Cult Writers: 50 Nonconformist Novelists You Need to Know

by Ian Haydn Smith, Kristelle Rodeia (Illustrations)

WHAT MAKES A CULT WRITER? 

Whether pioneering in their craft, fiercely and undeniably unique or critically divisive, cult writers come in all shapes and guises. Some gain instant fame, others instant notoriety, and more still remain anonymous until a chance change in fashion sees their work propelled into the limelight.

Cult Writers introduces 50 novelists deserving of a cult status. The literary genres and subjects explored within these writers’ pages are rich and diverse – acting as mirrors of their genius minds. FromIrvine Welsh’s gritty Edinburgh streets, to Ken Kesey’s drug-fuelled madness; from feminist trailblazer Sylvia Plath to the magical realism of Angela Carter – discover little knowns with small, devout followings and superstars gracing the covers of magazines. Each writer is special in their individuality and their ability to inspire, antagonise and delight. 

Cult Writers is an essential addition to any book lover's library, as well as an entertaining introduction to our weird and wonderful world of literature.
 
Also in the series: Cult Artists, Cult Filmmakers + Cult Musicians

The writers: 
Kathy Acker, James Baldwin, J.G. Ballard, Mikhail Bulgakov, Charles Bukowski, William S. Burroughs, Octavia E. Butler, Italo Calvino, Albert Camus, Angela Carter, Colette, Maryse Conde, Julio Cortazar, Philip K. Dick, Douglas Coupland, Marguerite Duras, Ralph Ellison, Elena Ferrante, Janet Frame, Jean Genet, Joseph Heller, Michel Houellebecq, James Joyce, Franz Kafka, Ken Kesey, Chris Kraus, Milan Kundera, Ursula K. Le Guin, Doris Lessing, Cormac McCarthy, Carson McCullers, Yukio Mishima, Haruki Murakami, Anais Nin, Sylvia Plath, Thomas Pynchon, Raymond Queneau, Ayn Rand, Pauline Reage, Jean Rhys, Juan Rulfo, Francoise Sagan, J.D. Salinger, Arkady and Boris Strugatsky, Donna Tartt, Jim Thompson, J.R.R. Tolkien, Kurt Vonnegut, Virginia Woolf, Irvine Welsh. 

Genres: Nonfiction, Writing, Biography, Books About Books, Cult Classics, Memoir, Biography Memoir

144 pages, Hardcover

Published June 9, 2020

About the author

Ian Haydn Smith is the editor of Curzon and BFI Filmmakers magazines. He has written and broadcast widely on film and photography.

Reviews

[Emily B · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you to Netgalley and Publisher for a ARC of this book.

I thought this book would be ideal for me and that it might generate interest in authors that were previously unknown to me. Which it did. I also really liked that some of my favourite authors were featured in this book. Of course there were others I would have included and others I would not have but overall it was interesting and informative, offering insight into both the Authors lives and works.

[Gert De Bie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Smakelijk, goed geschreven en enthousiasmerend gidsje waarin 50 cultschrijvers worden opgelijst.
In korte stukjes maak je kennis met de geselecteerde auteurs, hun oeuvre en het hoe en waarom ze buitenbeentjes zijn. Natuurlijk zijn de meeste behoorlijk voorspelbaar, zeker voor wie sowieso al interesse heeft voor de non-conformisten en speciallekes uit de literatuur.
Maar toch werden we nog enkele keren verrast, kwamen we zelfs een auteur tegen die we nog niet kenden en was ook de kennismaking met sleutelromans uit de oeuvres van sommige auteurs leerrijk en verrassend.
Kolfje naar onze hand!

[Marjolein (UrlPhantomhive) · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 Stars

I wanted to get to know new authors to add to the ever expanding TBR. Cult Writers provides a very short introduction into 50 so-called cult writers and starts with an essay explaining what in their opinion a cult writer is.

Fifty is at the same time a lot (al lot of authors but not enough at the same time) but also very little (since it means that every author only gets a two-page spread, and the information that is passed on is rather limited. I do not generally know a lot about the authors of my books, so it was a nice introduction. I was also looking forward to see which authors would be ‘cult’-enough to be included.

Sometimes, a book was also introduced, which was very interesting (sometimes even more so if I had read it already but a long time ago), but I think that if it is really new books you are looking for, this might not be the best place to start. For an introduction to their authors, it is.

Thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for providing me with a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review!

Find this and other reviews on https://www.urlphantomhive.com

[Flybyreader · Rating 5 out of 5]

(I received a copy from White Lion Publishing and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.)

I was quite mesmerized by the title of this book: The Cult Writers. “Cult” is a term I was ignorant to in the context of literature.

