The Greatest Authors of All Time

Ever wondered who the greatest authors of all time are? We've analyzed 759 diverse book lists to create this comprehensive ranking of literary masters. Our algorithm considers several key factors to determine each author's position:

This system ensures that authors with multiple enduring works are recognized, while still giving weight to the quality of individual books. The rankings are automatically calculated and updated as new lists are added to our database.

52951. Jiří Kolář

Jiří Kolář was a Czech poet, writer, painter, and translator. He was a prominent figure in the Czech avant-garde and is known for his innovative use of collage techniques in both visual art and literature. His work often explored themes of language, politics, and the human condition.

Jiří Kolář's highest rated books
Cover of 'Prométheova Játra' by Jiří Kolář

52952. Jiří Weil

Jiří Weil was a Czech writer and Holocaust survivor known for his novels and stories that often dealt with the themes of Jewish identity and the impact of World War II. His notable works include 'Life with a Star' and 'Mendelssohn is on the Roof', which explore the human condition under totalitarian regimes.

Jiří Weil's highest rated books
Cover of 'Life With A Star' by Jiří Weil

52953. Ferdinand Peroutka

Ferdinand Peroutka was a prominent Czech journalist, writer, and political thinker. He was known for his influential role in Czechoslovak journalism and his critical stance against totalitarian regimes. Peroutka was a key figure in the First Republic of Czechoslovakia and later faced persecution under both Nazi and Communist regimes.

Ferdinand Peroutka's highest rated books
Cover of 'Oblak A Valčík' by Ferdinand Peroutka

52954. James Edward Austen-Leigh

English author and nephew of Jane Austen, best known for A Memoir of Jane Austen (1870).

James Edward Austen-Leigh's highest rated books

52955. František Langer

František Langer was a Czech playwright, prose writer, and essayist known for his contributions to Czech literature in the early 20th century. He was also a physician and served as a military doctor during World War I. Langer's works often explore themes of humanism and the complexities of human nature.

František Langer's highest rated books
Cover of 'Velbloud Uchem Jehl' by František Langer

52956. Kay Ryan

Kay Ryan is an American poet known for her concise and witty verse. She served as the 16th Poet Laureate of the United States from 2008 to 2010 and has received numerous awards for her work, including the Pulitzer Prize for Poetry.

Kay Ryan's highest rated books

52957. Chanrithy Him

Chanrithy Him is a Cambodian-American author known for her memoir 'When Broken Glass Floats,' which recounts her experiences during the Khmer Rouge regime in Cambodia.

Chanrithy Him's highest rated books

52958. Alfred Marshall

Alfred Marshall was a prominent British economist, known for his foundational work in microeconomics. He authored 'Principles of Economics' and introduced key concepts such as price elasticity of demand and consumer surplus.

Alfred Marshall's highest rated books
Cover of 'Principles Of Economics' by Alfred Marshall

52959. Bejamin Péret

Benjamin Péret was a French poet and a key figure in the Surrealist movement. He was known for his radical political views and his contributions to Surrealist literature.

Bejamin Péret's highest rated books
Cover of 'Poems Of Bejamin Péret' by Bejamin Péret

52960. W. Stanley Jevons

William Stanley Jevons was a British economist and logician. He was a key figure in the development of the marginal utility theory of value and made significant contributions to the field of economics, particularly in the areas of utility and exchange. Jevons is also known for his work on the theory of index numbers and the theory of the business cycle.

W. Stanley Jevons's highest rated books
Cover of 'Theory Of Political Economy' by W. Stanley Jevons

52961. Thomas Mun

Thomas Mun was an English writer on economics and is often associated with the mercantilist school of thought. He is best known for his work 'England's Treasure by Forraign Trade,' which emphasized the importance of a favorable balance of trade to increase a nation's wealth.

Thomas Mun's highest rated books
Cover of 'England's Treasure By Forraign Trade' by Thomas Mun

52962. Sylvie Weil

Sylvie Weil is a French author known for her works in both adult and children's literature. She is the daughter of mathematician André Weil and the niece of philosopher Simone Weil. Sylvie has written several acclaimed books, often exploring themes of identity and family.

Sylvie Weil's highest rated books
Cover of 'At Home With André And Simone Weil' by Sylvie Weil

52963. George Sims

George Sims was a British author known for his crime novels and as a bibliophile. He was also an antiquarian bookseller and wrote several books about book collecting.

