Substack Novels
Re-Publishing Classics, a novel idea
Here is a novel idea (pun intended) to use the Substack platform to re-publish classic works of fiction in a serialized way - in regular installments.
The Orwell Foundation is starting with The Wigan Pier Diaries
What are the Wigan Pier Diaries?
George Orwell travelled to the north of England in January 1936 to report on the hardship of working-class life in the wake of the Great Depression. The result was The Road to Wigan Pier - first half sociological investigation, second half socialist polemic. In addition to a great deal of research, the book was based on Orwell’s diaries, which begin in Coventry on the 31st January 1936 and end near Barnsley on the 25th March.
George Orwell, serialized
Orwell Daily is the new way to read one of the world greatest writers. George Orwell's words delivered direct to your inbox, daily.
From the 31st January 2023, we will be following George Orwell’s journey to Wigan Pier in real-time, with The Wigan Pier Diaries.
Orwell Daily is curated by the Orwell Foundation and comes with an official stamp of approval from the Orwell Estate.
Another serialized book is delivered via Substack by Matt Kirkland.
Check out My interview with the author.
Get the classic novel Dracula delivered to your email inbox, as it happens.
Bram Stoker’s Dracula is an epistolary novel - it’s made up of letters, diaries, telegrams, newspaper clippings - and every part of it has a date. The whole story happens between May 3 and November 7. So: Dracula Daily will post a newsletter each day that something happens to the characters, in the same timeline that it happens to them.
Now you can read the book via email, in small digestible chunks - as it happens to the characters.
Get the classic novella Carmilla delivered to your inbox, as it’s published.
Sheridan Le Fanu’s story about the seductive vampire Carmilla and her hapless victim Laura was published in four parts between 1871 and 1872 (predating Dracula by 26 years and acting as a direct inspiration). Inspired by Dracula Daily, Carmilla Quarterly will email four chapters of the novella Carmilla to your inbox a month (the original pace at which they were publicized in The Dark Blue) from December 2022 to March 2023, alongside the original illustrations.
What Is Edgar Allen Poe Fortnightly?
Edgar Allan Poe Fortnightly began as Edgar Allan Poe Daily, an unauthorized companion to the fantastic Dracula Daily, that sent out Edgar Allan Poe stories and poems on the weekdays that Dracula Daily does not update.
Now, Poe Fortnightly is it’s own beast, sending out Edgar Allan Poe stories and poems every two weeks!
Dark and Terrible Missives
Each new update goes straight to your email, or you can read them all here. All stories and poems sent are in the public domain. Stories and poems are chosen at my whims. Longer stories will be broken up into digestible daily chunks.
Get the classic The Three Musketeers delivered straight to your inbox.
Alexandre Dumas's The d'Artagnan Romances are a set of three novels, which were first serialized in the newspaper Le Siècle.
The first instalment, The Three Musketeers, ran from March 14th 1844 to July 14th of the same year, and was afterwards published in a single volume. Twenty Years After was serialized between January and August of 1845, and The Vicomte the Bragelonne, the third part, from October 1847 to January 1850.
Read the story now via email, in small chunks to go with your morning coffee - as Parisians once did when opening their Le Siècle.
Subscribe now. Never miss an update from our heroes!
**This was supposed to start last March. But the serialize didn’t materialize. So I would suspect that YOU could serialize this one.
Why would you want to serialize a classic book? Which one?
Well for one thing, the Dracula Daily has more than 260,000 subscribers. And number two, the Dracula Daily has more than 260,000 subscribers.
Plus it is free and easy content. I may consider posting a classic on Substack. Here are some that are now in the Public Domain, and in the Creative Commons category:
"Pride and Prejudice" by Jane Austen: A spirited young woman navigates societal expectations and her own misconceptions while discovering love in Regency-era England.
"Jane Eyre" by Charlotte Brontë: Orphaned and mistreated, Jane Eyre finds strength and independence as she overcomes obstacles, including a complicated romance, to build a life on her own terms.
"Moby-Dick" by Herman Melville: A seafaring tale centered around Captain Ahab's obsessive quest for revenge against the elusive white whale, Moby Dick, exploring themes of fate, obsession, and humanity's relationship with nature.
"Alice's Adventures in Wonderland" by Lewis Carroll: Alice's whimsical journey through a fantastical world filled with peculiar characters challenges logic and invites readers to ponder the nature of reality and imagination.
"Frankenstein" by Mary Shelley: Dr. Victor Frankenstein's creation of a living being leads to dire consequences as the creature grapples with its own existence and seeks vengeance against its creator.
"The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn" by Mark Twain: Huck Finn and Jim, an escaped slave, embark on a perilous river journey in pre-Civil War America, exploring themes of racism, freedom, and the moral choices individuals face.
"The Call of the Wild" by Jack London: A dog named Buck experiences the brutality of the Yukon gold rush, adapting to a harsh wilderness and embracing his primal instincts in this gripping tale of survival.
"Little Women" by Louisa May Alcott: The lives of the four March sisters—Meg, Jo, Beth, and Amy—unfold as they navigate the challenges of coming of age, love, and societal expectations during the American Civil War.