What does it mean to be a cult writer?
As far as I understand, the work of the writer includes:
-Romantic elements and hope
-Disappointment, melancholy and depression of any kind.
-The prospect of a better world, a utopia or dystopia
-A means of distraction
-The reader must either love it or hate it, there is no middle ground here.

Well, I have never defined myself as a cult reader but I think I will from now on. I proudly state that I love reading the works of the authors listed as cult writers. I am not sure if it’s a matter to be proud of but I will acknowledge it as such. I loved every single page of this book. It’s a bookworm’s heaven. I have learned so much about the authors that I have already been familiar with and got acquainted with some that I have never heard of. A win for me in every way except that my To-Be-Read list, already laden with hundreds of books, has grown significantly after reading this. So, read with caution or you’ll end up with frustration over many books that must be read.

[Ula · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 out of 5 🌟Ultimate TBR guide I need on my shelf

'Cult Writers' book shows portraits of fifty novelists from the last century who are the most memorable personas and were either a symbol or an anti-symbol of their time and culture. Worth to mention that the book presents authors from every part of the world (which is rare in our English-oriented society). Each description includes an informative biography with mentions about the most famous works and what was the inspiration for them.

I really enjoyed this collection, I found a lot of information about the writers I already know and respect, as well as new authors to put on my to-be-read list. Illustrations created by Kristelle Rodeia was captivating and perfectly captured each of the portraited novelists with all their quirks and habits.

This title is a must-have for every bibliophile.

*Thank you Netgalley and the publisher for the ARC in exchange for an honest review. Opinions and feelings are my own.*

[Radwa · Rating 2 out of 5]

I thank netgalley for the digital arc.

This could've been a nice book for me if I weren't already familiar with a lot of the authors here and expecting a bit more from the book. It features short bio of each author with an illustration of them and what makes them "cult". I guess I wasn't sure how the "cult" definition applied to some of them. It's a nice book to flip though, but I'll be holding out for another book about writers that fits what I'm imagining.

[Etienne · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good small repertoire of artist with an illustration representing them, a small biography and major work of their career. Their are well divide in different genre/style so whatever you like some of them should interest you. An interesting book to discover new artist, or rediscover some, and add to your cultural reference/knowledge. Good job!

[Zachary Littrell · Rating 2 out of 5]

(I received this for free via Amazon Vine)

This is aggravatingly disappointing, because it never rises above being an abridged Wikipedia of kinda interesting authors. It's a book doomed to the coffee table. And for that, I guess it's fine, a little oddity for people to thumb through in waiting rooms. But otherwise...there's not much more reason for this to exist, and not much more meat, beyond a Buzzfeed list.

In Smith's defense, writing a book of cult writers and picking just 50 is not easy and bound to P-O somebody. There'll always be someone saying "Why did you include X but not Y?" But his definition of cult is so vague that I scratch my head at the roster. Including the author of Catcher in the Rye, one of the most popular books *ever* with some real obscure writers seems...off?

But let's move past that. The bigger issue is the blurbs are achingly superficial and clumsy. He often doesn't even describe what the books are about! None of the blurbs feel like someone who actually loves these authors. And I think that's what makes me mad: it's so devoid of passion. It's like an unenthusiastic museum curator hustling through the tour and reading off the signs to hit his quota.

I gave it two stars, though, because I did get introduced to some new writers, in particular Juan Rulfo and his Pedro Páramo. So it functions as the sort of coffee table book you'd pick up at a gift shop, or a yellow pages of peculiar writers. Which is fine, if that's what you want.

But before you spend money on this, here's my recommendation: preview the table of contents on Amazon, check out the Wikipedia page for some of the names you don't recognize, and have a good inexpensive time.

[Athina (booknotes_athina) · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received an ARC of this book via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review


I have said it before and I will say it again. I really like books about books, authors and the art of literature in general. So, Cult Writers 50 Nonconformist Novelists You Need to Know by Ian Haydn Smith was a no-brainer for me.
I liked the way it was written and the selection of writers it included. Through this book I learned about authors I wasn't familiar with but I also learned more things about favorite authors.
I should also mention that the illustrations done by Kristelle Rodeia were very good and perfect for the book.

If you are a book lover, I believe that this books should be on your bookshelves.

[Maddie O. · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received an ARC of this book via NetGalley.

A very solid series of short biographies of writers who’ve achieved some sort of cult status. I was familiar with most of them, but a couple were new, and I definitely have a few more books on my TBR list now!