George Sims's highest rated books
Cover of 'The Last Best Friend' by George Sims

52964. Fan Dai

Fan Dai's highest rated books

52965. Dick Roughsey

Dick Roughsey, also known as Goobalathaldin, was an Indigenous Australian artist and author known for his contributions to children's literature and his efforts in preserving Aboriginal culture through his art and storytelling.

Dick Roughsey's highest rated books

52966. Sebastiano Serlio

Sebastiano Serlio was an Italian Mannerist architect, who was part of the Italian Renaissance. He is best known for his influential architectural treatise 'I Sette Libri dell'Architettura' (The Seven Books of Architecture), which helped spread Renaissance architectural ideas throughout Europe.

Sebastiano Serlio's highest rated books

52967. Zdeněk Jirotka

Zdeněk Jirotka was a Czech writer known for his humorous novels and short stories. His most famous work is the novel 'Saturnin', which remains a beloved classic in Czech literature.

Zdeněk Jirotka's highest rated books
Cover of 'Saturnin' by Zdeněk Jirotka

52968. 川端裕人

川端裕人's highest rated books

52969. 南木 佳士

南木 佳士's highest rated books

52970. Kyōko Hayashi

Kyōko Hayashi was a Japanese author known for her works that reflect on her experiences as a survivor of the Nagasaki atomic bombing. Her writings often explore themes of memory, trauma, and the impact of war on individuals and society.

Kyōko Hayashi's highest rated books

52971. Shōhei Ōoka

Shōhei Ōoka was a Japanese novelist, literary critic, and translator, known for his works that explore the human condition and the experiences of soldiers during World War II. His most famous novel, 'Fires on the Plain,' depicts the harrowing experiences of a Japanese soldier in the Philippines.

Shōhei Ōoka's highest rated books

52972. Yeonmi Park

Yeonmi Park is a North Korean defector and human rights activist who gained international recognition for her escape from North Korea and her subsequent efforts to raise awareness about the human rights violations occurring in her home country. She is also an author and public speaker, sharing her experiences and advocating for freedom and human rights.

Yeonmi Park's highest rated books

52973. Emma Gingerich

Emma Gingerich is an author known for her memoir detailing her experiences leaving the Amish community.

Emma Gingerich's highest rated books

52974. Nisha Sharma

Nisha Sharma is an author known for writing contemporary romance novels. Her works often explore themes of love, family, and cultural identity. She is recognized for her engaging storytelling and diverse characters.

Nisha Sharma's highest rated books
Cover of 'Dating Dr. Dil' by Nisha Sharma

52975. Wesley Clair Mitchell

Wesley Clair Mitchell was an American economist known for his work on business cycles and for being one of the founders of the National Bureau of Economic Research (NBER). His research significantly contributed to the development of empirical economics.

Wesley Clair Mitchell's highest rated books
Cover of 'Business Cycles' by Wesley Clair Mitchell

52976. David Ricardo

David Ricardo was a prominent British political economist, known for his influential works on economic theory, including the theory of comparative advantage and the law of diminishing returns.

David Ricardo's highest rated books
Cover of 'On The Principles Of Political Economy And Taxation' by David Ricardo

52977. Luca Pacioli

Luca Pacioli was an Italian mathematician and Franciscan friar, known as the 'Father of Accounting' for his seminal work on double-entry bookkeeping. He collaborated with Leonardo da Vinci and contributed significantly to the fields of mathematics and accounting.

Luca Pacioli's highest rated books
Cover of 'Summa De Arithmetica, Geometria, Proportioni & Proportionalita' by Luca Pacioli

52978. Ferdinand von Saar

Ferdinand von Saar was an Austrian novelist, playwright, and poet known for his realistic portrayal of Austrian society in the late 19th century. His works often explore themes of social change and personal conflict.

Ferdinand von Saar's highest rated books

52979. Moshe Bar

Moshe Bar's highest rated books

52980. Roger Thurow

Roger Thurow is an American author and journalist known for his work on global hunger and agricultural development. He has written several books on these topics and has been a senior fellow at the Chicago Council on Global Affairs.

Roger Thurow's highest rated books

52981. Aimee Molloy

Aimee Molloy is an American author known for her bestselling novel 'The Perfect Mother'. Her work often explores themes of motherhood and suspense.

Aimee Molloy's highest rated books

52982. E. B. Eberhart

E. B. Eberhart's highest rated books
Cover of 'R. S. V. P. Murder' by E. B. Eberhart

52983. Lizzy Goodman

Lizzy Goodman is an author and journalist known for her work on music and pop culture. She is best known for her book 'Meet Me in the Bathroom', which chronicles the New York City music scene in the early 2000s.

