Famous Pen Names of Authors Trivia Word Search

The Federalist Papers were written under the joint pen name 'Publius' by Madison, Jay, and this future Treasury Secretary.

This bestselling suspense author, born Dean _ _ _ _ _ _, published early novels under many aliases, including 'Leigh Nichols.'

Spy novelist John le Carré, author of 'Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy,' was born David _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _.

Japanese novelist Natsume Soseki, once pictured on the 1000-yen note, was born Natsume _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _.

Portuguese poet Fernando _ _ _ _ _ _ wrote much of his work under invented alter egos like Alberto Caeiro.

'Perry Mason' creator Erle Stanley _ _ _ _ _ _ _ also wrote mysteries under the alias 'A. A. Fair.'

Hardboiled crime writer Richard Stark was a pen name of novelist Donald E. _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _.

Futuristic crime novels published as J. D. Robb are secretly written by bestselling romance author Nora _ _ _ _ _ _ _.

Mark Twain, author of 'Huckleberry Finn,' was born Samuel Langhorne _ _ _ _ _ _ _.

Mystery author Elizabeth Peters was really the Egyptologist Barbara _ _ _ _ _.

The 'Geronimo Stilton' book series is credited to a mouse author but actually written by Italian author Elisabetta _ _ _ _.

'The Smurfs' creator Peyo was really the Belgian cartoonist Pierre _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _.

'Tintin' creator Hergé built his pen name from his reversed initials; he was born Georges _ _ _ _.

Author and former pimp Iceberg Slim, who wrote 'Pimp: The Story of My Life,' changed his name in 1961 to Robert _ _ _ _.

'No Longer Human' author Dazai Osamu was born Shuji _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _.

Historical mystery author Ellis Peters was really named Edith _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _.

French playwright Molière was born Jean-Baptiste _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _.

Pioneering Hindi and Urdu novelist Premchand was born Dhanpat Rai _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _.

Novelist Romain Gary is the only author to win France's top literary prize twice, once under the alias Emile _ _ _ _.

Etiquette columnist Miss Manners is really named Judith _ _ _ _ _ _.

Author Pearl S. _ _ _ _ published the novel 'The Townsman' under the male pen name John Sedges.

Novelist Ford Madox Ford, co-founder of a famous literary review, was born Ford Madox _ _ _ _ _ _ _.

Poet and future UK Poet Laureate Cecil _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ wrote detective novels under the alias Nicolas Blake.

Crime novels published as Robert Galbraith are secretly written by this 'Harry Potter' author.

Celebrated Indian lyricist and poet Gulzar was born Sampooran Singh _ _ _ _ _.

The 'Captain Underpants' series is by author Dav _ _ _ _ _ _, who once used the joke pen name 'Sue Denim' for one book.

Fantasy author Piers Anthony's full birth name was Piers Anthony Dillingham _ _ _ _ _.

Comic artist Jack Kirby, co-creator of many Marvel heroes, was born Jacob _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _.

'Atlas Shrugged' author Ayn Rand was born Alisa _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ in Russia.

Marvel Comics legend Stan Lee split his birth surname to make his pen name; he was born Stanley Martin _ _ _ _ _ _.

'Out of Africa' author Isak Dinesen was really the Danish writer Karen _ _ _ _ _ _.

'Jane Eyre' first appeared under the male pen name Currer Bell, hiding a British novelist's real surname.

This British novelist published his earliest sketches under the pen name 'Boz,' before using his real surname, _ _ _ _ _ _ _.

A founder of modern Chinese literature, Lu Xun was born Zhou _ _ _ _ _ _.

Romance author Amanda Quick is a pen name used by novelist Jayne Ann _ _ _ _ _ _.

Prolific sci-fi author Andre Norton was actually born a woman named _ _ _ _ _ Mary Norton.

Chilean Nobel laureate Pablo Neruda was born Ricardo _ _ _ _ _ Basoalto.

Sci-fi writer James Tiptree Jr. was revealed to be a woman named Alice _ _ _ _ _ _ _.

Novelist George Sand, known for wearing men's clothing in public, was born Amantine _ _ _ _ _.

Poet Maya Angelou was born with the given name Marguerite Annie _ _ _ _ _ _ _.

Feminist author bell hooks, styled in lowercase, was born Gloria Jean _ _ _ _ _ _ _.

Essayist Charles _ _ _ _ wrote his famous personal essays under the pen name 'Elia.'

Chinese novelist Ba Jin, whose pen name blends syllables from anarchists Bakunin and Kropotkin, was born Li _ _ _ _ _ _ _.

