About White Rabbit: A haunting novel in which a girl grapples with her father’s sudden departure and her new companion—the ghost of Sylvia Plath—in a crumbling seaside house that holds more secrets than memories.​ Releases July 14th 2026.

We know their names. We devour their works. We might know which city they wrote in, where they were born, where they died. Classical, canonical authors—Hemingway, Shakespeare, Dickinson, Fitzgerald—become like old friends when we first meet them in sticky high school classrooms and their words teach us something new about how we perceive the world.  

I was fourteen years old when I began to read Plath’s poetry, sixteen the first time I picked up The Grapes of Wrath and fell in love with Steinbeck’s dusty roads. When I decided to write the ghost of Sylvia Plath as a character in White Rabbit, I often felt her presence sitting beside me in the shared spaces—libraries, coffeehouses, parks. I’m not the first to write a passed author into a work of fiction. In fact, numerous passed authors have appeared in media for decades, their legacy living on through new interpretations and representations.

Here are five works that include passed authors in some capacity. And they are all such a delight to encounter!

THE HOURS by Michael Cunningham

It’s hard for me to think of another novel that sat with me for as long as Michael Cunningham’s The Hours did. As a reader, I move from book to book like I’m in a bulk candy shop—taking a sample here and then a side-step later, reaching for another. But The Hours was a book I wanted to savor because the work—a reimagining of a day in the life of a modern-day Mrs. Dalloway, Mrs. Brown, and Virginia Woolf herself—is magnificent. Meeting Cunningham’s fictionalized version of Woolf is both like seeing an old friend in print and being first introduced to her genius at the same time. Though the book is hymn to Woolf and her work, the sections that feature Woolf as a character read like stream-of-consciousness. This not only mimics Woolf’s own writing style but also gives readers an in-depth insight into her mind, creating an intimate and detailed portrait of a prolific writer.

FINDING NEVERLAND 

Okay, I’ll admit it: when this movie came out in the theaters in 2004, I went and saw it five times. I was fourteen years old and fascinated by the fictionalized portrayal of J.M. Barrie and his brilliant mind. There are scenes in this film that feel magical even without leaving real-life London in the early 1900s, scenes where we quite literally step into Barrie’s imagination to learn more about the power of storytelling. It is a film that made me want to be a writer, and one where I felt J.M. Barrie was taking my hand and showing me how.

MATRIX by Lauren Groff

Matrix by Lauren Groff is a masterpiece of character. The novel follows the life of 12^th century poet Marie de France through beautiful and lyrical prose. What is fascinating about this novel is that so much is unknown about the life of Marie, leaving Groff to rely heavily on Marie’s own writings as the sole avenue for creating character. I really love this approach to fictionalizing a passed author. I, too, when writing the ghost of Sylvia Plath in White Rabbit, spent countless hours reading not only Plath’s poetry but also her letters and journals. Though the ghost of Sylvia Plath doesn’t speak, I had her voice constantly in my head as I recreated her on the page. In Matrix, Groff had a sketch of who Marie was and, from that, she created a woman who was a complex, fully realized and powerful female figure in literature.

MIDNIGHTS IN PARIS

Oh, to step into the shoes of Gil Pender, the protagonist of Woody Allen’s Midnights in Paris who, while walking the streets of Paris after midnight, stumbles upon the great writers of the past. Not only does Gil suddenly find himself in a historic restaurant with Ernest Hemingway and F. Scott Fitgerald, but he also goes on to meet Djuna Barnes and Gertrude Stein, the latter of whom reads Gil’s unpublished manuscript. While I love the film’s quirky charm, what I appreciate most is how place becomes a catalyst for the past and present to intersect. It is only in Paris, after midnight, when Gil, an aspiring writer from the early 2000s, is able to travel back to the streets of Paris in the 1920s and meet the cast of passed authors. Similarly, in White Rabbit, it is in the childhood home of Sylvia Plath where Penelope happens upon her ghost.

