A Dictionary of Literary Pseudonyms in the English Language

859 Pages·2000·17.294 MB·

by  T. J. Carty

A Dictionary of Literary Pseudonyms
in the English Language
This page intentionally left blank
A Dictionary of
Literary Pseudonyms
in the English Language
Second Edition
T. J. Carty
OR Routledge
GDELTU Taylor & Francis Group
E
NEW YORK AND LONDON
First published in the United Kingdom 2000 by Mansell Publishing
This edition published 2014 by Routledge
711 Third Avenue, New York, NY 10017
2 Park Square, Milton Park, Abingdon, Oxon, 0X14 4RN
Routledge is an imprint of the Taylor & Francis Group, an informa business
©T.J.Cartyl995,2000
All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by
any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopy, recording or any information storage or
retrieval system, without permission in writing from the Publishers or their appointed agents.
British Library Cataloguing-in-Publication Data
A catalogue record for this book is available from the British Library.
ISBN 0-7201-2382-8 (Mansell)
Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data
A catalog record for this book is available from the Library of Congress.
ISBN 1-57958-209-5 (Fitzroy Dearborn)
Designed and typeset by Ben Cracknell Studios
For Anne and Beth
This page intentionally left blank
Contents
Preface ix
Arrangement of the Material xi
Select Bibliography xiii
Part I: Pseudonyms 1
A-Z 3
Symbols 239
Part II: Real Names 241
This page intentionally left blank
Preface
In the five years since the typescript of the first edition of this Dictionary was delivered to the
publishers, some additional 3,000 pseudonyms and nearly 5,000 real names have been
added, increasing the original edition by some 30 to 35 per cent. In addition, readers and
reviewers have been kind enough to point out errors and omissions, which have to the best of
my ability been corrected.
As explained in the Preface to the first edition, this work arose from the simple need to
discover the true identity of the writer Daniel Chaucer and the apparent absence of any book
that would provide the answer. Successive enquiries and note-taking, when looking for other
names, produced a dossier of unmanageable proportions and the seeds of the first edition
were thus planted. This volume pretends to no other purpose than to satisfy the curious and
to be used as a tool by those fortunate enough to have an interest in books and the book
trade.
Given the extent to which most new authors struggle to find a sympathetic publisher, it
seems strange that any should disguise their identity. Centuries ago, when an incautious
writer might have been rash enough to touch upon some religious or political point of con-
troversy, it probably would have been a prudent precaution and, later on, convention might
have dictated that anonymity attach to a learned dissertation on a point of law or religion.
Whatever the reasons, many books and pamphlets were published with an impersonal attri-
bution, and we find works by Ά Member of the Church of Scotland', Ά Layman', Ά
Barrister-at-Law', Ά Learned Divine' or variants on these themes, all seeming to imply
reluctant, yet driven and competent, authorship. Was it delicacy, modesty or etiquette that
led to many women writers assuming the mantle of Ά Lady' or Ά Lady of. . .', rather than
reveal their real names on their works? Or was it because until comparatively recently there
was some insecurity attaching to their income and property rights? Mary Augusta Ward,
using her husband's first name, published as Mrs Humphry Ward, achieving astonishing
levels of popularity. Many novels by her, and others, appeared originally in serial form in the
magazines and journals that blossomed in the nineteenth century.
The subterfuge of pseudonymity continues to be practised, and in the present century
the genres of romance, crime and science fiction have generated so much pseudonymous
writing that one can only conclude that the convention is merely playful whimsicality. Here
and there a few authors, under their real names, may have carefully nurtured a reputation in
some more academic field which they seek to protect from critical obloquy, but, given the
respectability attaching to much popular fiction, the camouflage seems to be unnecessary.
The compiler, whose real name appears below, accepts all responsibility for any errors or
omissions and, being aware that no work such as this is ever complete, requests the readers'
indulgence, if only to avoid future pseudonymity. It is appropriate here to express gratitude
to those friends and colleagues who have given support and encouragement in the prepara-
tion of this work.
T.J.Carty