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By Broti Gupta Comic Corner, FeaturesOctober 23, 2014

The first drafts of literature’s finest first lines

Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen:

It is a truth universally acknowledged, that a single man in possession of a good fortune, must be in want of a wife. And that a lady in possession of some hit novels must be doing just fine on her own – better than fine. Okay, Mother? Do you see this, Mother? I’m fine.

Fahrenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury:

It was a pleasure to burn (baby, burn).

A Tale of Two Cities by Charles Dickens:

It was the best of times, it was the worst of times; it was one city, and then it was another city; it was the highest of times, it was the lowest of times; it was wax-on, it was wax-off; it was Billie Jean was my lover, it was Billie Jean was not my lover.

Nineteen Eighty-Four by George Orwell:

It was a bright cold day in April, and the clocks were striking thirteen. Most people called this time, “1:00.”

Huckleberry Finn by Mark Twain:

Y** d*** k*** a**** m* w****** y** h*** r*** a b*** b* t** n*** o* ‘T** A********* o* T** S*****’; b** t*** a*** n* m*****. T*** b*** w** m*** b* a M* M*rk T*ain, a** h* t*** t** t****, m*****.

Catcher in the Rye by J.D. Salinger:

If you really want to hear about it, the first thing you’ll probably want to know is where I was born, and what my lousy childhood was like. The second thing you’ll probably want to know is everything I’m thinking about everyone around me constantly. Right? Right. Let’s do this thing.

The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald:

In my younger and more vulnerable years my father gave me some advice that I’ve been turning over in my mind ever since. Whenever you feel like criticizing anyone, he told me, just remember that all the people in this world haven’t had the advantages that you’ve had. Also, please don’t quote me. It’s not a life lesson, it’s just something I’m asking. Wait. What are you writing down? Son, what are you doing? Why won’t you show me your notebook?

Metamorphosis by Franz Kafka:

As Gregor Samsa awoke one morning from uneasy dreams he found himself transformed in his bed into monstrous vermin. Until he found Maybelline®.

Moby-Dick by Herman Melville:

Call me Ishmael. My real name’s Ted but I’m trying to start a thing.

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