What you need to know to make the most of them
Mark Twain was born Samuel Clemens in Missouri. Before picking up a pen, he served an apprenticeship with a printer and later became a riverboat pilot on the Mississippi River. Clemens (1835–1910) later maintained that he chose his pseudonym after the habit by riverboat men of checking the depth of water by calling out "mark twain"—indicating that the water was 12 feet deep and safe to pass. In other words, according to the mark on the line the depth was two fathoms, or 12 feet, with twain being an archaic term for "two."
'The Adventures of Tom Sawyer' (1876) and its sequel 'Adventures of Huckleberry Finn' (1884) are two novels especially associated with American writer Mark Twain. Both are set in Missouri, and it's the Deep South where the author's pen name originates.
Among English author Lewis Carroll's most notable works is 'Alice's Adventures in Wonderland' (1865) and its sequel 'Through the Looking-Glass' (1871).
Lewis Carroll (1832–1898) was born Charles Lutwidge Dodgson. The origin of his pen name is intriguing. He translated the first two parts of his name—Charles Lutwidge —into Latin, which gave him Carolus Ludovicus. This was then translated back into English as "Carroll Lewis" and then reversed to make "Lewis Carroll."
This famed America author is responsible for modern-day classics such as 'The Shining' (1977), 'Rita Hayworth and Shawshank Redemption' (1982) and 'Misery' (1987), among many other horror, science-fiction, crime, suspense, and fantasy novels. Around this period, the late 1970s and early 1980s, he also published a series of novels under the pseudonym Richard Bachman.
Richard Bachman is, or rather was, none other than Stephen King. Apparently the writer picked the name on a whim while listening to a track by Canadian rock band Bachman–Turner Overdrive. King retired Richard Bachman in 1989, crediting his death to the "cancer of the pseudonym."
English novelist, essayist, journalist, and critic George Orwell ranks among the greatest of British writers. His allegorical novella 'Animal Farm' (1945) and the dystopian novel 'Nineteen Eighty-Four' (1949), from which the term "Big Brother" is derived, remain two of the most celebrated and influential books published in the 20th century.
George Orwell (1903–1950) is otherwise known as Eric Blair. Soon after beginning his writing career, he changed his name, citing his favorite location, the River Orwell in Suffolk, as inspiration. He felt obliged to adopt a pseudonym after the publication of 'Down and Out in Paris and London' (1933), a recollection of his time growing up in poverty. By using a different name, he avoided embarrassing his family.
Polish-British writer Joseph Conrad is regarded as one of the most accomplished novelists to write in the English language. Among his most famous works is the 1899 novella 'Heart of Darkness,' which decades later provided the inspiration for Francis Ford Coppola's 1979 film 'Apocalypse Now.'
Joseph Conrad's real name was Józef Teodor Konrad Korzeniowski. Born in 1857, his other noted novels include 1895's 'Almayer's Folly,' the appearance of which marked his first use of the pen name "Joseph Conrad" (i.e. Józef Konrad). He died in 1924.
George Eliot was one of the leading writers of the Victorian era with hugely successful novels such as 'The Mill on the Floss' (1860), 'Silas Marner' (1861), and 'Middlemarch' (1871–72).
George Eliot (1819–1880) was in fact Mary Ann Evans. She adopted her nom de plume around 1856–57, taking the name "George" from philosopher and her lover George Henry Lewes, and choosing Eliot for its easy pronunciation. It was a deliberate act, with Evans electing to write under a male pseudonym so that her works would be taken more seriously.
Similarly, to evade contemporary prejudice against female writers, this trio of women chose to jointly publish a volume of poetry under the pen names Currer, Ellis, and Acton Bell. Pictured is the cover of the original 1846 edition of 'Poems by Currer, Ellis, and Acton Bell.' Any idea who they are?
Currer, Ellis, and Acton Bell were none other than Charlotte (1816–1855), Emily (1818–1848), and Anne Brontë (1820–1849). Each male pseudonym matched the corresponding first letter of the sisters' first names. Soon, of course, each would achieve spectacular individual fame and celebration within literary circles.
An early work by this esteemed Victorian writer was signed off using the pseudonym Boz. Called 'Sketches by Boz' and appearing in 1836, it comprised a collection of short pieces originally published in newspapers and other periodicals. Just 12 months later, the same writer would publish 'The Pickwick Papers' under his real name.
Boz was the pen name for Charles Dickens (1812–1870). It was adapted from Moses, a family nickname that Dickens had given his younger brother, Augustus. Shortened and pronounced through the nose as Boses, the sobriquet became "Boz."
