# One-Hit Wonder Authors **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [September 3, 2001, 6:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/one-hit-wonder-authors/79551 "2001-09-03T18:33:53Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 8\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![Redboss](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/8baadc/32.png) [@Redboss](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Redboss)\ **Post date:** [September 17, 2001, 8:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/one-hit-wonder-authors/79551/42 "2001-09-17T08:19:41Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by lurkernomore \* > \*\*Garnted, one big book, but you do have to put a star next to Mitchell- I think it was fairly soon after it, while she was working on a sequel, she was killed in an accident. \*\* Not of vital importance, but it’s at least something I know about. Margaret Mitchell lived for another fifteen or so years after publication of her only book, but never wrote anything else. She didn’t really like fame and _Gone With The Wind_ essentially ruined her life. She was never again able to live an ordinary private life, as she wanted (she liked to be the centre of attention, but only of a small circle). She was adamant that there would NEVER be a sequel (and would be spinning in her grave right now). She was going to the movies with her husband when a drunk driver knocked her down. If this interests anyone (well, they’d be here if they were anywhere) there’s a terrific biography called “The Road to Tara” by (I think) Ann Edwards. Tells you who Rhett was in real life. Rhettboss (my first post in this forum - gee it’s clean in here. Smells good too!) ---
**Author:** ![Guy\_Propski](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/5e9695/32.png) [@Guy\_Propski](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Guy_Propski)\ **Post date:** [September 17, 2001, 1:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/one-hit-wonder-authors/79551/43 "2001-09-17T13:40:12Z")
The SF writer Tom Reamy only finished one novel, “Blind Voices”, before his early death. John Kennedy Toole wrote a second book, “The Neon Bible.” It was actually written before ACOD, but sat in a drawer for 35 years until his estate was settled. Kesey, Heller, and F. Scott Fitzgerald all wrote multiple novels. ---
**Author:** ![sturmhauke](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e47c2d/32.png) [@sturmhauke](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sturmhauke)\ **Post date:** [September 17, 2001, 4:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/one-hit-wonder-authors/79551/44 "2001-09-17T16:20:21Z")
Sun Tzu, _The Art of War_ Baroness Orzcy (?), \* The Scarlet Pimpernel \* ---
**Author:** ![Juniper200](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/df788c/32.png) [@Juniper200](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Juniper200)\ **Post date:** [September 17, 2001, 6:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/one-hit-wonder-authors/79551/45 "2001-09-17T18:29:00Z")
Baroness Orczy wrote upwards of a dozen Pimpernel books, IIRC. I’ll concede, however, that we can grant her one-hit-wonder status for only having one standout character. ---
**Author:** ![elfkin477](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/a9a28c/32.png) [@elfkin477](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elfkin477)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2001, 12:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/one-hit-wonder-authors/79551/46 "2001-09-18T00:59:34Z")
Historically? Kate Chopin. However, from what my crit. lit. professor said she was so reviled by critics for **The Awaking** ’s boldness, and was unable to publish any other novels. It’s a shame too, that novel and her short stories were thought provoking. ---
**Author:** ![Mercutio](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/51bf81/32.png) [@Mercutio](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mercutio)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2001, 1:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/one-hit-wonder-authors/79551/47 "2001-09-18T01:05:16Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Francesca \* > \*\ ***Hunter S Thompson** - Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas \*\* -Ahem- Does **12 Monkeys** come to mind? ---
**Author:** ![Cazzle](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cazzle/32/75_2.png) [@Cazzle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cazzle)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2001, 2:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/one-hit-wonder-authors/79551/48 "2001-09-18T02:19:38Z")
Regarding Gone With The Wind… I had heard that Margaret Mitchell ordered all her unpublished work destroyed after her death. I don’t know where I heard it. Is it true? ---
**Author:** ![Hazel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/e56c9b/32.png) [@Hazel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hazel)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2001, 6:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/one-hit-wonder-authors/79551/49 "2001-09-19T06:42:58Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by China Guy \* > \*\* > The only one worth reading or mentioning is One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest. \*\* I disagree. IMO **Sometimes a Great Notion** is a very good book. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/one-hit-wonder-authors/79551.md?page=2)