina]

Difficult list for me, I know more French or German authors.
Thanks for your comment on my veterans post. I don't think that the UK can exist alone inmidst a united Europe. And fortunately a lot of British people think the same. My son works for a british company in London since about 15 years. So I have a little idea, lol !

[Brenda ND]

This is really intesting. I'm not sure I would have picked up most of these books with their first title. Most of these classics I can't imagine without their current title. Thanks for sharing.

[moondancer drake]

I never knew any of these, wow. Thank for the info!

Happy TT

http://moondancerdrake.livejournal.com/91746.html

[Michelle]

Wow, wonderful information on these books. I had no idea their titles were changed due to marketing. I love Pride And Prejudice. Thanks for sharing and stopping by my place. Take care.

[colleen]

In every case the final title is better. Some are household words. I loved this post.

[Darla]

I was wondering how you knew all these original titles--I'm thinking The Book of Lists would be a great book to keep in the car for those times when you have to sit and wait.

Here are a couple more for you:

Lani Diane Rich's Maybe Baby was at one time called "Flipping the Bird".

and a few from Jim Butcher:
Storm Front was originally Semiautomagic.
Death Masks was originally Holy Sheet.
Blood Rites was originally Money Shots.
Furies of Calderon was originally Shepherdboy's Fury.

[Denise]

Ba Ba Black Sheep? No one would have ever read that one. I'm glad she came up with something different.

Thanks for visiting my TT!

[jayedee]

after a long absence from blogging and the thursday thirteen, i am very very pleased to say you are still one of my favorites! nice to have a constant in a world that shifts daily! happy tt!