HAMNET by Maggie O’Farrell

What a massive undertaking to reinvent William Shakespeare, arguably the most well-known writer of all time, and create a fictionalized version that not only feels authentic but also reveals something new about the man to readers. Which is exactly what Maggie O’Farrell does in her novel Hamnet. Whether you’ve read the book or seen the film (both are fantastic!), meeting Shakespeare as a young man reveals a side of him that only O’Farrell could uncover. And perhaps that is why I’m so drawn to this story. We meet Shakespeare not as a writer, but as a young man: a lover, a husband, a father. From O’Farrell’s recreation, I found myself understanding the writer in new ways and reaching for that old, dog-eared copy of Hamlet, suddenly desperate to read it one more time.

The post Familiar Faces: 5 Mixed Media Works that Reinvent Past Authors appeared first on The Nerd Daily.

About Mrs. Benedict Arnold: A riveting reimagining of the young woman who almost ended the American Revolution. Out April 28th 2026.

Tatiana de Rosnay’s SARAH’S KEY takes the story of a ten year old French girl, and the American journalist excavating her case, to dramatize the unthinkably massive betrayal of 76000 Jewish men, women and children by French citizens and authorities in 1942.

With a plot like clockwork and clear, vivid prose, de Rosnay makes history indelible. Through spare details and deep feeling she conjures the bond between siblings, the casual cruelty of a concierge, and Parisians who profited from properties vacated by the round-up, and the Vichy-pleasing French police who exceeded even Nazi expectations. With a seamless dual timeline, the book’s momentum doesn’t let up.

Though de Rosnay’s focus is the cost of hate, more than its agents, she includes the chilling detail of Le Juif et La France, an anti-semitic propaganda exhibition in Paris staged in the run up to the round-up, and sends the reader to Chirac’s 1995 speech marking the anniversary of July 16 with its enjoinder to vigilance. Watch for cynical politics, the propagation of fear and exclusion, remember, horror is not impossible and refuse to be “passive onlookers, or accomplices, to the unacceptable”.

A novel that illuminates and disseminates history as well as fiction can.

Alison Weir’s INNOCENT TRAITOR contains a betrayal a page, culminating in the execution of Lady Jane Grey for treason. This was the first work of fiction from the popular historian, and her deep research is beautifully distilled through a fantastic constellation of characters. 

Weir leaves the gate and keeps the pace with such assurance, we are delighted by the storytelling even as we are outraged by accelerating events.  The poisoning of a King, switching of a body, heresies, rape, endless scheming and the unnecessary death of a sixteen year old girl at the will of her cousin.

I’ve heard fun snark about the Tudors and their dominance of the English heritage industry, but their dramatic stories first excited my interest in history, and definitely made me susceptible to heroines at the center of wildly consequential events getting to exercise some agency…

“Let us being with two girls at a dance” O’Farrell’s command is enthralling from the start. Maggie O’Farrell’s fourth novel, THE VANISHING ACT OF ESME LENNOX is a masterpiece of gothic wrongdoing told in cool, elegant prose. The intimate, ruthless, unthinkably vast wrong done by a sister is set against the wider history of women betrayed by their parents – imprisoned in institutions for life for a moment of adolescent disobedience, sexual activity, or not fitting in.  

Though the novel is infested with betrayal, rape, hypocrisy, infidelity, theft, and terrible derelictions of trust, there are plenty of moments of wry comedy and no hint of over-kill. The novel’s ultimate betrayal, that perfectly patient revenge, is stunning.

A LIFE OF JESUS by Shusaku Endo was a revelation to me. The great Japanese novelist conjures the historical figure with a simplicity that feels preternaturally vivid. The story is rooted in a landscape described with incredible sensory immediacy – the desert, Judean villages, town of Nazareth, Galilea and Garden of Gethsemane are so real you’ll feel you’ve visited. 

Endo comments on his story in progress – without cost to suspense – with lightly worn scholarship and conversational analysis. He doesn’t shrink from miracles or contradictions – and riffs pleasantly, convincingly, on the resurrection itself.  

