Famous Pen Names of Authors Trivia Word Search

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

French writer Boris Vian published a fake hard-boiled American crime novel under the pen name Vernon _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _.

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

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

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

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

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

Screenwriter Diablo Cody, who wrote 'Juno,' was born Brook _ _ _ _ _.

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

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

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

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

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

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

The pen name 'Jane Somers' hid the identity of this Nobel Prize-winning novelist, testing how a new author would be treated.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Author Howard _ _ _ _ wrote espionage novels under the pen name 'E. V. Cunningham.'

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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