The Truth Behind the Tales

From Austen to Plath, many of our most beloved authors have found themselves on the other end of the pen, having their life stories retold through the medium of film. J. R.R. Tolkien is the latest icon to join the circle, with a new biopic starring Nicholas Hoult as the Lord of the Rings creator just beyond the mountain. To celebrate, let’s take a moment to reminisce over some of those that have made the journey before:

"The Rebel in the Rye"

Reclusive genius J.D. Salinger was subjected to his own biopic back in 2017. Also starring Nicholas Hoult, the film outlines the much-loved American writer’s career—from his early days building up a repertoire of rejection letters, through his many literal and metaphorical battles, being thrust from frontline to fame, right up to his final known activity as a private writer. Although, given his distaste of the limelight, it may not have been what the Catcher would have wanted, it was still interesting as viewers to catch a glimpse of the man behind the myth.

Must read: The Catcher in the Rye

"Sylvia"

Pathos laden poet Sylvia Plath was resurrected in 2004 with the release of Sylvia starring Gwyneth Paltrow. As is the case with many biopics inspired by female writers, Sylvia centres mainly around the romance between Plath and wartime poet Ted Hughes—beginning with their meeting at Cambridge University and ending with the Lady Lazarus’ untimely death at age thirty. The film unflinching recounts the turbulent tale that would inspire Plath’s first and only autobiographical novel, one that would shed light on the shadows cast upon her by her prestigious ex-husband and place her among the world’s best-loved writers of all time.

Must read: The Bell Jar

"Wilde"

Arguably, there was no one more capable of perfectly embodying witty playwright Oscar Wilde than the equally as eloquent Stephen Fry. Based on the Pulitzer Prize winning biography by Richard Ellman, the biopic focuses predominantly on the romance that was to result in the biggest scandal of its time and Wilde’s subsequent arrest. Weaving together Wilde’s personal and professional personas, the film documents the esteemed playwright and novelist through his journey of self-discovery as he comes to grips with his sexuality while under the ever-prying eye of the public.

Must read: The Selfish Giant

"Capote"

Detailing the case that inspired the non-fiction novel that made Truman Capote the most famous writer in America, Capote follows the charismatic penman through the four years that would come to change him forever. In 1959 Capote, along with friend and fellow novelist Harper Lee, set to uncover the chilling truth behind the cold-blooded Clutter family killings. The hard-hitting feature documents the formation of the unlikely friendship between author and murderer and eloquently outlines the strains that spurred Capote from the life-of-the-party to tortured writer.

Must read: In Cold Blood

"Mary Shelley"

Mary Shelley, the fiercely feminist genius behind the gothic novel Frankenstein, was reanimated by Elle Fanning in Haifaa al-Mansour's 2018 biopic. Starting from the point of her scandalous love affair with poet Percy Shelley and following the turbulent relationship that it bore, the film recounts the wonders and hardships that aided the young writer’s metamorphosis from Mary Wollstonecraft Godwin to Mary Shelley—creator of the classic monster story we cherish so deeply. The fact that her own tale is still being told well into the 21st century is proof that Shelley succeeded where Dr. Frankenstein failed—by cheating death and becoming immortalized in our hearts.

Must read: Frankenstein: Or, the Modern Prometheus

"Becoming Jane"

Loosely based on John Hunter Spence's 2003 book Becoming Jane Austin, this Anne Hathaway led film pieces together the known facts of Austin's early life and uses them to create a tale that entwines both fact and fiction. Again, the story tumbles down the path of romance, detailing the relationship that would allegedly come to influence the most famous love story of Austin's career and perhaps of all time - does it really need to be said?

Must read: Pride and Prejudice

"Bright Star"

Bright Star—the only feature in this list to not include the lead’s name in the title—takes its name from the opening line of a sonnet written by 19th century poet John Keats, whom the film is about. Focusing on the final three years of Keats’ life, Bright Star is a love story—as many of his own pieces were—concerning the futile romance between the man himself and the young Fanny Brawne, that was sadly destined to wilt and fade.

Must read: So Bright and Delicate: Love Letters and Poems of John Keats to Fanny Brawne

Final Thoughts

Sometimes, the real-life tales that inspire the most beloved pieces of literature can be just as captivating. Through novels and poems, we come to know or favourite writers on deeply personal and emotive levels—biopics allow us to complete the image of these people, helping us understand the passions and tragedies that shaped them both as humans and as artists. All it takes is a good script and cast to uncover the truth behind the metaphors.

Is your favourite writer not on the list? Let me know which authors you'd like to see represented in film.