Endo makes the betrayal of Jesus, by his adversaries, the Sanhedrin, Pilate, soldiers, former supporters and the mob, unbearably affecting, along with the appalling fate of so many apostles. The extent of persecution is so clearly rendered it excites a child’s sense of outrage. Who on earth would have the nerve? 

After conjuring arguably the most famous betrayal ever, that of Judas, by Jesus, and its terrible consequence, Endo extends impressive narrative compassion. “What Jesus suffered today, was for Judas to suffer forever.” And yet, “by means of his death, Jesus poured out his love even on the man who betrayed him.”

Mark Twain considered JOAN OF ARC the best of all his books (as well as the one he liked the most) but that is not the consensus, and it’s not so known as the rest.   Twain spent twelve years preparing and two years writing the book, while “the others needed no preparation and got none”. His immersion in the archives and the time he spent researching in France, retrieving the young woman from the myth, and giving her voice and life, is rewarded all the way. 

The  ridiculous narrator gives a convincingly intimate picture of Joan and her phenomenal encounters and adventures, but Twain’s inimitable playfulness, the irony and absurdity, don’t make her betrayal by the King, Cauchon, all those ministers and religious figures, the same country she’d saved, less devastating.

Read it to think about true love of country; competing claims for loyalty; hypocrisy and heresy; the terrible penalty there once was for cross dressing – and to remember Joan is still the youngest person to lead an entire army of any sex. 

“She was the Genius of Patriotism,” Twain said. “And easily and by far and away the most extraordinary person the human race has ever produced.”

The post Five Books About Historic Betrayals appeared first on The Nerd Daily.

Here are four books you’ll want to pick up before their movie adaptations hit the screen!

Frankenstein by Mary Shelley

Mary Wollstonecraft Shelley was merely 18 years old when she wrote Frankenstein, the gothic novel first published in 1818. However, the edition most widely read today is the 1832 version, which she revised in her 30s, much later in life. Her novel, a cornerstone of science fiction, follows Victor Frankenstein, a young scientist whose attempt to create life sets off tragic consequences that endanger everything he holds dear. A profound philosophical tale that explores ambition, isolation, and a deep and relatable yearning for belonging. Arguably one of the English Romanticism’s greatest works of prose fiction, inspiring numerous movie adaptations, the latest released in theatres on October 30th this year.

If any director was going to take on this project, Mexican filmmaker and author Guillermo del Toro is the right man for the job. He is well known for his works in horror and fiction. Some of his notable displays of creativity include “The Shape of Water”, “Pan’s Labyrinth”, and “Crimson Peak”, to name a few. The casting of this movie has the pop-culture world in an excited frenzy due to the talented actors and actresses who will bring life to our Netflix screens with this upcoming release. Jacob Elordi, a rising actor in the industry, best known for his intense portrayals of morally complex characters such as Nate Jacobs in Euphoria and Elvis Presley in Priscilla. Mia Goth notably known for her roles as Maxine Minx and Pearl, and Oscar Issac, playing Victor Frankenstein, coming off the Dune Series, are all starring in this movie, and the range of raw talent and skill of this cast should be enough to move this book up on anyone’s TBR (to be read) list.

Hamnet by Maggie O’Farrell

Maggie O’Farrell’s award-winning novel Hamnet reimagines the life of William Shakespeare’s family in 16th-century Stratford, as they grapple with the loss of their son, brother, and friend. Shifting perspectives reveal how grief, identity, and mourning shape each family member in profoundly different ways, creating a layered portrait of loss. O’Farrell’s lyrical prose and purposeful use of repetition suspend time for the reader, making the story feel both intimate and timeless—a quality that makes it an ideal candidate for the big screen.