Lizzy Goodman's highest rated books
Cover of 'Meet Me In The Bathroom' by Lizzy Goodman

52984. 森浩美

森浩美's highest rated books

52985. Sonali Dev

Sonali Dev is an author known for her works in contemporary romance, often blending elements of Indian culture and family dynamics into her storytelling.

Sonali Dev's highest rated books
Cover of 'The Vibrant Years' by Sonali Dev

52986. Michael Chabon

Michael Chabon is an American novelist, short story writer, and essayist best known for The Amazing Adventures of Kavalier & Clay (Pulitzer Prize for Fiction, 2001). His work often blends literary fiction with genre elements (comics, detective fiction, alternate history) and explores themes of identity, family, and Jewish American experience. Notable books include Wonder Boys, The Yiddish Policemen's Union, and Moonglow.

Michael Chabon's highest rated books

52987. Sarah Shourd

Sarah Shourd is an American author, journalist, and advocate known for her activism and writing on issues related to human rights and social justice. She gained international attention after being detained in Iran in 2009, an experience she has written about extensively.

Sarah Shourd's highest rated books
Cover of 'A Sliver Of Light' by Sarah Shourd

52988. John Creasey

John Creasey was a prolific British author, known for writing over 600 books across various genres, including crime, mystery, and science fiction. He created several popular series, such as the 'Gideon of Scotland Yard' and 'The Toff' series. Creasey also founded the Crime Writers' Association in the UK.

John Creasey's highest rated books
Cover of 'Gideon’s Week' by John Creasey

52989. John Hicks

John Hicks was a British economist and one of the most important and influential economists of the 20th century. He is best known for his work on consumer demand theory and welfare economics, and he was awarded the Nobel Memorial Prize in Economic Sciences in 1972.

John Hicks's highest rated books
Cover of 'Value And Capital' by John Hicks

52990. Hanna Rosin

Hanna Rosin is an American journalist and author known for her work on social and cultural issues. She has written for publications such as The Atlantic and Slate, and is the author of books including 'The End of Men: And the Rise of Women.'

Hanna Rosin's highest rated books
Cover of 'The End Of Men' by Hanna Rosin

52991. Guy Cullingford

Guy Cullingford was the pseudonym of Constance Lindsay Taylor, a British author known for her mystery novels. She often used her initials in her works and contributed significantly to the genre during her time.

Guy Cullingford's highest rated books
Cover of 'Post Mortem' by Guy Cullingford

52992. Tomás Ó Crohan

Tomás Ó Crohan was an Irish author known for his works documenting the life and culture of the Great Blasket Island. His notable works include 'The Islandman' and 'A Day in Our Life'.

Tomás Ó Crohan's highest rated books
Cover of 'The Islandman' by Tomás Ó Crohan

52993. Jörg Magenau

Jörg Magenau is a German author and literary critic known for his biographies and works on contemporary literature.

Jörg Magenau's highest rated books

52994. Frithjof Schuon

Frithjof Schuon was a Swiss metaphysician and spiritual author known for his works on comparative religion and spirituality. He is a prominent figure in the Perennial Philosophy movement, which emphasizes the universal truths underlying all major world religions.

Frithjof Schuon's highest rated books
Cover of 'The Transcendent Unity Of Religions' by Frithjof Schuon

52995. Paul Tough

Paul Tough is an author and journalist known for his work on education, child development, and poverty. He has written several books exploring these themes, including 'How Children Succeed' and 'Helping Children Succeed'.

Paul Tough's highest rated books
Cover of 'How Children Succeed' by Paul Tough

52996. Natalie Angier

Natalie Angier is a Pulitzer Prize-winning science journalist and author known for her work with The New York Times. She has written extensively on a variety of scientific topics, making complex subjects accessible to the general public. Her notable works include 'Woman: An Intimate Geography' and 'The Canon: A Whirligig Tour of the Beautiful Basics of Science.'

Natalie Angier's highest rated books
Cover of 'Woman' by Natalie Angier

52997. Takafumi Nanatsuki

Takafumi Nanatsuki's highest rated books

52998. Eiichi Nakata

Eiichi Nakata's highest rated books

52999. IllumiNative

IllumiNative's highest rated books
Cover of 'My Life' by IllumiNative

53000. Mimi Khúc

Mimi Khúc is a writer and scholar known for her work on mental health, race, and Asian American studies. She is involved in various projects that explore the intersections of these themes.

Mimi Khúc's highest rated books
Cover of 'Dear Elia' by Mimi Khúc