Sometimes it so happens that an author’s creation surpasses the author in fame. Although it is quite likely that the author becomes famous by virtue of his work, there are some rare cases where the character becomes more iconic than the author. Today, we’ve made a list of the authors whose written characters are more famous and have probably even discussed in pop culture references, but perhaps don’t know of.
Authors Whose Written Characters Are More Famous:
Elisabetta Dami
Have you ever wondered who wrote the Geronimo Stilton novels you read as a kid? With colourful, amusing fonts and iconic mouse illustrations, the Stilton series took the kid world by storm. However, the book was anonymous, and hence the author remained out of the limelight. Dami is also credited to the creation of the Thea Stilton series, which is also a hot favourite among children.
Arthur Conan Doyle
Sherlock Holmes is perhaps the most iconic detective of all times – with his erudition, eye for detail and analytical skills, we all adore him. But Doyle’s other works have not made as much of a mark upon the literary world. In fact, he killed Sherlock off in order to create works of greater literary merit, but Sherlock’s popularity forced him to bring him back. His detective series has overshadowed all his other works, and his own life.s
Ian Fleming
The creator of James Bond did not know when he released his first book that his character would achieve the heights of fame that it did. In fact, now, the character has a life of its own, completely separate from the author. Movie and other adaptations ensure that James Bond lives on, irrespective of the intentions of the author.
Charles Perrault
Charles Perrault is the creator of several fairytales that have lived on by word of mouth. Most of these fairytales have been translated into various languages, regional and global. Hence they have acquired a worldwide following. Sleeping Beauty, Little Red Riding Hood and Cinderella are just some of the names that have various adaptations and forms. These characters are now no longer associated with just Perrault and have worldwide fandom.
Carolyn Keene
This is the pseudonym of authors of the Nancy Drew series. Nancy Drew was a hot favourite among young girls of the later part of the 1900s, and lives on to this day as a classic. There isn’t one author associated with the series, but a number of authors wrote the books under the pen name of Carolyn. However, not even this name became remotely as famous as the books themselves. Mildred Benson was the first one to use the pseudonym and penned 23 of the 30 original Nancy Drew novels, but remains an obscure figure in literature to this day.
Bram Stoker
Bram Stoker’s Count Dracula isn’t just a literary figure anymore – he is a pop culture icon in his own right. His character has been adapted into movies, tv shows, plays, radio shows, comics, Disney characters, other books and even music. The result is that though Stoker as credited with the creation of this character, Dracula is no longer limited to that identity. He has far surpassed his author in fame. Today, everyone might know Dracula, but only literature lovers know Stoker.
Jim Davis
Jim Davis is the iconic creator of the comic strips of Garfield. The orange cat wasn’t an instantaneous success when Davis first began in 1978, but over the years has acquired a huge following. Now, even though Jim has stopped making the comics, Garfield still appears in all kinds of places – newspapers, magazines, and even on tshirts. There are Garfield bags, shoes and even notebooks. He is an iconic cartoon, but unfortunately his creator’s fame cant parallel his.
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