The historical drama adaptation is directed by Chloé Zhao, the Chinese filmmaker, screenwriter, and producer best known for Nomadland. That film, which follows Fern (Frances McDormand) as she embarks on a road-bound life after an economic collapse in rural Nevada, earned Zhao critical acclaim and made her one of only three women ever to win Best Director at the Golden Globes. For this project, Zhao is joined by author Maggie O’Farrell, who co-wrote the screenplay, blending her lyrical storytelling with Zhao’s cinematic vision. The film stars Paul Mescal as William Shakespeare and Jessie Buckley as his wife, Agnes—two talents well-suited to carry the emotional weight of this intimate story. Inspired by the real-life death of Shakespeare’s young son, Hamnet is set to release on November 27, with a runtime of 2 hours and 5 minutes.

The Odyssey by Homer

The Odyssey is one of the oldest surviving works of Western literature and remains a cornerstone of higher education curricula. The epic follows Odysseus on his 10-year journey home after the Trojan War, while also weaving in the struggles of his son, Telemachus, and his wife, Penelope. Penelope, a grieving wife, faces relentless pressure from suitors to remarry and accept that her husband is gone. Meanwhile, Telemachus is forced to step into his father’s role too soon, confronting both literal and metaphorical monsters in his quest to protect his mother and search for Odysseus. At its heart, the story is about grief: Odysseus loses his men, Penelope loses her husband, and Telemachus loses his father. With such an ancient text, much of today’s discourse centers on which translation best captures its essence, with a few modern contenders leading the debate: Robert Fitzgerald, Robert Fagles, Simon Armitage, and the first female translator of the Greek works, Emily Wilson.

British filmmaker Christopher Nolan seems to be the only director that avid movie-watchers trust with this massive project. A story this old and beloved by the masses needs precision, and a cinematic effect that takes its sweet time with this classic and perfects each character. Nolan is known for performing well with massive films like Interstellar, Oppenheimer, Insomnia, and Tenet. The movie adaptation‘s stacked cast is full of fan favourites like Tom Holland, Matt Damon, Zendaya, and Robert Pattinson, to name a few. It is not crazy to believe this move might break the movie theatres, but hopefully, readers are breaking the spine of their copy of Homer’s epic before the July 17th, 2026, release date. 

Wuthering Heights by Emily Brontë

Wuthering Heights is a famous twisted revenge tale written by English author Emily Brontë in 1847 under the pen name “Ellis Bell”. Brontë is argued to be the strongest writer out of her two similarly well-regarded sisters, Charlotte and Anne, and Wuthering Heights is her best work. The story follows Catherine and Heathcliffe, who examine a toxic, destructive kind of love between these two characters from different social classes, through the perspective of a housemaid, Nelly Dean.

Set against the cold, desolate backdrop of northern England, the novel unfolds with a stark portrayal of human nature, its haunting prose steeped in dark desires and tortured emotions. The characters’ unlikability, coupled with the gothic melancholy that permeates every page, has cemented the book as a favourite winter read for many. Long debated as either a romance or a tragedy, this latest film adaptation—directed by Emerald Fennell—chooses its stance on the question by premiering on Valentine’s Day.   

The film adaptation of Wuthering Heights has yet to have a true-text movie adaptation. Emerald Fenell is a writer, director, and producer who has worked on period dramas: Anna Karenina (2012), The Danish Girl (2015), and Vita and Virginia (2018). So, taking on the dull colours of Yorkshire Moor and the antiquated language of the 1800’s won’t be out of the ordinary for this established director.

The casting choice of this film sparked online discourse given that Heathcliff (Jacob Elordi) is canonically described as a person of colour, a detail that deeply shapes his perspective and social position within the novel. Starring opposite the Australian native of Basque descent is Margot Robbie as Catherine Earnshaw. These two high profile leads in addition to BRAT summer artist, Charli XCX haunting the trailer with her vocals has created an atmospheric edge that has generated widespread buzz, sparking conversations not only about the film’s interpretation but also inspiring many to finally dust off the classic from their shelves or borrow it from local libraries in anticipation.

The post Four Books To Read Before The Movie Adaptation appeared first on The Nerd Daily.