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.

7651. Tom Shippey

Tom Shippey is a British scholar and author, known for his expertise in the works of J.R.R. Tolkien and medieval literature. He has written extensively on fantasy literature and has contributed significantly to the study of Tolkien's works.

Tom Shippey's highest rated books

7652. Christopher A. Snyder

Christopher A. Snyder's highest rated books

7653. Sarah Wells

Sarah Wells's highest rated books

7654. Kevin Crossley-Holland

Kevin Crossley-Holland is a British author and poet known for his historical fiction and retellings of medieval legends, particularly the Arthurian legends. He has written numerous books for children and adults, and his work often explores themes of history, mythology, and folklore.

Kevin Crossley-Holland's highest rated books

7655. Stratford Caldecott

Stratford Caldecott was a British author, editor, and Catholic theologian known for his work in the fields of theology, philosophy, and literature. He was a prominent figure in the Catholic intellectual tradition and contributed to various publications, exploring themes of faith, culture, and the arts.

Stratford Caldecott's highest rated books

7656. Jim Davidson

Jim Davidson's highest rated books

7657. Daniel Grotta-Kurska

Daniel Grotta-Kurska's highest rated books

7658. Béroul

Béroul was a Norman poet of the 12th century, known for his version of the 'Tristan and Iseult' legend. His work is one of the earliest versions of this famous romantic tale, although little is known about his life.

Béroul's highest rated books

7659. Craig Bernthal

Craig Bernthal's highest rated books

7660. Diana Pavlac Glyer

Diana Pavlac Glyer is an author and scholar known for her work on the Inklings, a group of writers that included C.S. Lewis and J.R.R. Tolkien. Her research focuses on the creative collaboration among these authors.

Diana Pavlac Glyer's highest rated books

7661. Ralph C. Wood

Ralph C. Wood is an American author and scholar known for his work in theology and literature, particularly focusing on the writings of J.R.R. Tolkien, C.S. Lewis, and Flannery O'Connor. He is a professor of theology and literature and has published numerous books and articles exploring the intersection of faith and storytelling.

Ralph C. Wood's highest rated books

7662. Michael N. Stanton

Michael N. Stanton's highest rated books

7663. Mark McGivern

Mark McGivern's highest rated books

7664. Robert E. Morse

Robert E. Morse's highest rated books

7665. Hamish Williams

Hamish Williams's highest rated books

7666. Michael Alexander

Michael Alexander's highest rated books

7667. Julian Eilmann

Julian Eilmann's highest rated books

7668. Claudio A. Testi

Claudio A. Testi's highest rated books

7669. Hartley Bateson

Hartley Bateson's highest rated books

7670. Huw Lemmey

Huw Lemmey is an author and cultural commentator known for his work on politics, sexuality, and urbanism. He has written several books and articles exploring these themes.

Huw Lemmey's highest rated books

7671. Monika Kirner-Ludwig

Monika Kirner-Ludwig's highest rated books

7672. Thomas M. Honegger

Thomas M. Honegger's highest rated books

7673. H.L. Fourie

H.L. Fourie's highest rated books

7674. Matthew D. Coombes

Matthew D. Coombes's highest rated books

7675. Mark Rosenfelder

Mark Rosenfelder is an author known for his work on constructed languages and world-building. He is the creator of the Zompist website, which provides resources for conlangers and those interested in linguistics and fictional world creation.

Mark Rosenfelder's highest rated books

7676. J.W. Dunne

J.W. Dunne was a British soldier, aeronautical engineer, and philosopher. He is best known for his work on the theory of time and consciousness, particularly his book 'An Experiment with Time' which explores the concept of serialism and precognitive dreams.

J.W. Dunne's highest rated books

7677. Aneirin

Aneirin was a renowned Welsh poet of the early medieval period, often associated with the poem 'Y Gododdin', which is one of the oldest known Welsh works. His exact dates of birth and death are unknown, but he is believed to have lived during the 6th century.

