I picked up my copy of Gone With The Wind the other day. It was rainy outside, and I wanted to delve into something that would transport me. A great book will do that, and it’s been years since I’ve read this American masterpiece. It’s also in my nature to explore. So, I took a closer look at the author and how GWTW came to be.
This is what I discovered… Margaret Mitchell was recouping with a broken ankle, and her husband brought several history books home from the library at her request. As a reporter for the Alanta Journal, I imagine Margaret’s love of history and love for Atlanta, her hometown, had much to do with her novel’s backdrop.
Margaret eventually penned the last chapter first, which totally surprised me cause the book is so massive, and skipped around writing various chapters. Most of the novel was written between 1925-1930. Margaret kept her work hidden, literally. She covered the manuscript pages with towels, and never discussed it except with her husband.
As fate would have it and, I truly believe in this instance GWTW was destined for greatness, the editor of Macmillion visited Atlanta in 1935. He was scouring the South for promising writers. Let me say here, what a difference several decades makes! Harold Latham, the editor, was enchanted with Margaret as a tour guide. On their last night of Atlanta sightseeing, he mentioned that if she ever wrote a book, to show him first. A comment from a nearby female, about the odds of someone as silly as her writing a novel, fueled Margaret’s inner Goddess. Whenever the editor left the next day, Margaret shoved her tome into his hands and said, “Here take this, before I change my mind!”
I seriously see much of Scarlett in the author’s gesture, and love how that translates on the page. Of course, after she realized what she’d done, she contacted the editor and told him she’d changed her mind and to send it back. He sent her an advance check instead, and told her it’d be a blockbuster. She finished her beloved novel in 1936. Gone With The Wind sold 50,000 copies in one day, and one million copies in six months.
The icing for me was reading about the famous last line Rhett spoke. The director of the movie, David O Selnick, had to pay a $5,000 fine because he refused to change the line, “Frankly my dear, I don’t give a damn!” to “Frankly my dear, I don’t care.” Imagine, how much difference a word makes. The line the censor wanted them to use sounds like something Ashley might’ve said and that’s pushing it, while Rhett was the dashing adventurer who dared to speak with passion and conviction, regardless if it offended. Sigh…
I guess my discovery, more than anything, shows the importance of choosing and keeping the right words. You never know when they’ll live on in the corridors of time.
Any great lines from a favorite novel you’d care to share? Or, a memory of your first glimpse of GWTW. Personally, I was in high school and it was showing at the local drive-in. A pal of mine and our moms settled in for a Friday night viewing in the family car. Of course, our moms were dying to see it and brought the movie to our attention in the 70′s. I’d never seen anything so lavish on the screen. I was Scarlett in that moment and had a crush on Rhett; still might have. I read the novel later.
LaDonna,
OMG! GWTW… Memories.
Actually, I read the book before I saw the movie and no I’m not “THAT” old.
However, my grandmother, aunts and mother who were great readers passed it on to me when they deemed me old enough to read it and knew I loved history.
We lived in a smallish town which didn’t often get movies rerun that were beyond a certain age and videos were a dream of the future.
However, when I was near term with my second son, my forever girlfriends and I went to a showing of GWTW. It had returned. The theater was packed and we had to sit in the balcony, amidst all the couples trying for their own Rhett and Scarlett passion.
Worse, the stairs up there were treacherous and I remember losing my balance and nearly falling a couple times. Somewhere shortly after the burning of Atlanta I started labor. Lucky for me, I was able to finish the movie. Lucky for my son he wasn’t born in the balcony while I watched GWTW.
Mary Jo
I laughed so hard at your Atlanta burning and going into labor comment, you’ve started my day off grand! Thanks for sharing your memories!
I just read Mary Jo’s comment. How funny.
I read GWTW when I was a teen. It was never my favorite, but I love the story of how she sold it. I’d never heard it before. It’s amazing to me that she never wrote another book. I wonder if she did and never sent it anywhere.
Edie,
MM died shortly after the movie was released, I think–a car accident and hadn’t finished anything else after she wrote the book. Can’t remember why–that age thing I guess, but maybe she was wondering if she could ever top that success with a second book?
Hey Edie, I do know like Mary Jo said she was hit by a car. That was in 1949 and caused her early death. I do know they found a novella she wrote when she was 16, and published it much later. Haven’t read it yet. Like Mary Jo commented on her fame, the shoot to the top was probably like a bolt of lightning. Back then, I’m sure it was a phenom to behold.
I’m glad we have GWTW.
Wow! I did not know any of that! That is so cool. So cool! Especially the bit about the $5,000 fine. It would have spoiled the whole story to say, “Frankly, my dear, I don’t care.”
I read that same edition with the same cover. Loved it!
Hey Spy, I love discovery! And I agree about that line. I would’ve shoveled out the money too, since that line is the last thing people remember. The words were so powerful in that situation.
My book has the same cover too!
This is where I admit that I’ve never read GWTW nor have I ever seen the entire movie … only portions. I’m afraid I’ve never really had an interest in the story. Does this mean I have to turn in my romance club card?
Actually, you were asking about memorable sayings. Hell, anything from Casablanca. That movie was so full of memorable one-liners that they’re still in use today.
Hey Liz, nope you don’t have turn in that invisible card!
Seriously, if my mom hadn’t gone all goo-goo when the movie came out, it might have taken me years to discover.
GWTW didn’t have the HEA that’s expected in traditional romances; probably why I loved it so. The ending was original, and maybe that’s why people remembered it?
I’ll have to watch Casablanca. Now that’s a book that I’ve never read, and not sure I’ve watched the movie all the way through. Time to catch up…