[Isabella Kratynski · Rating 3 out of 5]

This could make a nice gift for some fresh-faced college kid, but the list is predictable and not very informative. It's a fun book with great illustrations, but a seasoned reader is unlikely to discover anything here.

[Vivienne · Rating 4 out of 5]

My thanks to Quarto Publishing Group - White Lion Publishing for a temporary digital edition via NetGalley of Ian Haydn Smith’s ‘Cult Writers: 50 Nonconformist Novelists You Need to Know’ in exchange for an honest review.

This is the latest in White Lion’s ‘Cult’ series. Here Haydn Smith selected 50 modern authors that have gained cult status and provides short biographies along with brief commentary on their work. The book is 144 pages so most writers get two pages including a expressive portrait by illustrator Kristelle Rodela.

In his Introduction Smith lays out the criteria for his selection and acknowledges that in having a limit of 50 there were naturally going to be omissions. He writes that he considers that these 50 writers each stand as representative of a certain type of movement in fiction. He presents a few examples such as Thomas Pynchon standing in for experimental writers such as David Foster Wallace and Roberto Bolaño.

This seems a fair comment even though I would have enjoyed reading Haydn Smith’s thoughts on the work of Tom Robbins or Tom Wolfe.

I was glad that a few genre authors were included and not just those considered as writing works of literary fiction. I was also surprised how many of these writers I had read and also added a few new names and titles to my TBR list.

The entries are listed alphabetically and following the main text is a list of key works for each of the writers and an index.

I would recommend this for bibliophiles as a handy reference work that is ideal to dip into. It would also be an ideal gift for a family member or friend who loves books.

[Charity · Rating 3 out of 5]

If you're looking for an opportunity to discover new (to you) authors or learn a little more about the authors you've already encountered, this is a great place to start.

This book pulls together a collection of writers who have reached cult status either. In some cases this status is based entirely on their body of work, where for some authors their own personal lives become part of the cult appeal.

The collection includes some names you will expect to see like Charles Bukowski and Irvine Welsh, and also includes some names that were completely new to me. I will say that in one or two cases, the write ups about the authors have turned me off of reading their work, but I am coming away with more authors to discover than I expected.

I recommend this to readers who love books about books.

[Mandy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Exactly what it says it is – a selection of 50 “cult” writers, and like all such selections will arouse contention and/or approval amongst its readers. For those bibliophiles who love lists, it’s an ideal little book, a useful compendium. Each author is introduced with a short biography and illustration and with a list of his/her major works. A light but fun read.

[Beth · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fun, quick read about 50 "cult" authors and what makes them and their writing so special. There were some old favorites on here, plus some I've not read before (but plan to now). The book recommendations at the end of this book were helpful.

[Zulfiya · Rating 4 out of 5]

It is only 3.5 stars, but the subject matter is so appealing to me that I could not resist the temptation of giving it four stars. I am such a sucker for all things belles-lettres and literature.
Of course, I have some peeves about it - the selection is very biased - there are predominantly American authors, but from Russian point of view, it is somewhat questionable, and even though the author explains his reasons, I find them very flimsy. European authors are somewhat neglected ... to say the least, and some American choices are quite questionable.
Plus, I wish the author had focused less on the biography and more on works and cultural influence.
Overall, this book still encouraged me to reflect on some of my favorite authors who also made the cut and featured in this book.

[J · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very substandard vonnegut rankings

[SoulSurvivor · Rating 4 out of 5]

Interesting book about writers from 1800s to 1980s that developed a cult following because of their nonconformist views. For this old hippie from the 60s some of it was a 'trip' down memory lane. I picked up two books at the library today based on recommendations in this book. I was looking for one of two Franz Kafka books, but no luck. A lot of writers are 'Kafka-est or ish, but he seem to have lost popularity in libraries.

[J Earl · Rating 5 out of 5]

Cult Writers: 50 Nonconformist Novelists You Need to Know by Ian Haydn Smith is an interesting collection of short introductions to 50 writers.

Smith offers some parameters for what he is considering a cult writer, which is very helpful since a few of them I would not have initially considered for the list. But he supports his decision to include them and his rationale makes sense. Would I have used the same definition and created the same list? Of course not. But that doesn't matter, Smith tells us the criteria he is using, who could easily have been included but didn't quite make the cut, and acknowledges the difficulty in even trying to make a definitive definition of cult.

The entries are interesting and offer some insight into each writer and their work. There is even one entry that is not only a cult writer but anyone who takes her thoughts seriously is a cult member, Ayn Rand. She absolutely belongs on the list though I would have left her off simply because giving space to such a weak thinker who pretended to be a philosopher gives her hateful "philosophy" unwarranted attention. I did, however, devour her books at one time, from roughly 15-18 years of age, then I realized what a horrid way of thinking it is and tossed it out with the rest of the childish trash.

