Top 10 Best Authors of All Time

Ever wondered who stands tall in the majestic world of literature? You're not alone in this curiosity. Let's dive into an exciting journey to explore the best authors of all time.

But let's clarify something first. We're focusing on people who are primarily authors, leaving out those who may have dabbled in writing a book or two but are known for other professions. And to keep it pure to the craft of novel and prose writing, we're excluding playwrights too.

The Top Ten

Stephen King

Stephen Edwin King is an American author of contemporary horror, supernatural fiction, suspense, science fiction, and fantasy. Many of his best-known novels include Carrie, It, The Shining, The Stand, Misery, The Dark Tower series, and Rita Hayworth and Shawshank Redemption, which was adapted into the... read more

I've only just started reading books by him. The first book I read was Carrie. He is already my favorite author of all time. Carrie is my current favorite book ever, but I bet that will change once I read more of King's works.
He is the most influential author in both movies and books. He has written books like The Shining, It, Different Seasons, and The Green Mile, just to name a few - none of which I've read yet, but plan to read soon. Movies based on his books include The Shining, It, Shawshank Redemption, and The Green Mile, again, just to name a few.
King can write about anything and somehow make it work. I mean, if he can write about a clown monster that isn't really a clown and is called Bob, and make that good, you know he can write about anything. I've become hooked on his writing. It's fantastic. King is absolutely my favorite author, and he deserves to be as high as he is on this list.
J.R.R. Tolkien

John Ronald Reuel Tolkien (3 January 1892 - 2 September 1973), known by his pen name J. R. R. Tolkien, was an English writer, poet, philologist, and university professor.
He is best known as the author of the classic high-fantasy works The Hobbit, The Lord of the Rings, and The Silmarillion. Tolkien's... read more

Tolkien is the best writer ever. There is something special about his books, specifically the style of writing and the storyline. I've read The Hobbit and the first book of The Lord of the Rings, and showed them to my teacher. She suggested that I should have read Harry Potter instead, but I disagreed with her.
Creating book titles and character names can be challenging, but Tolkien went a step further by creating an entirely new language for his books! How amazing is that! I think many people, especially teens and children, dislike reading because they are forced to by parents, tutors, and teachers. As my father always says, When you don't let your child do something, they'll start wanting to do it. We should encourage, not force, young people to read classic literature.
My parents used to make me read a chapter of a book before bed, and I always hated that. However, when I saw my friends reading happily, I picked up a book about dinosaurs (I liked them!) and read the entire book in half an hour. Soon, I began reading novels like Harry Potter. Eventually, I grew tired of Harry Potter and sought new reading material. None of the books in the library appealed to me except The Hobbit, so I borrowed it and read it. This led me to learn more about Tolkien, prompting me to start reading The Lord of the Rings. I loved both books and am glad I made such a good choice.
Charles Dickens

Charles John Huffam Dickens (7 February 1812 - 9 June 1870) was an English writer and social critic. He created some of the world's best-known fictional characters and is regarded by many scholars and readers as one of the greatest novelists of the Victorian era.... read more

I think the reason why many of us teens and children find his books boring is because school forces us to read them. In school, we have to stop every five seconds to "analyze" the text. This isn't immersive at all! It makes it hard to lose yourself in the world of the story when you have to pause your reading so frequently.
Teachers say the beauty of literature lies in the hidden messages found between the lines. But really, the true beauty of books is that they create a whole new world for the reader to experience at their own pace. This also relates to why children today prefer video games to school reading, but I'm going off topic. Dickens was a great author. After reading Great Expectations in my free time, at my own pace, I found it to be a masterpiece.
J.K. Rowling

Joanne Rowling, CH, OBE, FRSL, FRCPE, who writes under the pen names J.K. Rowling and Robert Galbraith, is a British novelist, philanthropist, film and television producer, and screenwriter best known for creating the Harry Potter fantasy series. The series has sold over 500 million copies worldwide... read more

