The Greatest Books You'll Never Read: Unpublished Masterpieces by the World's Greatest Writers

Richards (emeritus fellow, Brasenose Coll., Oxford Univ.; English Poetry of the Victorian Period) and his crew of contributors present a testament to how difficult it is to complete a written work in this exploration of many books throughout history that are either incomplete or lost. From ancient Greece to the 20th century, from a knock on the door to untimely deaths, a lost suitcase, or just plain disorganization, the stories can be fascinating. While at times a bit academic, this title will delight those who love literature and enjoy peeks behind the curtain illustrating how their favorite authors wrote. Arranged chronologically, each section includes creations both famous and obscure, from Mary Wollstonecraft and Jane Austen's famous interrupted writings to those of poets and others known only by references to their material by others. Each title is also rated on the chances that it will ever be completed, which could make for hours of English-major pub debates. Like many a collection of titles, there's something here for everyone, though it is heavy on the European authors. Copiously illustrated with book covers and author photos.