Famous authors: they once were little kids who drew pictures for their parents, just like us. Recently, a few childhood drawings of E.E. Cummings were discovered and put on display by the Massachusetts Historical Society — and while it’s not clear whether they tell us anything about the future poet’s work, they’re certainly a fun window into the life of the artist as a young boy. After the jump, see a few more early artworks by some of your favorite authors — and be sure to add any others you find to the list in the comments.
Image Credit: E.E. Cummings/Massachusetts Historical Society
Image Credit: E.E. Cummings/Massachusetts Historical Society
Two drawings by a six- and seven-year-old E.E. Cummings. [via]
Drawings by an eight- and nine-year-old Sylvia Plath. [via]
More drawings by Plath, these from circa 1943, when she was 12. [via]
Drawings an eight- and nine-year-old George Orwell sent to his mother from boarding school. [via]
An 11-year-old Jack Kerouac’s valentine to his mother. [via]
A painting by a young J.M. Coetzee. [via]
A doodle-dotted letter from an eight-year-old Christopher Isherwood to his mother. [via]
An accomplished drawing by a 13-year-old Charlotte Brontë. [via]
In 1916, a 13-year-old Anaïs Nin amused herself by creating a monthly magazine, Compagnon de L’Oublie (Companion of the Forgotten) filled with her own writing and drawings. Above are two covers. [via]