Posthumous publication refers to material that is published after the author's death. This can be because the author died
before the work was completed or while trying to find a publisher. For example,
Stieg Larsson died suddenly having submitted the first two of the
Millennium novel series to a publisher.
Other authors desire publication not to happen until after their death.
Mark Twain did not want
his autobiography to be published until 100 years after his death.
Posthumous publication can be controversial if it is believed that the author would not have wished the material to be published. For example, critics of a collection poems by
Philip Larkin
Philip Arthur Larkin (9 August 1922 – 2 December 1985) was an English poet, novelist, and librarian. His first book of poetry, ''The North Ship'', was published in 1945, followed by two novels, ''Jill'' (1946) and ''A Girl in Winter'' (1947 ...
argued that many of the poems were unfinished or from early in his career, and that he would never have wished them to be made public.
See also
List of works published posthumously
The following is a list of works that were published posthumously.
An asterisk indicates the author is listed in multiple subsections. (Philip Sidney appears in four.)
Literature Novels and short stories
* Douglas Adams* — '' The Salmo ...
References
Publishing
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