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:
- Book Rankings: Each author's score starts with the sum of their books' rankings from our master list.
- Number of Great Books: Authors are rewarded for having multiple highly-ranked books. The more great books an author has, the higher their overall score.
- Age of Books: Older books receive a small bonus to their score, with the maximum bonus going to books over 100 years old.
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.
8551. Aaron Blabey
Australian children's author and illustrator, formerly an actor; creator of popular series and picture books including The Bad Guys, Pig the Pug, and Thelma the Unicorn.
8552. Johan Chiaramonte
8553. Paula Wall
Paula Wall is an American author known for her witty and humorous writing style. She has written several novels and is recognized for her unique voice in contemporary literature.
8554. Simon Goddard
British music journalist and author best known for books and reference works on The Smiths and Morrissey.
8555. Dylan Jones
British journalist, author and magazine editor, best known for his long association with GQ UK and for writing about music and popular culture.
8556. Frédéric Martel
French author, journalist and researcher known for investigative books on cultural and institutional power, notably the 2019 investigation of the Vatican published in French as 'Sodoma' (English: 'In the Closet of the Vatican').
8557. Dario Ferrari
8558. Nao Fuji
8559. Rohase Piercy
8560. Tabitha Carvan
8561. Spoke Gallery
Art gallery/organization (author is an organization rather than an individual)
8562. James B. Stewart
American journalist, author, and lawyer best known for investigative books on business and corporate scandals, including Den of Thieves and DisneyWar.
8563. Paolo Hewitt
English music journalist and author known for writing about British popular music and musicians.
8565. Stephen Gregory
8566. Michael Isikoff
American investigative journalist and author, known for reporting on U.S. national security and political investigations; co-author (with David Corn) of the 2018 book "Russian Roulette".
8567. Aaron Johnston
8568. Steven Decker
8569. Katherine May
British author best known for the bestselling nonfiction book "Wintering" (2020); writes on rest, resilience, mental health, and the restorative power of nature.
8570. Joseph Parent
8571. Anton Strout
American author of urban fantasy and paranormal fiction.
8572. Greg Bear
American science fiction author known for hard-SF novels such as Blood Music, Eon, The Forge of God, and Darwin's Radio.
8573. Tom Coyne
8574. Leisha Hailey
Leisha Hailey is an American actress and musician, best known for playing Alice Pieszecki on the TV series The L Word. She was a member of the 1990s pop duo The Murmurs and later formed the band Uh Huh Her.
8575. Christopher Johnson
8576. David Pears
British philosopher and Wittgenstein scholar, noted for work in philosophy of language, mind, and ethics; author of works including The False Prison and major studies interpreting Wittgenstein.
8577. George Ritzer
American sociologist and social theorist best known for the concept of 'McDonaldization' and works on globalization, consumer culture, and contemporary social theory.
8578. Han Suyin
Writer and physician, pen name Han Suyin, born to a Chinese father and Belgian mother; best known for the semi-autobiographical novel A Many-Splendoured Thing and numerous novels, memoirs and essays on China and East Asia. Lived 1917–2012.
8579. Tiger Woods
American professional golfer, widely regarded as one of the greatest golfers of all time; winner of 15 major championships and 82 PGA Tour events, and a long-time former world No. 1.
8580. Mark Cannizzaro
American sportswriter and columnist, known for covering professional baseball.
8581. Carl Hiaasen
American novelist, journalist, and columnist known for satirical crime fiction and humorous novels (including works for younger readers) often set in Florida.
8583. Anni Taylor
8584. Akshat Gupta
8585. Mao Zedong
Chinese communist revolutionary and political leader; founding father of the People's Republic of China, served as Chairman of the Communist Party of China from 1949 until his death in 1976. He led the CCP to victory in the Chinese Civil War and presided over major campaigns including land reform, the Great Leap Forward, and the Cultural Revolution.
8586. Sarah Combs
8587. Jed MacKay
American comic book writer and editor, known for work for Marvel Comics and other publishers.
8588. Joseph McNaul
8589. Alda Merini
Italian poet and writer (1931–2009) known for lyrical, often confessional poetry addressing love, mental illness, and spirituality; a prominent figure in postwar Italian literature.
8590. Simon Critchley
British philosopher and academic known for work in continental philosophy, political theory, ethics, and aesthetics; author of both scholarly and public-facing books.
8591. Sam A. Miller
8592. Shrabani Basu
British (India-born) author and journalist who writes biographies and historical works, notably on Noor Inayat Khan and Subhas Chandra Bose.
8593. Жюль Верн
French novelist, poet and playwright, a pioneer of science fiction best known for adventure novels such as "Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Seas", "Journey to the Center of the Earth" and "Around the World in Eighty Days".
8595. Pierre Louÿs
French poet and novelist (1870–1925) known for erotic and classical-themed works such as Les Chansons de Bilitis and Aphrodite; associated with the Symbolist milieu of late 19th–early 20th century France.
8596. Н. В. Гоголь
Russian novelist, playwright, and short story writer of Ukrainian origin; a major figure of 19th-century Russian literature, author of The Government Inspector, Dead Souls, The Overcoat, and Taras Bulba.
8597. Albert Schweitzer
Alsatian theologian, philosopher, physician, musician, and humanitarian; Nobel Peace Prize laureate (1952) known for his "Reverence for Life" ethic and for founding a hospital in Lambaréné (now in Gabon).
8598. Peter Gelderloos
Anarchist author and activist known for writings on direct action and critiques of nonviolence; author of books including How Nonviolence Protects the State and Anarchy Works.
8599. Willia Shakespeare
English playwright, poet, and actor, widely regarded as the greatest writer in the English language and a pre-eminent dramatist; author of works including Hamlet, Othello, King Lear, Macbeth, and numerous sonnets.
8600. Reginald Fleming Johnston Sir
British diplomat, colonial administrator and sinologist; tutor to Puyi, the last Emperor of China, and author of Twilight in the Forbidden City.