The revelation that JK Rowling is the author behind the warmly received novel The Cuckoo's Calling has caused quite a stir! But Rowling is far from the first famous author to adopt a pseudonym; indeed, she joins a rich literary tradition of the pen name--illustrious authors like Charles Dickens and Mark Twain have also used noms de guerre. Today we'll explore twentieth-century authors who opted to publish under different names.
This weekend we celebrated the birthday of legendary author and adventurer Ernest Hemingway. After a stint as a soldier, Hemingway went on to redefine American literature. Always the adventurer, Hemingway loved big game hunting and fishing. His exploits took him around the world and made him a living legend. Now collectors around the world cherish first editions of Hemingway's works.
Lately there's been much discussion over the Great American Novel. Any discussion on this subject cannot avoid mentioning that seminal masterpiece, Mark Twain's Adventures of Huckleberry Finn. On the surface it follows a teenager as he sails south along the Mississippi, but Twain was sure to pack in some of his century's most skillful satire.
Now that was quite something. Well done, Robert Galbraith. Phenomenal debut novel with an interesting start...except Robert Galbraith isn't a new novelist, but rather the pseudonym of legendary author J.K. Rowling.
In the world of fishing literature, no figure has endured as Izaak Walton has. His masterful work, The Compleat Angler, has become a true classic in the genre. A friend of famous figures like John Donne and Charles Cotton, Walton built a name for himself not only as a fisherman, but also as a poet and biographer. He's a beloved figure to this day, and collectors strive to add his works to their personal libraries.
Born on July 9, 1945 in Everett, Pennsylvania, Dean Koontz is best known for his suspense and horror novels. A prolific writer, Koontz has also written satire, poetry, and even children's books. He's a popular figure among collectors of a wide array of genres, from fine press books to modern first editions and children's literature. Take a moment and browse some of his best works.
If you collect modern first editions, you're certainly familiar with some of the great stories of our time. Novels like Harry Potter, White Teeth, and Gods and Generals have become cultural guideposts in their own right. But our rare books always tell another story, one that isn't written on their pages; they tell the story of the authors who wrote them. These five authors, popular among collectors of modern firsts, also made fascinating debuts in the literary world.
Tomorrow we celebrate Independence Day in the United States. We usually associate the holiday with the Founding Fathers: George Washington, Aaron Burr, John Adams, Thomas Jefferson, and Benjamin Franklin. And while these great men certainly played pivotal roles in the birth of a new nation, they were supported by strong leaders whose contributions often go uncelebrated. One such man was John Rutledge, who hailed from none other than Charleston, South Carolina.
Today marks Canada Day, a holiday commemorating the unification of three colonies into the single country of Canada under British rule under the British North America Act enacted on July 1, 1867. Originally called Dominion Day, the holiday's name was changed in 1982. Today, Canadians all over the world celebrate Canada Day, and it's the perfect time to recognize Canadian authors' tremendous contributions to the art of the printed word.
