Review: Who the Hell is Pansy O’Hara – The Fascinating Stories Behind 50 of the Best-Loved Books

Introduction: Who the Hell is Pansy O'Hara

Who the Hell Is Pansy O'Hara?: The Fascinating Stories Behind 50 of the World's Best-Loved Books

I'm sure that you have read books and wondered what inspired the author to write them. Who the Hell is Pansy O'Hara: The Fascinating Stories Behind 50 of the Best-Loved Books by Jenny Bond and Chris Sheedy provides context for 50 books. Jenny Bond and Chris Sheedy present profiles and the lives lived by the 50 authors included in their book,  and you are transported into their lives and get a better sense of where they are coming from.

The whole process began as a discussion over dinner, when the question was asked,

“What is the special ingredient that creates a truly spectacular piece of literature or a work with enduring appeal?”

They realized that to answer the question they would have to delve deeper. To choose the 50 books,  Jenny Bond and Chris Sheedy started off with books they loved and they expanded by asking their friends and colleagues for recommendations. They also talked to professionals in publishing, book specialists and looked at book sales and “awareness figures in various countries.” They conducted extensive research and found that the special ingredients were passion and struggle.

What is Who the Hell is Pansy O'Hara About?

Books mentioned among the 50 best-loved books include:

1. Pride and Prejudice
2. Oliver Twist
3. JANE EYRE
4. War and Peace
5. Adventures of Huckleberry Finn
6. The Great Gatsby
7. Winnie-the-Pooh (Winnie The Pooh Deluxe Gift Box)
8. The Grapes of Wrath
9. Casino Royale (James Bond)
10. Nineteen Eighty-Four, Centennial Edition
11. The Catcher in the Rye
12. To Kill a Mockingbird: 50th Anniversary Edition
13. The Godfather
14. Jaws
15. Bridget Jones's Diary
16. Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone (Book 1)
17. The Da Vinci Code
18. The English Dictionary
19. Guinness World Record
20. Roots: The Saga of an American Family
21. A Brief History of Time

 Who the Hell Is Pansy O'Hara?: The Fascinating Stories Behind 50 of the World's Best-Loved Books True History of the Kelly Gang: A Novel The Hound of the Baskervilles H.G. Wells' War of the Worlds From Here to Eternity: A Novel (Modern Library 100 Best Novels) The Spy Who Came in from the Cold: A George Smiley Novel (George Smiley Novels) Doctor Zhivago (Vintage International)

Many of the authors whose lives were delved into had life altering experiences, and many of them used their work experiences to craft the best tales building realistic characters.  Frankenstein was inspired by a nightmare, Oliver Twist was an act of social justice and rebellion against an unfair system.

Erich Remarque drew on a lot of his experience when he wrote the war story  All Quiet on the Western Front. As you read Who the Hell is Pansy O'Hara, you get a glimpse into the time the author lived in. Not surprisingly, most of them were voracious readers, though they were not necessarily great students. And, it often took them a while to find their true vocation. They kept at it and faced numerous rejections.

Have you read?

Books That Changed The World: The 50 Most Influential Books in Human History by Andrew Taylor

All Quiet on the Western Front by Erich Maria Remarque #theclassics

The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn by Mark Twain, Book Review

To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee

Final Thoughts: Who the Hell is Pansy O'Hara

For me, reading about the authors mentioned in Who the Hell is Pansy O'Hara shows that good things come to those who persist. I recommend this book. For those who are wondering who Pansy O'Hara is, Scarlett O'Hara in Gone With the Wind was originally called Pansy O'Hara.