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Five Unfinished Longer Works: Literary Treasures Waiting to be Completed

Brody Powell

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Published in Parallel Movement Of The Hands: Five Unfinished Longer Works

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The literary world is filled with captivating tales that have captivated the imaginations of readers for centuries. However, there are also a number of unfinished longer works that have left readers tantalized and yearning for more. These abandoned literary creations hold a unique allure, inviting us to speculate on what might have been.

Parallel Movement of the Hands: Five Unfinished Longer Works

by John Ashbery

4.6 out of 5

Language	:	English
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Print length	:	318 pages

In this article, we will explore five unfinished longer works that continue to fascinate and intrigue readers. These works, spanning genres from fantasy to mystery to children's literature, offer a glimpse into the creative minds of literary masters and leave us wondering about the stories that could have been.

1. The Lord of the Rings (by J.R.R. Tolkien)

J.R.R. Tolkien's epic fantasy novel, The Lord of the Rings, is perhaps one of the most famous unfinished works in literature. Tolkien began writing the novel in the 1930s, and it was published in three volumes between 1954 and 1955. The novel tells the story of the hobbit Frodo Baggins and his quest to destroy the One Ring, an evil artifact that threatens to plunge Middle-earth into darkness.

Tolkien worked on The Lord of the Rings for over a decade, and by the time it was published, he had only completed the first two volumes. He died in 1973, leaving behind a number of unfinished notes and drafts that give us a glimpse into his plans for the third volume. These notes show that Tolkien had intended to write a much more complex and detailed story than what was ultimately published.

The unfinished nature of The Lord of the Rings has led to a great deal of speculation among fans. Some believe that Tolkien's original ending was much more tragic than the one that was published, while others believe that he intended to write a sequel that would explore the fate of Middle-earth after the War of the Ring.

2. The Mystery of Edwin Drood (by Charles Dickens)

Charles Dickens's last novel, The Mystery of Edwin Drood, is one of the most tantalizing unfinished works in literature. Dickens began writing the novel in 1870, and he died in 1870, leaving behind only six of the twelve chapters. The novel tells the story of Edwin Drood, a young man who is murdered in mysterious circumstances.

Dickens's death left readers with a number of unanswered questions about the novel's plot. Who killed Edwin Drood? Why was he killed? And who is the mysterious Datchery, who appears in the novel's later chapters?

There have been a number of attempts to complete The Mystery of Edwin Drood, but none of them have been universally accepted. The novel remains one of the most intriguing and frustrating unfinished works in literature.

3. The Sandman (by Neil Gaiman)

Neil Gaiman's The Sandman is a dark fantasy comic book series that tells the story of Dream, the personification of dreams. The series was published between 1989 and 1996, and it consists of ten trade paperbacks. Gaiman originally intended to write a twelve-issue series, but he was forced to cut it short due to creative differences with his publisher.

The Sandman is a complex and ambitious work that explores a wide range of themes, including mythology, religion, and death. Gaiman's writing is both lyrical and haunting, and his characters are both memorable and relatable. The series has been praised for its originality, its dark humor, and its beautiful artwork.

Although The Sandman was cut short, it remains one of the most acclaimed comic book series of all time. Gaiman has said that he would like to return to the series someday and finish the story, but for now, The Sandman remains an unfinished masterpiece.

4. The Wind in the Willows (by Kenneth Grahame)

Kenneth Grahame's The Wind in the Willows is a classic children's novel that tells the story of four anthropomorphic animals who live in the English countryside. The novel was published in 1908, and it has since become one of the most beloved children's books of all time. Grahame intended to write a sequel to The Wind in the Willows, but he died in 1932, leaving behind only a few fragments of the story.

The unfinished sequel to The Wind in the Willows is known as The Willows in Winter. The fragments that Grahame left behind show that the sequel would have been a darker and more somber story than the original novel. The story would have followed the four animals as they struggled to survive the harsh winter months. Grahame's writing in the fragments is as beautiful and lyrical as it is in The Wind in the Willows, and it is a shame that he was unable to complete the story.

5. Sir Gawain and the Green Knight (by Unknown)

Sir Gawain and the Green Knight is a medieval romance that tells the story of Sir Gawain, a knight of King Arthur's court. The poem was written in the 14th century, and it is one of the most famous and enduring works of Middle English literature. The poem is incomplete, as the last few lines are missing. This has led to a great deal of speculation among scholars about how the poem would have ended.

There are a number of different theories about how Sir Gawain and the Green Knight would have ended. Some scholars believe that Gawain would have eventually defeated the Green Knight, while others believe that he would have been killed. Still others believe that the poem would have had a more ambiguous ending, with Gawain's fate left unresolved.

The unfinished nature of Sir Gawain and the Green Knight has made it one of the most fascinating and debated works of medieval literature. The poem's haunting imagery, complex characters, and unresolved ending have captivated readers for centuries.

The five unfinished longer works discussed in this article are just a few examples of the many tantalizing literary treasures that have been left incomplete. These works offer a glimpse into the creative minds of literary masters, and they invite us to speculate on what might have been. While it is a shame that these works were never completed, they remain fascinating and intriguing, and they continue to inspire and entertain readers to this day.

Parallel Movement of the Hands: Five Unfinished Longer Works

by John Ashbery

4.6 out of 5