By Nava Atlas | On July 6, 2017 | Updated July 20, 2024 | Comments (0)
Lots of us know that the film version of Gone with the Wind was based on the epic novel of the same title by Margaret Mitchell, and that To Kill a Mockingbird was a faithful rendition of Harper Lee’s classic.
Little Women has been the subject of a number of film versions, and most of us, at least us book nerds, know Louisa May Alcott by name quite well. And will there never be an end to filmed versions of the Brontë sisters’ novels, or those of Jane Austen?
There are many other classic films based on classic novels by women, whose titles are firmly planted in cultural history. But the connection to the authors who created them is often lost. See if you know who wrote the novels upon which these twelve classic films were based — you’ll find the answers at the very end. Read More→
By Nava Atlas | On May 15, 2017 | Updated October 16, 2026 | Comments (0)
Important dates in women’s classic literature, including birthdates, death anniversaries, publication dates, and other literary milestones.
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By Nava Atlas | On November 23, 2016 | Updated December 30, 2025 | Comments (4)
It’s truly remarkable how many film adaptations have been made from the works of classic women authors. This is just a sampling.
Make sure also to see the listing of movies about classic authors in Biographical Films Inspired by Women Authors’ Lives. The following is a selected list; make sure to let us know if we’ve left out anything important! Read More→
By Nava Atlas | On April 24, 2016 | Updated June 13, 2026 | Comments (0)
Dear Literary Ladies,
Sometimes I get so frustrated with my writing that I want to give up. It’s as often a pain as it is a pleasure, and it’s getting so hard to be published these days. Can you give me a reason to persist in this often thankless pursuit?
Who wants to become a writer? And why? Because it’s the answer to everything. To why am I here? To uselessness. It’s the streaming reason for living. Read More→
By Nava Atlas | On April 20, 2016 | Updated March 22, 2026 | Comments (0)
Presented here is a selection of passages from the diaries and journals of several iconic women authors — Louisa May Alcott, L.M. Montgomery, Enid Bagnold, Virginia Woolf, Anaïs Nin, and Sylvia Plath. Also introduced is Anne Lister, AKA “Gentleman Jack,” who is considered a prolific secret diarist moreso than an author.
For many well-known authors, a personal diary or journal was a constant companion and confidant. Into it they poured their dreams, goals and desires, as well as their fears and insecurities.
What’s striking about these entries is that they reveal a great deal of self-doubt. It goes to show that in many cases, confidence is less important to success than perseverance. Confidence as a writer is something gained over time.
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