Another historic (almost) rejection

[E G Logan]

Comments from publisher's reader, Faber & Faber, 1953

Time the Future* -- Absurd and uninteresting fantasy about the explosion of an atom bomb on the colonies. A group of children who land in jungle country near New Guinea. Rubbish and dull. Pointless. Reject.

This book, later *re-titled Lord of the Flies and published (despite this critique) by Faber, was hailed in a review by E.M. Forster as 'the outstanding novel of the year' in 1954.

From Faber & Faber, the Untold Story by Toby Faber

 

[RK Wallis]

Just goes to show you need to connect with an agent.

 

[Steve C]

One man's rubbish is another man's gold = there's hope for me yet

 

[Robert M Derry]

To be fair, I finished reading Lord of the Flies last night and I pushed through to the end because it's a supposed 'classic', but I can't say that I thought that much of it.

 

[Katie-Ellen]

The crux of this famous story was not so much the agent, as a visionary editor. It was a 'super editor' who saw its potential, but felt it needed a LOT more work, and was ready to do that work to help make that book the classic it is today.

Who are the 'super' editors today? Not saying they aren't out there. But there's a lot of work between acceptance and publication. Margins are tight. The book has to be big enough or close enough now, from the off.

The story of Charles Monteith and William Golding

 

[E G Logan]

The crux of this famous story was not so much the agent, as a visionary editor. It was a 'super editor' who saw its potential, but felt it needed a LOT more work, and was ready to do that work to help make that book the classic it is today.
The story of Charles Monteith and William Golding

Brilliant. Those details are NOT in the book.
In fairness, though, the author couldn't include everything, and the book is a substantial hardback even without them.

 

[Jonny]

Was idly reading through the thread and thought I'd post this as a rejection for (albeit not a novel) but nevertheless an iconic piece of great writing. Cheers me up sometimes when I've had a knock back.


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