Aneirin's highest rated books

7678. இளங்கோ அடிகள்

இளங்கோ அடிகள் is a revered Tamil poet known for authoring the epic 'Silappatikaram', one of the five great epics of Tamil literature. He is believed to have been a Jain monk and is celebrated for his contribution to Tamil literature and culture.

இளங்கோ அடிகள்'s highest rated books

7679. Patrick Curry

Patrick Curry is a scholar known for his work on ecological philosophy and the cultural significance of J.R.R. Tolkien's writings. He has written extensively on topics related to enchantment, cosmology, and the intersection of science and spirituality.

Patrick Curry's highest rated books

7680. John Konrad

John Konrad's highest rated books

7681. Roberto Arduini

Roberto Arduini's highest rated books

7682. Moreshwar Ramchandra Kale

Moreshwar Ramchandra Kale was a notable scholar known for his contributions to Sanskrit literature and his work on classical texts. He is particularly recognized for his commentaries and translations, which have been influential in the study of Sanskrit.

Moreshwar Ramchandra Kale's highest rated books

7683. Janaki Venkataraman

Janaki Venkataraman's highest rated books

7684. Xiaoli Pan

Xiaoli Pan's highest rated books

7685. Lisa Peterson

Lisa Peterson's highest rated books

7686. Mark T. Hooker

Mark T. Hooker's highest rated books

7687. Herbert Mason

Herbert Mason's highest rated books

7688. James Belich

James Belich is a New Zealand historian known for his work on the history of New Zealand and the British Empire. He has written extensively on the New Zealand Wars and the impact of colonialism.

James Belich's highest rated books

7689. Leslie A. Donovan

Leslie A. Donovan's highest rated books

7690. Liam Campbell

Liam Campbell's highest rated books

7691. Peter Hunt

Peter Hunt's highest rated books

7692. Dorothy Tennov

Dorothy Tennov was an American psychologist and author, best known for her work on the concept of 'limerence,' a term she coined to describe the involuntary state of intense romantic desire.

Dorothy Tennov's highest rated books

7693. Alan Lee

Alan Lee is a renowned British illustrator and film conceptual designer, best known for his work on the illustrated editions of J.R.R. Tolkien's 'The Lord of the Rings' and 'The Hobbit'. He also contributed to the conceptual design of Peter Jackson's film adaptations of these works, earning an Academy Award for Best Art Direction for 'The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King'.

Alan Lee's highest rated books

7694. Thomas of Britain

Thomas of Britain was a 12th-century poet known for his work on the 'Tristan' legend, a narrative poem about the tragic romance of Tristan and Iseult. His version of the story is one of the earliest and most influential, contributing to the Arthurian literary tradition.

Thomas of Britain's highest rated books

7695. Will Sherwood

Will Sherwood's highest rated books

7696. Shawn E. Marchese

Shawn E. Marchese's highest rated books

7697. Nonnus of Panopolis

Nonnus of Panopolis was a Greek poet from the 5th century AD, best known for his epic poem 'Dionysiaca', which is the longest surviving poem from antiquity. He is also known for his paraphrase of the Gospel of John into Greek hexameters.

Nonnus of Panopolis's highest rated books

7698. Gaius Valerius Flaccus

Gaius Valerius Flaccus was a Roman poet who flourished in the 1st century AD. He is best known for his epic poem 'Argonautica,' which recounts the myth of Jason and the Argonauts. His work is noted for its vivid imagery and influence from earlier poets like Virgil.

Gaius Valerius Flaccus's highest rated books

7699. John Lydgate

John Lydgate was a monk and poet from England, known for his extensive and influential body of work during the late Middle Ages. He was a prolific writer, producing a wide range of poetry and prose, including religious and secular themes. Lydgate was a follower of Geoffrey Chaucer and contributed significantly to the development of English literature.

John Lydgate's highest rated books

7700. Wakefield Master

Wakefield Master is the name given to an anonymous playwright from the medieval period, known for his contributions to the Wakefield Cycle of mystery plays. These plays are part of a collection of medieval mystery plays that depict biblical stories and were performed in the town of Wakefield, England. The Wakefield Master is noted for his distinctive style and the use of humor and vivid characterization in his works.

Wakefield Master's highest rated books