This horror novelist published several early books under the pseudonym Richard Bachman before revealing his real surname, _ _ _ _.

German philosopher-novelist Jean Paul was born Johann Paul Friedrich _ _ _ _ _ _ _.

Nobel laureate Anatole France was born Jacques Anatole _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _.

French novelist Stendhal, author of 'The Red and the Black,' was born Marie-Henri _ _ _ _ _.

Short-story master O. Henry was really named William Sydney _ _ _ _ _ _.

Novelist Gore _ _ _ _ _ wrote mystery novels under the pen name 'Edgar Box.'

French philosopher Voltaire was born François-Marie _ _ _ _ _ _.

'The Bell Jar' was first published under the pen name Victoria Lucas, hiding poet Sylvia _ _ _ _ _.

Before writing 'Jurassic Park,' this author published early thrillers under the pen name John Lange.

Mystery writer Ellery Queen was a joint pseudonym; one of the two cousins behind it was named Manfred _ _ _.

Mystery writer Amanda Cross was the pen name of literary scholar Carolyn _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _.

The romance novels behind Netflix's 'Bridgerton' were written by Julia Quinn, whose real surname is _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _.

'All Quiet on the Western Front' author Erich Maria Remarque tweaked his birth surname, _ _ _ _ _ _.

'A Series of Unfortunate Events' author Lemony Snicket is really named Daniel _ _ _ _ _ _ _.

Horror writer Joe Hill, son of a famous novelist, was born Joseph _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ King.

'The African Queen' author C. S. Forester was born Cecil Louis Troughton _ _ _ _ _.

Crime writer Ed McBain, creator of the 87th Precinct series, was born Salvatore Lombino and legally became Evan _ _ _ _ _ _.

Japanese mystery writer Edogawa Ranpo, whose pen name echoes an American horror author's name, was born Taro _ _ _ _ _.

Chick-lit author Sophie Kinsella, who wrote the 'Shopaholic' series, was born Madeleine _ _ _ _ _ _ _.

As a teenager, Benjamin _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ wrote newspaper letters under the pen name 'Silence Dogood.'

British crime author Barbara Vine was a pen name used by Ruth _ _ _ _ _ _ _.

This German-Swiss novelist briefly published 'Demian' as Emil Sinclair before using his own name, _ _ _ _ _.

The James Bond novel 'Colonel Sun' appeared under the pen name Robert Markham, secretly written by this 'Lucky Jim' author.

Nobel laureate Toni Morrison was born Chloe Ardelia _ _ _ _ _ _ _.

'Middlemarch' was published under the male pen name George Eliot, hiding novelist Mary Ann _ _ _ _ _.

Before 'Lolita' made him famous in English, Vladimir Nabokov wrote in Russian under the pen name Vladimir _ _ _ _ _.

This Pulitzer-winning editorial cartoonist blended his first and last name for his pen name; he was born Herbert Lawrence _ _ _ _ _.

This American writer, born Washington _ _ _ _ _ _, published a comic history of New York as 'Diedrich Knickerbocker.'

Advice columnist Ann Landers was, in her later and best-known years, really named Eppie _ _ _ _ _ _ _.

'A Clockwork Orange' author Anthony Burgess was born John _ _ _ _ _ _, using his own middle names as a pen name.

Legendary wuxia novelist Jin Yong was born Louis _ _ _.

Irish novelist Flann O'Brien, author of 'At Swim-Two-Birds,' was born Brian O'_ _ _ _ _.

Short-story writer Saki, known for tales of dry wit, was born Hector Hugh _ _ _ _ _.

Children's author Dr. Seuss was really named Theodor Seuss _ _ _ _ _ _.

Agatha _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ wrote romance novels under the pen name Mary Westmacott, apart from her famous mystery-writing career.

'Alice's Adventures in Wonderland' was written by Charles Lutwidge _ _ _ _ _ _ _, under the pen name Lewis Carroll.

The author of '1984,' George Orwell, was born Eric Arthur _ _ _ _ _.

Bestselling novelist Harold Robbins was born Harold _ _ _ _ _.

Dutch author Multatuli, who wrote 'Max Havelaar,' was born Eduard Douwes _ _ _ _ _ _.

'The Wheel of Time' author Robert Jordan was born James Oliver _ _ _ _ _ _ Jr.

Blockbuster novelist Sidney Sheldon was born Sidney _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _.

The 'Little Women' author, born Louisa May _ _ _ _ _ _, secretly wrote pulpy thrillers under the pen name A. M. Barnard.