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.

8151. Tim Judah

Tim Judah is a British writer, reporter, and political analyst known for his work on the Balkans. He has written extensively on the region and is recognized for his insightful analysis and reporting.

Tim Judah's highest rated books

8152. Cyrus Leo Sulzberger II

Cyrus Leo Sulzberger II was an American journalist, author, and member of the influential Sulzberger family, which owns The New York Times. He was known for his work as a foreign correspondent and his extensive writings on international affairs.

Cyrus Leo Sulzberger II's highest rated books

8153. Misha Glenny

Misha Glenny is a British journalist and author known for his work on global organized crime and cybersecurity. He has written several books, including 'McMafia' and 'DarkMarket', and has worked as a correspondent for the BBC.

Misha Glenny's highest rated books

8154. Stella Dong

Stella Dong is an author known for her works on Chinese history, particularly focusing on Shanghai's history and its cultural and social dynamics.

Stella Dong's highest rated books

8155. Rian Thum

Rian Thum is a scholar known for his work on the history and culture of the Uyghur people in China. He is an associate professor and has published extensively on topics related to Xinjiang and the Silk Road.

Rian Thum's highest rated books

8156. Mark Edward Lewis

Mark Edward Lewis's highest rated books

8157. Jacques Attali

Jacques Attali is a French economist, writer, and senior civil servant. He has held various influential positions, including serving as a special advisor to French President François Mitterrand. Attali is known for his work on economic and social theory, as well as his numerous publications on a wide range of topics.

Jacques Attali's highest rated books

8158. Miguel Mesuras

Miguel Mesuras's highest rated books

8159. Fernando Namora

Fernando Namora was a Portuguese writer and doctor, known for his works that often depicted rural life and the struggles of the common people. He was part of the 'Neo-Realism' movement in Portuguese literature and wrote novels, short stories, and poetry.

Fernando Namora's highest rated books

8160. Ana Maria Magalhães

Ana Maria Magalhães is a Portuguese author known for her contributions to children's literature, particularly the 'Uma Aventura' series co-authored with Isabel Alçada.

Ana Maria Magalhães's highest rated books

8161. Augusto Cury

Augusto Cury is a Brazilian psychiatrist, psychotherapist, and author known for his self-help books and theories on emotional intelligence and quality of life. He has written numerous bestsellers and is recognized for his work in developing the Multifocal Theory, which explores the functioning of the mind and the construction of thoughts.

Augusto Cury's highest rated books

8162. Mário Zambujal

Mário Zambujal is a Portuguese author and journalist known for his humorous and engaging writing style. He gained popularity with his debut novel 'Crónica dos Bons Malandros' and has since written numerous books that have captivated readers in Portugal.

Mário Zambujal's highest rated books

8163. Jonathan Phillips

Jonathan Phillips's highest rated books

8164. Ramalho Ortigão

José Duarte Ramalho Ortigão was a prominent Portuguese writer and journalist known for his critical essays and satirical works. He was a key figure in the cultural and literary scene of 19th-century Portugal, contributing significantly to the development of Portuguese literature.

Ramalho Ortigão's highest rated books

8165. Manuel Vieira Pinto

Manuel Vieira Pinto was a Portuguese Roman Catholic prelate who served as the Archbishop of Nampula in Mozambique. He was known for his dedication to social justice and his efforts in promoting peace during the Mozambican Civil War.

Manuel Vieira Pinto's highest rated books

8166. Predrag Matvejević

Predrag Matvejević was a Bosnian and Croatian writer and scholar, known for his works on Mediterranean culture and history. He was a prominent intellectual and his most famous work is 'Mediterranean: A Cultural Landscape'.

Predrag Matvejević's highest rated books

8167. Karen Wynn Fonstad

Karen Wynn Fonstad was an American cartographer and author known for her detailed atlases of fictional worlds, including those of J.R.R. Tolkien's Middle-earth and other fantasy settings.

Karen Wynn Fonstad's highest rated books

8168. Peter Finn

Peter Finn's highest rated books

8169. Alec Ash

Alec Ash is a British author and journalist known for his work on contemporary Chinese society. He has written extensively about China's youth and cultural changes, and his book 'Wish Lanterns' explores the lives of young Chinese people.

Alec Ash's highest rated books

8170. David Mendell

David Mendell is an American journalist and author known for his work on political topics, including his book 'Obama: From Promise to Power,' which provides an in-depth look at Barack Obama's rise in politics.

David Mendell's highest rated books

8171. Albrecht Fölsing

Albrecht Fölsing was a German physicist and author, known for his biographies of prominent scientists, including Albert Einstein. His works are recognized for their depth of research and engaging narrative style.

Albrecht Fölsing's highest rated books

8172. Jean-Christophe Rufin

Jean-Christophe Rufin is a French doctor, diplomat, historian, and novelist. He is one of the founders of Médecins Sans Frontières and has served as the French ambassador to Senegal. Rufin is also a member of the Académie Française and has won several literary awards, including the Prix Goncourt.

Jean-Christophe Rufin's highest rated books
Cover of 'Brazil Red' by Jean-Christophe Rufin

8173. Gwen Cooper

Gwen Cooper is an American author known for her bestselling books, including 'Homer's Odyssey,' which tells the story of her blind cat. Her works often explore themes of animal rescue and the human-animal bond.

Gwen Cooper's highest rated books

8174. Alberto Miguens

Alberto Miguens's highest rated books

8175. Pedro Canais

Pedro Canais's highest rated books

8176. Richard A. Knaak

Richard A. Knaak is an American author known for his work in fantasy fiction, including novels set in the Dragonlance universe and the World of Warcraft series.

