Johann Hunt
History is filled with writers who died penniless and unknown, only to become cultural icons later. Writing can be a lonely pursuit, and a lot of talented authors battled self-doubt and despair while creating masterpieces. Here, we recall the heartbreaking stories of 10 such writers whose genius went unappreciated until after their deaths.
Franz Kafka
The world almost lost Franz Kafka’s literary genius. He died relatively unknown, instructing his friend, Max Brod, to destroy his unpublished works. Brod ignored his request, revealing Kafka’s unique vision to the world. Now, “Kafkaesque” describes the surreal and often oppressive nature of modern existence.
John Keats
The story of John Keats is one of tragic irony. He lived in poverty during his lifetime. Tuberculosis ended his life at just 25, leaving him with a sense of failure. Today, he shares a Roman cemetery with poet Shelley and Severn, an artist, his grave marked with the words, “Here lies One whose Name was writ in Water.”
Bruno Schulz
During World War II, Polish-Jewish writer Bruno Schulz faced an unusual predicament. A Nazi officer, captivated by his work, became his protector. Yet, this protection proved futile when another officer killed Schulz in an act of retaliation. His literary significance truly emerged after the war. Today, Schulz stands as a key figure in Polish literature.
Zora Neale Hurston
“Their Eyes Were Watching God” is now a classic of African-American literature. However, its author, Zora Neale Hurston, never saw its success. She faced harsh criticism and poverty. A fter passing away, she was buried in an unmarked grave. Alice Walker’s rediscovery of Hurston in the 1970s finally brought her the recognition she deserved.
Sylvia Plath
A haunting portrait of depression, “The Bell Jar” was Sylvia Plath’s only novel, published just before her suicide in 1963. The Pulitzer Prize was awarded to her posthumously, which recognizes her profound impact. Plath’s lifelong struggle with mental illness deeply informed her writing, and now, her work remains highly relevant and appreciated.
Jane Austen
Austen remains a literary icon, though her genius wasn’t fully appreciated while she lived. Most of her novels were released anonymously. Posthumously, she achieved widespread recognition. As of now, her works have been adapted into numerous films and television series, proving their timeless worth.
Stieg Larsson
“The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo” propelled Stieg Larsson to international fame, but he never witnessed it. His sudden death sparked a bitter legal battle over his estate, pitting his long-term partner against his family. The “Millennium” series, however, continues to impress readers. Millions of copies have been sold and adapted into numerous works.
Henry Darger
Darger was a reclusive janitor who secretly wrote one of the longest novels ever created, “In the Realms of the Unreal,” a 15,000-page epic. Writing drove his illustrative vision as well. Discovered only after his death in 1973, Darger’s work stunned the literary world with its obsessive detail and emotional intensity. He’s now recognized as a singular voice in outsider literature, whose imagination defied all norms.
Fernando Pessoa
Only a small circle of Lisbon intellectuals knew Pessoa when he was alive. Though he published a few poems and essays, his true literary legacy remained hidden—locked in a trunk filled with thousands of pages written under dozens of invented personas, or “heteronyms.” Today, Pessoa is hailed as one of the most important modernist writers in European literature.
Emily Dickinson
Dickinson is one of America’s greatest poets. Her work is studied and celebrated around the world. However, she lived a reclusive life in Amherst, Massachusetts, rarely leaving her home and publishing only a handful of poems—most of them anonymously or heavily edited. The world owes her sister for posthumously publishing her hidden work, which revealed a startling originality and emotional depth.