I fell in love with her style and type of writing. She has created a magical empire that encompasses countless childhood memories. She is clearly amazing and outstanding. Moreover, she has recently written a new novel for a different audience, which has received excellent reviews. Its titles are The Casual Vacancy and The Cuckoo's Calling. I believe she has introduced a new world to us, and in my opinion, she is clearly superior to Stephenie Meyer.
Interestingly, I have attempted to write a magical novel like hers, but I couldn't complete it. This is because she has included all the possible facts and creatures in her Harry Potter series. I want to highlight her narrative style. It's full of adventures and new discoveries, mixed with love and respect.
Edgar Allan Poe

Edgar Allan Poe (January 19, 1809 - October 7, 1849) was an American writer, editor, and literary critic. Poe is best known for his poetry and short stories, particularly his tales of mystery and the macabre. He's widely regarded as a central figure of Romanticism in the United States and American literature... read more

About ten percent of his work is horror. His essays, poetry, and the first detective story ever written that lent much to Sherlock Holmes are what? Forgotten! A master among masters, his ability with words stands unrivaled.

I really love his poems. I remember reading his poetry in school and I simply fell in love with them, especially my favorite poem, The Raven, and The Tell-Tale Heart. Edgar Allan Poe is awesome.

I am a big fan of Edgar Allan Poe's poems and poetry. My favorite poems from Edgar Allan Poe are The Raven and The Tell-Tale Heart. All of his poems are awesome.
Mark Twain

Samuel Langhorne Clemens, better known by his pen name Mark Twain, was an American writer, humorist, entrepreneur, publisher, and lecturer. He is widely celebrated for his novels The Adventures of Tom Sawyer (1876) and Adventures of Huckleberry Finn (1884). Twain is often regarded as one of the greatest... read more

Mark Twain should, at the very least, make the top five. He wrote the most highly anthologized book in the history of the U.S. His grasp of irony and dialect was, and still is, astounding. There are very few people in this country who do not recognize his name.
I believe that he should be ranked number 1. This needs to be based on something other than who your writing hero is or whose writing you enjoy the most. It should be based on historical impact.

One of my favorite books of all time is The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn. It was amazing. I may go read it again later, now that I think about it.
Dr. Seuss

Theodor Seuss Geisel was an American writer and illustrator best known for authoring popular children's books under the pen name Dr. Seuss. His works include classics such as The Cat in the Hat, Green Eggs and Ham, and How the Grinch Stole Christmas! He published over 60 books, many of which have become... read more

Yes, his books are primarily for children. But any person living in a 21st-century, first-world country has to have read one of his books. In addition:
- Even after death, his books are still being adapted.
- The Cat in the Hat and the Grinch have become household names.
- He was one of the first people to realize how terrible cutting down trees was for the environment.
- He invented the word nerd.

Even though I rarely read anything written by him (which I regret), I still have very high respect for Dr. Seuss. In my opinion, the man was a genius. Almost all of his books are allegories that teach valuable lessons while being enjoyable for young audiences at the same time. It's actually amazing how he embedded messages into his books, which were super creative and memorable.
George Orwell

Eric Arthur Blair (June 25, 1903 - January 21, 1950), better known by his pen name George Orwell, was an English novelist, essayist, journalist, and critic. He is best known for his novels Animal Farm and 1984, which critique totalitarian regimes and explore themes of truth and freedom. Orwell's work... read more

1984? Animal Farm? These are two incredibly influential novels that have, over time, changed the views of whole societies and warned us about the dangers some political systems pose. George Orwell's influence through these exceptionally well-constructed novels is significant.
He should be in the top five, at least. The fact that he is outside the top ten at this present moment is abysmal. I urge anyone reading this comment who hasn't heard of Orwell's works to read 1984 and Animal Farm first, then come back to this site and vote for Orwell.

