20th-century pseudonymous writers

founding leader of the Soviet Union (1870–1924)

American author and humorist (1835–1910)

British writer and journalist (1903–1950)

Dame Agatha Mary Clarissa Mallowan, Lady Mallowan, usually known by her first married name, Agatha Christie, was an English author known for her 66 detective novels and 14 short-story collections, particularly those revolving around fictional detectives Hercule Poirot and Miss Marple. She is widely regarded as one of the greatest writers, particularly in the mystery genre.

Russian and Soviet writer (1868–1936)

Joanne Rowling, better known by her pen name J. K. Rowling, is a British author, philanthropist, producer, and screenwriter. She is best known for writing Harry Potter, a seven-volume series about a young wizard. Published from 1997 to 2007, the fantasy novels are the best-selling book series in history, with over 600 million copies sold. They have been translated into 84 languages and have spawned a global media franchise including films and video games. She writes Cormoran Strike, an ongoing crime fiction series, under the alias Robert Galbraith.

Chilean poet and politician (1904–1973)

French writer (1844–1924)

Russian-American novelist, lepidopterist, professor (1899–1977)

Stephen Edwin King is an American author. Dubbed the "King of Horror", he is widely known for his horror fiction and has also explored other genres, among them suspense, crime, science-fiction, fantasy, and mystery. He has written approximately 200 short stories, most of which have been published in collections.

British writer, lay theologian, and scholar (1898–1963)

Russian poet (1889–1966)

Chinese novelist and essayist (1881–1936)

Russian-born American writer and public philosopher (1905–1982)

Chilean poet, diplomat and educator (1889–1957)

American poet and writer (1932–1963)

Japanese author (1925–1970)

American novelist (1926–2016)

Portuguese poet, writer, and philosopher (1888–1935); creator of the heteronymic system including Alberto Caeiro, Ricardo Reis, Álvaro de Campos, and Bernardo Soares

French poet (1880–1918)

American author and aeronautical engineer (1907–1988)

American comic book writer, editor, publisher, and producer (1922–2018)

American author and journalist (1900–1949)

American short story writer (1862–1910)

French writer (1894–1961)

Danish writer

American author, screenwriter, and journalist

French writer (1935-2004)

American author, screenwriter, film director (1942–2008)

Romanian-French poet (1896–1963)

Dhanpat Rai Srivastava (31 July 1880 – 8 October 1936), better known as Munshi Premchand based on his pen name Premchand (), was an Indian writer famous for his modern Hindustani literature.

American writer (1925–2012)

American astrophysicist and science communicator

South Korean poet, writer and LGBT activist

British novelist and spy (1931–2020)

French poet (1895–1952)

French writer and film director (1914-1996)

English occultist (1875–1947)

Belarusian writer (1882–1956)

American children's author and cartoonist (1904–1991)

American novelist, short story writer, essayist, painter, and spoken word performer (1914–1997)

English writer and composer (1917–1993)

American author of children's books (1856–1919)

Polish-Jewish educator and physician (1878–1942)

Japanese writer, playwright, photographer and inventor

American writer

Soviet and Russian poet (1933–2017)

Japanese novelist

New Zealand author (1888–1923)

American journalist

Jewish writer and playwright of Yiddish, who worked in Russian Empire, Switzerland, Germany and the United States (1859-1916)

Georges Prosper Remi (; 22 May 1907 – 3 March 1983), known by the pen name Hergé ( ; ), from the French pronunciation of his reversed initials RG, was a Belgian comic strip artist. He is best known for creating The Adventures of Tintin, the series of comic albums that are considered one of the most popular European comics of the 20th century. He was also responsible for two other well-known series, Quick & Flupke (1930–1940) and The Adventures of Jo, Zette and Jocko (1936–1957). His works were executed in his distinctive ligne claire drawing style.

American filmmaker (1939–2015)

English writer (born 1946)

Founder of the Church of Satan, author of the Satanic Bible (1930-1997)

American television screenwriter and producer (1921–1991)

French Algerian writer and film director (1936-2015)

American author and activist (1952–2021)

serial killer in California

American author (born 1938)