So many of these writers are widely taught in both high school and college, which is, I think, a positive thing. I guess I expected to see more obscure writers, or writers who are overlooked in academia. I am glad the list wasn't an obscure list, I believe these writers illustrate the dynamics of literature, and art as a whole, over time. Cult becomes a classic and a classic becomes a cult work. Smith mentions this in his introduction.

I would highly recommend this to readers who like reading short introductions about writers and those who just enjoy lists. You will likely find a couple books you haven't read that may now sound interesting to you. And you will think about writers you already like that aren't on this list but you think would qualify.

Reviewed from a copy made available by the publisher via NetGalley.

[Andy Hickman · Rating 5 out of 5]

“Cult Writers” by Ian Haydn Smith
I decided to do the rare thing of giving this book 5 stars. Thoroughly engaging, enjoyable, enlightening and informative. I am pursuing the works of many of these authors. *****

“Is a cult writer defined by the work they produce or the life they have lived?” (p8)

Maryse Conde – Her passion for literature was sparked by reading Emily Bronte’s Wuthering Heights, which became an inspiration for Windward Heights (1995). (p40)

Zora Neale Hurston (1891-1960), her essay ‘How It Feels To Be Colored Me’ (1928) (p68)

Denis Johnson - “Write in exile, as if you are never going to get home again, and you have to call back every detail.” (p71)

Franz Kafka wanted all his work to be burned unread. (72)

“We will need writers who can remember freedom – poets, visionaries – the realists of a larger reality.” – Ursula K. Le Guin (p83)
{Note the full quote, from a 2014 speech -
“I think hard times are coming, when we will be wanting the voices of writers who can see alternatives to how we live now, and can see through our fear-stricken society and its obsessive technologies, to other ways of being. And even imagine some real grounds for hope.
We will need writers who can remember freedom: poets, visionaries—the realists of a larger reality. Right now, I think we need writers who know the difference between production of a market commodity and the practice of an art.
The profit motive is often in conflict with the aims of art. We live in capitalism. Its power seems inescapable; so did the divine right of kings. … Power can be resisted and changed by human beings; resistance and change often begin in art, and very often in our art—the art of words.”
- Ursula K. Le Guin (1929-2018)}
.
Some mistakes began to creep in. Example, “addition” instead of “addiction” (p129)
…

[Tony · Rating 4 out of 5]

Part of a series of "Cult" books (others include Filmmakers, Musicians, and Artists), this cute little gifty book attempts to showcase fifty authors (primarily novelists) who can plausibly be placed under the banner of "cult." That said, the brief introduction acknowledges that what that even means is "slippery" and "transient" -- and goes on to cite a whole slew of other authors who could have also been included. So... take it all with a heavy dose of salt.

Of the fifty, I've read at least one book by something like 20-25 of them, and only two names were completely unfamiliar to me: Pauline Reage and Francoise Sagan (although I have heard of each of their seminal works). Each author gets a page or two about them and their key work that merits their inclusion in the book. These are nicely written, and then each is accompanied by a fun illustration. Admirably, almost half are women -- although the overall selections are predictably Western-heavy. All in all, it makes a nice stocking stuffer for literary-minded teens, or your friend who wants to branch into more interesting reading but doesn't know where to start. 

[Theediscerning · Rating 4 out of 5]

The one flaw books alleging to provide a list of the definitive '50 cult authors' (or whatever) have is that they're an inherently personal list, and we learn more about the archivist's taste than any of her or his subjects. This book doesn't have that flaw. These definitely are pocket biographies – some over one page, the rare few over a full double-page spread, so we don't learn quite as much as we might – but they give a pointer, a primer, a tease towards what their subjects' legacy might provide us. And their uniform brevity, in that they have to cover all of the authors' background, style and output, as well as pertinent life events and cultural connections, means that even the less convincing entries (it might not be your fault, Eve Babitz) don't diminish what our author has achieved. I generally find books like these too subjective and easy to argue with, but this volume gets it a lot more right than wrong. A strong success, and a strong four stars.

[Pop Bop · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wildly Idiosyncratic, But Fun

This isn't very deep, and at 50 writers it isn't very broad, but the selection is just quirky enough to make the book interesting and fun. You could quibble with who is and isn't included; that sort of gripe is unavoidable. The author assays an explanation of the choices in his Introduction, but doesn't try too hard because the whole idea of "cult writer" is just too slippery for a quick overview. I was happy with the catch all definition of cult writers as genre benders and flagrant form experimenters who addressed transgressive topics, and, as bonus, often lived colorful private lives.