George Orwell is the best writer of all time. Whether he's writing novels, short stories, or essays, his work evokes a sense of experience. When you finish reading one of his pieces, you leave with a deep sense of involvement, understanding, and further knowledge.
His writings serve as a window into historical social boundaries, ideologies, and inadequacies. These were not only prevalent in the early twentieth century and during times of empire, but they also ring true today and will continue to be relevant in the years to come. He was a genius.
C.S. Lewis

Clive Staples Lewis (November 29, 1898 - November 22, 1963) was a British novelist, poet, academic, medievalist, literary critic, essayist, lay theologian, broadcaster, lecturer, and Christian apologist.
He held academic positions at Oxford University, where he was a fellow and tutor in English... read more

I love The Chronicles of Narnia! It's the best series ever! It's not like Twilight. Twilight is about a girl who has to choose between a vampire and a werewolf. But Narnia makes a person's imagination grow wild and spread. It can make a person imagine they are a part of Narnia!

I love C. S. Lewis. He is truly an inspiring person. I am eleven, and for my 9th birthday, we went and saw Voyage of the Dawn Treader. Narnia allows you to imagine things you never could. It lets your thoughts run wild and free. Lewis has such a vivid imagination.
Fyodor Dostoevsky

Fyodor Mikhailovich Dostoyevsky, sometimes transliterated as Dostoevsky, was a Russian novelist, short story writer, essayist, journalist, and philosopher.
He is best known for exploring human psychology in the context of the troubled political, social, and spiritual atmosphere of 19th-century... read more

Most of us probably read him in translation, so I don't know if it's fair to put him high on an "all-time" list when we haven't been reading Dostoevsky, but a translator's interpretation of him.
The books with Dostoevsky's name on them are good. I've mostly read the Constance Garnett translations, and though I hear they're utter crap and don't do F.D. any honor, they are still some of the most engaging and thought-filled books I've ever read.
Scenes that would be boring slogs in the hands of any other classical author are rendered into something impossible to stop reading. His best stories are ones you'll be thinking about intermittently throughout your life after you've read them.

The Newcomers

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Brothers Grimm
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Becky Albertalli

The Contenders

Leo Tolstoy

Count Lev Nikolayevich Tolstoy, usually referred to in English as Leo Tolstoy, was a Russian writer who is regarded as one of the greatest authors of all time.
His notable works include War and Peace and Anna Karenina, which are considered two of the finest novels ever written. Tolstoy also became... read more

It's a shame that many young readers flock to J.K. Rowling as well as all the other modern writers, neglecting deeper, more focused philosophical writings such as those by Tolstoy. The words in Tolstoy's novels stay with you for months, lingering in your head. They reveal more insight into even the most basic human interactions, explaining why people do what they do and what they are thinking.
I'm very ashamed to see that he is so low on this list, particularly as War and Peace has been hailed as the greatest novel of all time.

Leo Tolstoy is one of the greatest authors of all time, no question about it! And for those who say he's overrated, it's most likely because you've never actually read any of his books. His storytelling power is up there with the likes of Dostoevsky, Dickens, Shakespeare, Poe, and many other greats!
Roald Dahl

Roald Dahl (September 13, 1916 - November 23, 1990) was a British novelist, short story writer, poet, screenwriter, and fighter pilot. His books have sold more than 250 million copies worldwide and are translated into many languages. He is best known for children's classics such as Charlie and the Chocolate... read more

I spent the longest time deciding who my favorite author is between Roald Dahl, Dav Pilkey, and Mary Pope Osborne, and I chose Dahl. His books are the best, and I am a big fan of his work. Dahl's books are completely amazing, especially The BFG and James and the Giant Peach. I have enjoyed his books a lot.
In this list, I think Roald Dahl deserves the top three places. His books are not only funny and hilarious, but the stories are also very creative. No other authors can write such interesting books as him. The stories Dahl created perfectly match Quentin Blake's incredible illustrations. Dahl's books are simply the best.
Ernest Hemingway

Ernest Miller Hemingway (July 21, 1899 - July 2, 1961) was an American novelist, short story writer, and journalist. His economical and understated style had a strong influence on 20th-century fiction, and his adventurous life and public persona influenced later generations. Hemingway produced most of... read more

Some of the deepest, most meaningful authors of all time have written books like The Sun Also Rises, For Whom the Bell Tolls, A Farewell to Arms, and The Old Man and the Sea, among many more. Stephen King is great, but he hasn't written nearly as many legendary novels.

