From an article on "Flags of our Fathers" the new top non-fiction bestseller about the 6 men who raised the American flag at Iwo Jima:

Flags of Our Fathers was rejected by 27 publishers.
Irving Stone's Lust for Life was rejected by 17 publishers.
Thor Heyerdahl's Kon Tiki was rejected by 20 publishers.
The first Dr. Seuss book was rejected by 23 publishers.
Watership Down was rejected by 43 publishers.

Rejection, anyone?