Each writer gets a two page spread that offers a brief bio and a survey of most widely recognized works. There is a thought or two about what makes the writer special or unique, and some comments about where the writer fits in the canon.

Putting aside quibbles, there are three main categories of writers here. Some are in the obvious group - Wolf, Camus, Vonnegut, Burroughs, Rand, Pynchon. Some are in the middling group, (maybe familiar, maybe not). For me that included writers like Bulgakov, Rhys, Coupland, Sagan, Butler. Then you get the ones that are really niche cult figures - Angela Carter, Djuna Barnes, Pauline Reage, Arkady Strugatsky. These were the most fun because that sent me off to find samples of their work, and helped to introduce me to new potential cults I could join. On top of that it was fun to see shout outs to some of my personal favorites, like Eve Babitz and Italo Colvino.

So, good fun. It's an interesting annotated list, and certainly upbeat and cheerful. An engaging diversion.

(Please note that I received a free advance will-self-destruct-in-x-days Adobe Digital copy of this book without a review requirement, or any influence regarding review content should I choose to post a review. Apart from that I have no connection at all to either the author or the publisher of this book.)

[Edie Lee · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is not about the 50 authors you must read. I’ve gone through a lot of their books and many I disliked so much I wish I could unread them.

The byline tells the real story —that these are artists who follow the beat of a different drummer and create books far away from the main stream. Some create categories all their own.

The book offers quite a selection. Entries include Charles Bukowski, Franz Kafka, Phillip Dick, Ralph Ellison,Joan Gideon, Milo Kundera, Kurt Vonnegut. Ann Rand, Eve Babbit, J. D. Salinger, Mishima, Virginia Wolfe, Douglas Coupland. Houellebecq, Murakami, Ken Keasy, Julio Cortázar, Tolkien and William Burroughs. Many worthy names were not included. Instead they were said to be represented by other similar authors.

All and all it’s an entertaining book. I wrote down the names of several novelists I am not familiar with but would like to know.

I didn’t care for the illustrations I thought them ugly and they didn’t really add anything. Photographs or the works of genuinely talented draftsman would have been preferable.

[joyce w. laudon · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is a great resource for readers looking for new authors to explore.  (They may also find authors they already like and know among the 50 who are included here).  To name just some of those included: Djuna Barnes, Octavia Butler, Albert Camus, Colette, Sylvia Plath, J.R.R. Tolkien, Jean Rhys and Kurt Vonnegut.


The book begins with an introduction that lays out what makes a writer a cult writer specifically. Folloiwing this are the many biographical entries, all with illustrations that enhance the text.


This is a fun and interesting book for browsing.  I recommend it.


Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for this title in exchange for an honest review.

[Callista Goh · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received a complementary copy of this book from the publisher and Netgalley, in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

Incredible description of a set of cult writers and their cultural significance. Well-written and highly insightful - extremely descriptive of cultural context in which these authors wrote their 'key pieces,' but not boring or informative to a fault.

[Madison · Rating 3 out of 5]

Cult Writers lacked substance, perhaps exerpts of the writers it details. Although the authors were artfully chosen, I was hoping for more out of this book. Rather this book reads like a list and would be good as a brief reference or touchstone before exploring an author's works.

[Midu Hadi · Rating 4 out of 5]

I requested this book on Netgalley and am really glad I did!

The book begins with a description of the qualities that the author considers make a writer a cult writer. Then, it provides information about 50 of them. Accompanying each author's brief life history is a colored sketch with a quote from one of their books. Now, this simple review might not entice you to pick up the book immediately. So, I hasten to add that I enjoyed it and learned a lot from it. You can too!

Find out:
Which writer's on-stage kiss set the stage for a riot back in 1907 -- way before Britney and Madonna
Who wrote a book so inspired by Wuthering Heights but set in their own homeland
The name of the author who first questioned the validity of the conviction of the Central Park Five
The identity of the Black Prince of Letters
What the three rules of writing are according to Denis Johnson
Whether all the writings by Kafka survive or not
Yukio Mishima committing seppuku after a failed uprising

A quick, enjoyable, and informative read...this one!

[BookTrib.com]

Cult Writers is an entertaining introduction to the weird and wonderful world of literature.

Read our full coverage here:
https://booktrib.com/2020/06/cult-wri...

[Denise L · Rating 4 out of 5]

A fun little book for a lazy Sunday with a cuppa tea

This is a great book for being introduced to new writers from different times and different places in the world. Got lots of ideas for new-to-me writers to check out, and was thrilled when I saw some of my all-time favs mentioned