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.

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.

Mikhail Lermontov's highest rated books

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.

V.S. Naipaul's highest rated books

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.

Toni Morrison's highest rated books

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.

Hannah Arendt's highest rated books

9155. Ayn Rand

Russian-American novelist and philosopher, creator of the Objectivist philosophy; author of The Fountainhead and Atlas Shrugged.

Ayn Rand's highest rated books

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.

John Bunyan's highest rated books

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.

Pablo Neruda's highest rated books

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.

Anthony Berkeley's highest rated books

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.

Renata Adler's highest rated books

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.

Gianfranco Ravasi's highest rated books

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.

Henrik Ibsen's highest rated books

9162. Emiliano Morreale

Italian film historian, critic and author

Emiliano Morreale's highest rated books

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.

T.E. Lawrence's highest rated books

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).

Norton Juster's highest rated books

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.

Pauline Réage's highest rated books

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.

Zane Grey's highest rated books

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.

Hubert Selby Jr.'s highest rated books

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.

Edmund Husserl's highest rated books

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.

Thomas Hardy's highest rated books

9170. Marsh, Laura

Marsh, Laura's highest rated books

9171. Andrew Givler

Andrew Givler's highest rated books
Cover of 'Ironbound' by Andrew Givler

9172. Luke Williams

Luke Williams's highest rated books
Cover of 'Diego Garcia' by Luke Williams

9173. Natasha Soobramanien

Writer; co-author (with Luke Williams) of the novel Diego Garcia, winner of the 2022 Goldsmiths Prize.

Natasha Soobramanien's highest rated books
Cover of 'Diego Garcia' by Natasha Soobramanien

9174. C.D. Rose

C.D. Rose's highest rated books
Cover of 'We Live Here Now' by C.D. Rose

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.

James Fenimore Cooper's highest rated books

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).

Joseph von Eichendorff's highest rated books

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.

National Geographic Kids's highest rated books

9178. Sarah1281

Sarah1281's highest rated books

9179. Oscar Jonsson

Oscar Jonsson's highest rated books

9180. Henrik Brandão Jönsson

Henrik Brandão Jönsson's highest rated books

9181. Juan Moreno

Juan Moreno's highest rated books

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.

James Tynion IV's highest rated books

9183. Gabriela Houston

Gabriela Houston's highest rated books

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."

Albert Borgmann's highest rated books

9185. Karin Smirnoff

Swedish author and novelist.

Karin Smirnoff's highest rated books

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.

Alexandre Dumas's highest rated books

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.

David K. Naugle's highest rated books

9188. Bas Kast

German science journalist and author best known for popular science and health books, including 'Der Ernährungskompass' (The Nutrition Compass).

Bas Kast's highest rated books

9189. Zig Zigler

American author, salesman, and motivational speaker best known for inspirational books and seminars, including 'See You at the Top.'

Zig Zigler's highest rated books

9190. Fodor's Travel Publications Inc.

American travel guidebook publisher best known for the Fodor's series of travel guides.

Fodor's Travel Publications Inc.'s highest rated books

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.

John McPhee's highest rated books

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.

Dan B. Allender's highest rated books

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.

Gaby Dunn's highest rated books

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.

Knut Hamsun's highest rated books

9195. Martin Gelin

Martin Gelin's highest rated books

9196. Malin Ekman

Malin Ekman's highest rated books

9197. Ekim Caglar

Ekim Caglar's highest rated books

9198. Lisa Ridzén

Lisa Ridzén's highest rated books

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.

Patrik Svensson's highest rated books

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.

Monks of New Skete's highest rated books