Richard A. Knaak's highest rated books

8177. Whoopi Goldberg

Whoopi Goldberg is an American actress, comedian, author, and television personality. She is one of the few entertainers to have won an Emmy Award, a Grammy Award, an Academy Award, and a Tony Award.

Whoopi Goldberg's highest rated books

8178. Richard M. Nixon

Richard Milhous Nixon was the 37th President of the United States, serving from 1969 to 1974. He is known for his foreign policy achievements, including the opening of diplomatic relations with China, and for his involvement in the Watergate scandal, which led to his resignation.

Richard M. Nixon's highest rated books

8179. T.R. Reid

T.R. Reid is an American author and journalist known for his work as a correspondent for The Washington Post and his books on healthcare and international affairs.

T.R. Reid's highest rated books

8180. Jorja Leap

Jorja Leap is an American anthropologist and expert in gang culture and violence prevention. She is a professor at the UCLA Luskin School of Public Affairs and has worked extensively on issues related to criminal justice and community empowerment.

Jorja Leap's highest rated books

8181. Jonathan Steinberg

Jonathan Steinberg's highest rated books

8182. Dan Morain

Dan Morain is an American journalist known for his extensive work in California journalism. He has worked for prominent publications such as the Los Angeles Times and The Sacramento Bee, covering politics and public affairs. Morain is also the author of a biography on Kamala Harris, providing insights into her career and political journey.

Dan Morain's highest rated books

8183. Stephen G. Breyer

Stephen Gerald Breyer is a retired Associate Justice of the Supreme Court of the United States, known for his pragmatic approach to constitutional law. He was appointed by President Bill Clinton in 1994 and served until his retirement in 2022.

Stephen G. Breyer's highest rated books

8184. Gary Orfield

Gary Orfield is a prominent scholar known for his work on civil rights, education policy, and racial inequality. He has contributed extensively to research on school desegregation and educational equity.

Gary Orfield's highest rated books

8185. Thomas Rice

Thomas Rice's highest rated books

8186. Max Liboiron

Max Liboiron is a scholar known for their work in environmental science and activism, particularly in the field of plastic pollution. They are recognized for their innovative approaches to research and advocacy, emphasizing equity and justice in scientific practices.

Max Liboiron's highest rated books

8187. Katherine McKittrick

Katherine McKittrick is a scholar known for her work in black studies, cultural geography, and the intersections of race, gender, and space. She has contributed significantly to discussions on the geographies of blackness and the writings of black women.

Katherine McKittrick's highest rated books

8188. Gabriel Tarde

Gabriel Tarde was a French sociologist, criminologist, and social psychologist known for his work on social interaction and imitation. He was a pioneer in the study of social behavior and contributed significantly to the development of social theory.

Gabriel Tarde's highest rated books

8189. Antonio Negri

Antonio Negri is an Italian Marxist sociologist and political philosopher, best known for his work on the concept of Empire and his collaboration with Michael Hardt. His work explores themes of globalization, capitalism, and social movements.

Antonio Negri's highest rated books

8190. Annika Norlin

Annika Norlin is a Swedish musician and author, known for her work under the stage names Hello Saferide and Säkert!. She has gained recognition for her insightful lyrics and storytelling, and has also ventured into writing, contributing to Swedish literature.

Annika Norlin's highest rated books
Cover of 'The Colony' by Annika Norlin

8191. Michel Pêcheux

Michel Pêcheux was a French linguist and philosopher known for his work in discourse analysis and his contributions to the field of ideological state apparatuses. He was influential in the development of theories related to language, ideology, and subjectivity.

Michel Pêcheux's highest rated books

8192. Edith Södergran

Edith Södergran was a Finnish-Swedish poet, known for her modernist works and significant influence on Nordic literature. Her poetry often explored themes of existentialism, nature, and the human condition.

Edith Södergran's highest rated books

8193. Bodil Malmsten

Bodil Malmsten was a renowned Swedish author and poet known for her unique voice and insightful works. Her writing often explored themes of identity, belonging, and the human experience, earning her a significant place in Swedish literature.

Bodil Malmsten's highest rated books

8194. Marsilio Ficino

Marsilio Ficino was an influential Italian philosopher, theologian, and humanist of the Renaissance. He is best known for his role in reviving Neoplatonism and translating the works of Plato into Latin, which had a significant impact on the intellectual landscape of the time.

Marsilio Ficino's highest rated books

8195. Benjamin Höijer

Benjamin Höijer was a Swedish philosopher known for his contributions to idealist philosophy and aesthetics. He was a prominent figure in the Swedish Enlightenment and played a significant role in introducing German idealism to Sweden.

Benjamin Höijer's highest rated books

8196. Anne Sauvagnargues

Anne Sauvagnargues is a French philosopher known for her work on the philosophy of Gilles Deleuze. She has contributed significantly to the field of contemporary philosophy and has written extensively on topics related to aesthetics, art, and the environment.

Anne Sauvagnargues's highest rated books

8197. Helmut Hark

Helmut Hark's highest rated books

8198. Sylviane Agacinski

Sylviane Agacinski is a French philosopher, feminist, and author known for her work on gender studies and political philosophy. She has been influential in debates on gender equality and has written extensively on the intersection of politics and philosophy.

Sylviane Agacinski's highest rated books

8199. John Tauler

John Tauler was a German mystic and theologian, associated with the Dominican Order. He was a prominent preacher and a key figure in the Rhineland Mystics, known for his sermons that emphasized the inner spiritual life and personal experience of God.

John Tauler's highest rated books

8200. André Clair

André Clair's highest rated books