Famous Authors and their Epic MoustachesNovember 19, 2014

"Within, stood a tall old man, clean shaven save for a long white moustache, and clad in black from head to foot, without a single speck of colour about him anywhere."

- "Dracula" (Bram Stoker, 1897)

Movember is a unique campaign for raising awareness on men's health. And if you're wondering why the name, then think of addition. (Moustaches plus November equals Movember.) It's time to sprout a moustache, hoping the itch won't get to you before the end of the month. If you have literary aspiration, then it will be a different story.

For artists, a moustache denotes eccentricity. It can be considered their red badge of courage. This facial hair reveals certain traits about themselves. No one's pulling your leg, even if this was the craze more than a century ago. Movember wants more people to be aware of men's depression, which is not uncommon as many would thought. Not a few writers have struggled to keep their sanity, the outcome of which can be seen in their works. But if you're unfamiliar with it, then it would interesting - and fun - to analyse their moustaches. Here are some of them:

William Shakespeare. Many portraits of the playwright showed a lovely moustache. The first impression would be this chap was neat and vain. But what if it was the opposite? The people back then were mindful of their manners, and if the Bard's plays were of any indication, he would have preferred those unguarded moments. Imagine the shocking reaction. Think of the salacious details.

Gustave Flaubert. The Frenchman's huge, symmetrical moustache would imply order. But the drooping eyes said otherwise. An interesting case study.

Friedrich Nietzche. Not a few have noticed the philosopher's walrus-like moustache. This would prompt them to ponder how he ended up with this kind of facial hair. He would smirk if he were around.

Leo Tolstoy. The Russian's snowy lock made him more serious. This was what "Anna Karenina" and "War and Peace" were all about.

Sir Arthur Conan Doyle. One portrait revealed the Scot's piercing eyes. His moustache, which resembled a handle bar, would make an intimidating look. This was be how he envisioned Sherlock Holmes (or Dr. Moriarty).

Ernest Hemingway. Nothing fancy about the American's moustache. It would reflect his writing style.

George Orwell. The prickly moustache might make anyone wary. His bleak stories come to mind.

William Faulkner. The native of Mississippi was one of the renowned writers of Southern literature. It showed through his impeccable moustache.

Gabriel García Márquez. It was said that the Colombian novelist's moustache was like Emilio Zapanta's, the famous Mexican revolutionist. So it was no coincidence when his books would be recalled.

Salman Rushdie. The British-Indian novelist's moustache seems rigid. It exudes an air of importance. Anyone thinking of "The Satanic Verses" may have a wrong impression.

Read all articles→