Best known as the author of the novel 'Little Women' (1868), this American novelist and poet was also a committed abolitionist and a feminist, and active in reform movements such as temperance and women's suffrage.
A.M. Barnard (1832–1888) was born Louisa May Alcott. She adopted the name early in her career, in the 1850s, with some of her melodramas produced for the Boston Theater published under "A.M. Barnard." Two novels published in the mid-1800s, 'Behind a Mask' and 'The Abbot's Ghost, or Maurice Treherne's Temptation,' were also credited as being written by A.M. Barnard.
As Clive Hamilton, this Belfast-born writer produced early works of poetry including 'Spirits in Bondage: A Cycle of Lyrics' (1919), written while he tutored at Oxford University. In 1961, 'A Grief Observed,' penned by the same author, was published under the pseudonym N.W. Clerk. But it would be those works published under his abbreviated birth name that this British writer is best remembered for.
Clive Hamilton was Clive Staples Lewis, better known as C.S. Lewis (1898–1963), the author of 'The Chronicles of Narnia,' a series of seven fantasy novels published between 1950 and 1956 and which have since been adapted for radio, television, the stage, film, and video games.
One of the Founding Fathers of the United States, and a drafter and signatory of the Declaration of Independence, this writer was also a scientist, inventor, statesman, and diplomat. He wrote under several witty-sounding pen names including Silence Dogood, a satirical middle-aged widower whom he created while still just a teenager.
Silence Dogood was Benjamin Franklin (1706–1790), whose other pseudonyms include Richard Saunders, Caelia Shortface, Martha Careful, Busy Body, and Benevolus. Franklin is credited with popularizing the female alias, his many noms de plume reflecting feminine personas.
Sources: (Time) (Britannica) (Founders Online)
The creator of fictional detectives Hercule Poirot and Miss Marple, British author Agatha Christie penned more than 66 detective novels and 14 short story collections, most of them in fact under her own name. However, six novels, plus works of non-fiction, were written under a pseudonym.
That pseudonym was Mary Westmacott, adopted by Agatha Christie (1890–1976) so that she could write about human psychology, relationships, and love in relative anonymity, thus not alienating her already well-established mystery fan base.
One of the most famous names in the history of literature, Voltaire was a versatile and prolific writer, producing, over a career stretching 60 years, works in almost every literary form, including plays, poems, novels, and essays.
Voltaire (1694–1778) was the nom de plume of Paris-born François-Marie Arouet. He adopted the name Voltaire in 1718, but from where is unclear. One suggestion is that "Voltaire" was an anagram of a Latinized spelling of "Arouet," the family name.
Maya Angelou published seven volumes of autobiographies (notably 1969's 'I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings'), three books of essays, and several books of poetry, among numerous other literary works.
Maya Angelou (1928–2014) was the pen name chosen by Marguerite Annie Johnson. Her nickname was Maya. She married Tosh Angelos in 1951 and after their divorce used an alternative version of her ex-husband's last name to create Maya Angelou.
The bestselling British author of the 'Harry Potter' series, J.K. Rowling is a publishing phenomenon and well known for adopting pen names.
Born Joanne Rowling with no middle name, she took the "K" from her grandmother's name, Kathleen. Thus J.K. was born. In 2013, 'The Cuckoo's Calling' was published, the purported debut novel of Robert Galbraith. In fact, Robert Galbraith was the pseudonym used by Rowling to write her first adult crime fiction novel.
This British author's name is associated with one of the best-selling erotic romance novels of recent years, 'Fifty Shades of Grey.'
E.L. James, however, is actually Erika Mitchell, who has also written under the web name Snowqueens Icedragon.
What's in a name? Well, you'd be surprised actually. For centuries, writers have created pen names to publish their literary works. A pen name, also known as a nom de plume or a pseudonym, is an assumed name used by an author in place of their own name. By adopting an alias, authors are able to conceal their true identity for personal, political, and ethical reasons. Writing anonymously can also ensure privacy, avoid overexposure, and, in the case of many female writers, help combat sexism and prejudice. So, do you know who's hidden behind a book cover?
Click through and read about famous authors and their pen names.
Famous authors and their pen names
Literary double takes
LIFESTYLE Literature
What's in a name? Well, you'd be surprised actually. For centuries, writers have created pen names to publish their literary works. A pen name, also known as a nom de plume or a pseudonym, is an assumed name used by an author in place of their own name. By adopting an alias, authors are able to conceal their true identity for personal, political, and ethical reasons. Writing anonymously can also ensure privacy, avoid overexposure, and, in the case of many female writers, help combat sexism and prejudice. So, do you know who's hidden behind a book cover?
Click through and read about famous authors and their pen names.