Mystery Initials

Full names of famous authors

tracked down by Holly Hartman

Ever wonder what the two R's stand for in J. R. R. Tolkien? Curious about whether S. E. Hinton is a man or a woman? It used to be common for authors to use only their initials-it was a touch of formality that was considered suitable behavior in the lofty profession of writer. However, some female have authors used their initials in order to hide their gender. For example, Joanne Kathleen Rowling, author of the Harry Potter books, and her publisher decided to call her "J. K." so that her books would have greater appeal to boys. Until Rowling became a celebrity, many readers assumed that Harry's creator was a man.

“Maybe John Ronald Ruel didn't fit on the book cover?!”

J. M. Barrie
Known for: Peter Pan
Full name: James Matthew Barrie
L. Frank Baum
Known for: The Wonderful Wizard of Oz
Full name: Lyman Frank Baum
L. M. Boston
Known for: Green Knowe series
Full name: Lucy Maria Boston
S. E. Hinton
Known for: The Outsiders
Full name: Susan Eloise Hinton
E. L. Konigsburg
Known for: From the Mixed-Up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler
Full name: Elaine Lobl Konigsburg
C. S. Lewis
Known for: The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe
Full name: Clive Staples Lewis
A. A. Milne
Known for: Winnie the Pooh
Full name: Alan Alexander Milne
F. N. Monjo
Known for: The Drinking Gourd
Full name: Ferdinand Nicholas Monjo
L. M. Montgomery
Known for: Anne of Green Gables
Full name: Lucy Maud Montgomery
E. Nesbit
Known for: Five Children and It
Full name: Edith Nesbit
H. A. Rey
Known for: Curious George
Full name: Hans Augusto Rey
J. K. Rowling
Known for: Harry Potter series
Full name: Joanne Kathleen Rowling
R. L. Stine
Known for: Goosebumps series
Full name: Robert Lawrence Stine
J. R. R. Tolkien
Known for: The Hobbit
Full name: John Ronald Reuel Tolkien
P. L. Travers
Known for: Mary Poppins
Full name: Pamela Lyndon Travers
E. B. White
Known for: Charlotte's Web
Full name: Elwyn Brooks White
T. H. White
Known for: The Sword in the Stone
Full name: Terence Hanbury White