"The Great Gatsby" by F. Scott Fitzgerald: Set in the Roaring Twenties, Jay Gatsby's lavish lifestyle and pursuit of Daisy Buchanan reveal the emptiness and disillusionment beneath the glittering facade of the American Dream.
"To Kill a Mockingbird" by Harper Lee: Through the eyes of Scout Finch, a young girl in the racially divided South, the novel explores themes of racism, injustice, and the loss of innocence as her father defends an innocent Black man accused of rape.
"1984" by George Orwell: In a dystopian society ruled by Big Brother, Winston Smith rebels against a totalitarian regime, challenging the suppression of individuality, free thought, and truth.
"The Catcher in the Rye" by J.D. Salinger: Holden Caulfield's introspective narrative follows his alienation from society, disillusionment with adulthood, and his longing for authentic human connection.
"The Adventures of Tom Sawyer" by Mark Twain: Tom Sawyer, a mischievous boy, embarks on numerous adventures along the Mississippi River, showcasing youthful rebellion, friendship, and the journey toward maturity.
"Wuthering Heights" by Emily Brontë: A passionate and tumultuous tale set in the moors of England, exploring the intense love, obsession, and revenge between Catherine Earnshaw and Heathcliff.
"The Scarlet Letter" by Nathaniel Hawthorne: Hester Prynne grapples with the consequences of her adultery, wearing the scarlet letter 'A' as a public symbol of her sin in a Puritanical society.
"War and Peace" by Leo Tolstoy: Set against the backdrop of Napoleon's invasion of Russia, the novel explores the lives and relationships of several Russian aristocratic families, delving into themes of war, love, and the search for meaning.
"A Tale of Two Cities" by Charles Dickens: Set during the French Revolution, the novel contrasts the lives of characters in London and Paris, intertwining their fates and examining themes of sacrifice, resurrection, and the pursuit of justice.
"The Count of Monte Cristo" by Alexandre Dumas: Edmond Dantès, unjustly imprisoned, escapes and assumes the identity of the Count of Monte Cristo, seeking revenge against those who wronged him while navigating themes of betrayal, justice, and redemption.
"The Awakening" by Kate Chopin - This novel explores themes of female identity and self-discovery, challenging societal norms and expectations.
"The Picture of Dorian Gray" by Oscar Wilde - This philosophical novel delves into themes of vanity, morality, and the consequences of pursuing an unbounded life.
"Brave New World" by Aldous Huxley - This dystopian novel examines a future society controlled by technology, exploring themes of individuality, freedom, and the impact of consumerism.
"Fahrenheit 451" by Ray Bradbury - This classic dystopian novel portrays a society where books are banned and explores themes of censorship, knowledge, and the power of literature.
"Slaughterhouse-Five" by Kurt Vonnegut - This satirical anti-war novel blends science fiction elements with dark humor, challenging traditional notions of time, fate, and the destructiveness of war.
"The Bell Jar" by Sylvia Plath - This semi-autobiographical novel tackles themes of mental health, identity, and the pressures faced by women in society.
"The Dispossessed" by Ursula K. Le Guin - This science fiction novel explores anarchist and utopian ideas, contrasting two societies and examining themes of social justice, capitalism, and personal freedom.
"Invisible Man" by Ralph Ellison - This novel explores issues of race, identity, and social invisibility, offering a powerful critique of racism and the complexities of African American experiences.
"The Stranger" by Albert Camus - This existentialist novel examines themes of alienation, absurdity, and the meaning of life, challenging conventional societal norms and expectations.
"The Handmaid's Tale" by Margaret Atwood - This dystopian novel portrays a future society where women are subjugated, exploring themes of reproductive rights, gender oppression, and the dangers of totalitarianism.
There are many other classic books that have entered the public domain.
Additionally, you can explore websites like Project Gutenberg (www.gutenberg.org) or Librivox (www.librivox.org) that offer extensive collections of public domain books in various genres and languages.
Remember to verify the copyright status of a book in your country before using it for reprinting or any other purpose, as copyright laws may vary.
What do you think of The illustrated Frankenstein?:
Frankenstein (the Modern Prometheus) - Letter 1
Letter 1 To Mrs. Saville, England. St. Petersburgh, Dec. 11th, 17—. You will rejoice to hear that no disaster has accompanied the commencement of an enterprise which you have regarded with such evil forebodings. I arrived here yesterday, and my first task is to assure my dear sister of my welfare and increasing confidence in the success of my undertaking.
Which book would you like to read as a serialized subscription on Substack?
Thank you to the new guys and gals who subscribed recently! Peace.
Hey Paul, as a Lit teacher I taught many of these novels ... Huck Finn, Frankenstein, Gatsby, Tale of Two Cities, etc. In so doing, I've read them multiple times ... I think I've read Gatsby 15 times. And I always seem to find something I'd missed before. Twain, Fitzgerald ... beautiful writing and writing to emulate. Anyway, cool resource. -- Jim
I think it's a great idea... to keep these wonderful classic tales alive among all the drivel passing for literature out there!