How Pop Music Inspired Writers to Explore Great Literature

Ahead of World Book Day, Guardian music writers reflect on how pop and rock musicians guided them to important works of literature. Katie Hawthorne recalls discovering Penelope Farmer’s ‘Charlotte Sometimes’ through the Cure, finding its dreamlike narrative resonated with her teenage self. Dave Simpson credits the Smiths with introducing him to Oscar Wilde and Alan Sillitoe, shaping his literary tastes during his youth. Alexis Petridis acknowledges Adam Ant’s influence, which led him to explore Joe Orton’s provocative plays and diaries. Daniel Dylan Wray found inspiration in Nick Cave’s praise of John Berryman, discovering the poet’s ’77 Dream Songs’ and a profound literary depth. Matt Mills attributes his English A-level success to Iron Maiden’s epic musical adaptation of Coleridge’s ‘The Rime of the Ancient Mariner,’ while Laura Snapes traces her appreciation of Grace Paley’s interconnected short stories to the National. Gwilym Mumford discovered Saul Bellow through Fionn Regan’s lyrical references, and Lindesay Irvine highlights how Scritti Politti introduced him to Antonio Gramsci and continental philosophy. Collectively, these accounts show how pop music can act as a gateway to literature, enriching cultural understanding and personal development, and illustrating the unique intersection between music and literary discovery.