(31 August 2005 2:00 pm)

MUMBAI: How did Salman Rushdie live through the fatwa? Did Mario Puzo work for the mob? Why was Jeffery Archer forced to resign his seat in parliament?

These are questions The History Channel seeks to answer from next month. Every Saturday at 10 pm it will air the show The Write Stuff.

The nine-part series features renowned writers like Salman Rushdie, Jeffrey Archer, William Shakespeare, Stephen King, Edgar Allen Poe, Sidney Sheldon, Mario Puzo, Mark Twain and H.G. Wells whose writings enjoy worldwide recognition and continue to dominate bestseller lists across the globe. Each episode will reveal the trials and tribulations of these writers on their journey to literary success.

The History Channel senior VP, content and communication Dilshad Master said, "From classic literature to pot-boilers, these authors have always enjoyed universal appeal but how many of us know the real people behind these books? In The Write Stuff, we share the personal experiences which shaped the lives and works of these celebrated and influential writers."

The series will allow viewers to understand the men and the inspirations behind their writings - from Puzo's mother's influence in the etching of Don Corleone's character, to the social prophecies which Wells became popular for and the 161 books which he wrote beside The War of the Worlds.