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.
9151. Mikhail Lermontov
Russian Romantic poet, novelist and playwright (1814–1841), a major figure of 19th-century Russian literature; author of the novel A Hero of Our Time and the poem The Demon. He died in a duel.
9152. V.S. Naipaul
Trinidad-born British novelist and essayist of Indo-Trinidadian descent, author of A House for Mr Biswas and A Bend in the River; awarded the 2001 Nobel Prize in Literature.
9153. Toni Morrison
Toni Morrison (born Chloe Anthony Wofford) was an American novelist, editor, and professor best known for exploring the Black American experience. She won the 1988 Pulitzer Prize for Fiction for Beloved and the 1993 Nobel Prize in Literature; major works include The Bluest Eye, Song of Solomon, and Beloved.
9154. Hannah Arendt
German-American political theorist and philosopher known for her works on totalitarianism, authority, and the nature of political action — notably The Origins of Totalitarianism, The Human Condition, and Eichmann in Jerusalem (the 'banality of evil'). She was born in Germany, fled Nazi persecution, and spent much of her career in the United States.
9155. Ayn Rand
Russian-American novelist and philosopher, creator of the Objectivist philosophy; author of The Fountainhead and Atlas Shrugged.
9156. John Bunyan
English Puritan preacher and author (1628–1688), best known for the religious allegory The Pilgrim's Progress; a nonconformist who was imprisoned for preaching without a license under the Restoration.
9157. Pablo Neruda
Chilean poet, diplomat and politician (born Ricardo Eliécer Neftalí Reyes Basoalto) who wrote under the pen name Pablo Neruda; Nobel Prize in Literature (1971); known for works such as Twenty Love Poems and a Song of Despair and Canto General.
9158. Anthony Berkeley
British crime writer and critic, a leading figure of the Golden Age of detective fiction. He published as Anthony Berkeley and under the pseudonym Francis Iles; notable works include The Poisoned Chocolates Case and Malice Aforethought.
9159. Renata Adler
American novelist, journalist, essayist, and film critic, best known for the novels Speedboat (1976) and Pitch Dark (1983) and for her criticism and reporting for publications including The New Yorker and The New York Times.
9160. Gianfranco Ravasi
Italian Catholic cardinal, biblical scholar and art historian; long-time president of the Pontifical Council for Culture (appointed 2007) and created cardinal in 2010, known for promoting dialogue between the Church and contemporary culture.
9161. Henrik Ibsen
Norwegian playwright and poet (1828–1906), a leading 19th-century dramatist whose realist and modernist works — including A Doll's House, Ghosts, Hedda Gabler and Peer Gynt — profoundly influenced modern theatre.
9162. Emiliano Morreale
Italian film historian, critic and author
9163. T.E. Lawrence
British archaeologist, military officer, diplomat and writer (1888–1935), known as 'T. E. Lawrence' or 'Lawrence of Arabia'; prominent leader in the Arab Revolt during World War I and author of The Seven Pillars of Wisdom.
9164. Norton Juster
American architect and author of children's books, best known for The Phantom Tollbooth (1961) and The Dot and the Line (1963).
9165. Pauline Réage
French journalist, editor and novelist best known under the pen name Pauline Réage for the 1954 erotic novel "Story of O"; she also worked and published as Dominique Aury.
9166. Zane Grey
American novelist and short-story writer who popularized the Western genre; author of Riders of the Purple Sage and numerous adventure and Western novels.
9167. Hubert Selby Jr.
American novelist and short-story writer best known for Last Exit to Brooklyn (1964) and Requiem for a Dream (1978); noted for transgressive, gritty portrayals of urban life, addiction and poverty and for an experimental, idiosyncratic prose style.
9168. Edmund Husserl
German philosopher and mathematician, founder of the philosophical movement of phenomenology, known for works on consciousness, intentionality, and the foundations of logic and mathematics.
9169. Thomas Hardy
English novelist and poet of the Victorian era, known for works such as Tess of the d'Urbervilles, Jude the Obscure, and Far from the Madding Crowd; noted for his realist and often tragic portrayals of rural life.
9170. Marsh, Laura
9173. Natasha Soobramanien
Writer; co-author (with Luke Williams) of the novel Diego Garcia, winner of the 2022 Goldsmiths Prize.
9175. James Fenimore Cooper
American novelist (1789–1851) best known for historical romances of the early American frontier and sea, notably the Leatherstocking Tales and The Last of the Mohicans.
9176. Joseph von Eichendorff
German poet and novelist of the Romantic era, best known for his lyric poetry and the novella 'Aus dem Leben eines Taugenichts' (Memoirs of a Good-for-Nothing).
9177. National Geographic Kids
A children's media brand and magazine published by National Geographic, producing educational content about animals, science, geography, and cultures for young readers.
9178. Sarah1281
9179. Oscar Jonsson
9180. Henrik Brandão Jönsson
9181. Juan Moreno
9182. James Tynion IV
American comic book writer known for work on DC Comics' Batman titles and for creator-owned series including The Woods, Memetic, The Department of Truth, Wynd, and Something Is Killing the Children.
9183. Gabriela Houston
9184. Albert Borgmann
German-American philosopher of technology and professor (University of Montana), author of Technology and the Character of Contemporary Life (1984), known for the "device paradigm" and the concept of "focal things and practices."
9186. Alexandre Dumas
French novelist and playwright (1802–1870), best known for historical adventure novels such as The Three Musketeers and The Count of Monte Cristo.
9187. David K. Naugle
American Christian philosopher, author, and academic; known for his work on worldview and for the book "Worldview: The History of a Concept." Faculty member at Dallas Baptist University.
9188. Bas Kast
German science journalist and author best known for popular science and health books, including 'Der Ernährungskompass' (The Nutrition Compass).
9189. Zig Zigler
American author, salesman, and motivational speaker best known for inspirational books and seminars, including 'See You at the Top.'
9190. Fodor's Travel Publications Inc.
American travel guidebook publisher best known for the Fodor's series of travel guides.
9191. John McPhee
American writer and pioneer of creative nonfiction, longtime staff writer for The New Yorker and author of narrative nonfiction books (including the Pulitzer Prize–winning Annals of the Former World); former Princeton University lecturer.
9192. Dan B. Allender
American Christian author, counselor, and speaker known for work on trauma, abuse, and Christian counseling; author of The Wounded Heart and other books on healing and pastoral care.
9193. Gaby Dunn
American writer, comedian, journalist, actor, and podcaster known for co-creating the YouTube comedy series Just Between Us and for books and reporting on culture, relationships, and personal finance.
9194. Knut Hamsun
Norwegian novelist, poet and playwright, awarded the Nobel Prize in Literature in 1920. Known for influential works such as Hunger, Pan and Growth of the Soil. Widely regarded as a major figure in early modernist literature, and controversially known for his support of Nazi Germany during World War II.
9195. Martin Gelin
9196. Malin Ekman
9197. Ekim Caglar
9198. Lisa Ridzén
9199. Patrik Svensson
Swedish journalist and nonfiction author, best known for the book Ålevangeliet (The Gospel of the Eel), which blends natural history, science, and memoir.
9200. Monks of New Skete
An Eastern Orthodox monastic community based in Cambridge, New York, known for breeding and training dogs and for authoring popular dog-care books such as How to Be Your Dog's Best Friend and The Art of Raising a Puppy.
