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Health & Fitness

A Writer by Any Other Name ...

The book world is recovering after learning last weekend that J.K. Rowling—best known as the author of the Harry Potter books—had published a mystery novel under the pseudonym Robert Galbraith. The book, The Cuckoo’s Calling, had been receiving positive reviews but was not a brisk seller. Not surprisingly, after the author’s identity became known the book raced up the best seller lists.

Some readers questioned whether this was a publicity stunt—something Rowling's publisher denies—but authors have many reasons for writing under pseudonyms or pen names. Rowling herself initially used the initials J.K. rather than her real name, Joanna, to appeal to both boys and girls. In the nineteenth century it wasn’t uncommon for women authors to use male pseudonyms. Writers Mary Ann Evans (George Eliot), Amandine Dupon (George Sand) and Charlotte, Emily and Anne Bronté (Currer, Ellis and Acton Bell) used masculine names because they were concerned about the reception they would receive if they wrote under their real names. Authors known for work in one genre might use a pseudonym when writing in another. Irish novelist John Banville publishes crime fiction under the name Benjamin Black. The prolific author Stephen King also wrote under the pen name Richard Bachman because his publisher thought readers might be put off by his writing more than one book a year.

What do you think of the use of pen names? What do you think of Rowling’s use of a pseudonym to publish her book?

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If you would like to read The Cuckoo’s Calling, the library has copies on order, so you can now put one on reserve.

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