While many contemporary writers have taken up pen names for various creative reasons, the famous Brontë sisters did so out of necessity. In 19th century England, women were not permitted to publish, and so the sisters adopted the male pseudonyms Currer, Ellis and Acton Bell, each maintaining their first initials. In May, 1846, they published their first anthology of poetry using these names. Though this initial work wasn’t very successful, some of the sisters’ most famous and best-selling works were also published under these pen names, like Charlotte’s Jane Eyre and Emily’s Wuthering Heights, both in 1847. The following year, Charlotte and Anne travelled to London to meet face-to-face with their publisher, ultimately revealing that they were indeed women.
Famous Authors with Secret Pseudonyms
J.K. Rowling revealed on Sunday that she wrote an acclaimed crime novel under a pen name. From Stephen King to the Brontë sisters, here are nine other authors who hid their alter egos
Charlotte, Emily and Anne Brontë (Currer, Ellis, and Acton Bell)
Full List
Author pseudonyms
- J.K. Rowling (Robert Galbraith)
- Joe Klein (Anonymous)
- Nora Roberts (J.D. Robb)
- Ruth Rendell (Barbara Vine)
- Anne Rice (Anne Rampling, A.N. Roquelaure)
- Jayne Anne Krentz (Amanda Quick, Jayne Castle)
- Stephen King (Richard Bachman)
- Evan Hunter (Ed McBain)
- Louisa May Alcott (A.M. Barnard)
- Charlotte, Emily and Anne Brontë (Currer, Ellis, and Acton Bell)