A Farewell to Arms, The Sun Also Rises, Men Without Women, The Old Man and the Sea, and For Whom the Bell Tolls are each better than the works of J.K. Rowling and her little fairy tales. This list is terrible if Ernest Hemingway is ranked below all these laughable authors.
Agatha Christie

Dame Agatha Mary Clarissa Christie, Lady Mallowan, was an English crime novelist, short story writer, and playwright.
She is the best-selling fiction writer of all time, with her novels having sold over two billion copies worldwide. Christie also wrote The Mousetrap, the world's longest-running... read more

Definitely the best mystery writer in my opinion. Sir Arthur Conan Doyle is amazing, but Agatha Christie has written over 80 mysteries that all have a completely shocking and entertaining twist. She manages to make each ending amazing and different for every book! That's what I call genius!
Her characters are delightful too. Come on, you can't help but be amused by Hercule Poirot's swelled ego and stunned by his brilliance! She should have a higher ranking than this!

Let me give you some info. Agatha Christie is the second-best-selling author of all time, with about four million copies of all her books combined ever sold. She is only second to Shakespeare, who only giant authors can compete with, such as Stephen King, Dickens, H.G. Wells (who is probably the best sci-fi author of all time), Tolstoy, Dostoevsky, and, of course, Christie.
She is the ruler when it comes to mystery novels.
Rick Riordan

Richard Russell Riordan Jr. (born June 5, 1964) is an American author best known for the Percy Jackson & the Olympians series. His books have been translated into 42 languages and have sold more than 30 million copies in the United States.... read more

READ THE BOOKS! Percy Jackson is my favorite book series. This series not only lets me have fun while reading, but also teaches me all about mythology. Social science is explored in exciting new ways. There are other books that I have read which completely fail when bringing myths to life. They are a disgrace to books. (See what I did there!) I highly recommend you read them as well, because you get to learn something new while you're at it.
I couldn't believe my eyes that Rick Riordan is not in the top ten authors! I'm a picky person when it comes to books, very picky. The first ones that caught my attention at the library were these. I have read and re-read them so many times that I've memorized the story altogether. Rick Riordan brings myths to life. Many ages can read his books, starting with The Lightning Thief. The twists and turns in the story get you immersed in it, and you just can't stop reading. READ THE BOOKS!
R.L. Stine

R.L. Stine and K.A. Applegate are simpler, yet somewhat rival Stephen King and Dr. Seuss in lots of ways. The way their stories hold together even after a long time is some of the best, too.

Goosebumps books are very interesting and exciting, especially Night of the Living Dummy, Monster Blood, Revenge of the Lawn Gnomes, and The Curse of the Mummy's Tomb!

I grew up on Goosebumps: the books and the TV series. Now there are two live-action movies. He is very creative and comes up with many good stories and monsters.
Arthur Conan Doyle

Sir Arthur Ignatius Conan Doyle was a British writer and physician. He is best known for creating the fictional detective Sherlock Holmes, a character who became one of the most iconic figures in crime fiction.
In addition to the Holmes series, Doyle also wrote historical novels, science fiction... read more

The mystery genre is my favorite, and no one can compare to him in this field. I love Sherlock Holmes and John Watson. They are the best characters that ever existed. What would we do without you, Doyle?

It's a surprise that authors like Doyle, Wells, Stevenson, Verne, Dumas, and others are so far down the list. Do only kids who despise literature vote here or what?

He is amazing. I love his books! I've read all the adventures of Sherlock Holmes and The Lost World.
Terry Pratchett

Sir Terence David John "Terry" Pratchett (1948 to 2015) was an English author of fantasy novels, especially known for his comic Discworld series. He published over 70 novels, selling more than 100 million copies worldwide. Pratchett was knighted in 2009 for services to literature.

He saved my heart when it was in a dark place. I will never forget my cell mate wondering what the hell I was laughing at. Yes, he's the only author other than Douglas Adams that can get me to do that.

The depth of layers of meaning in his books is profound. The leavening of comedy often fools people into thinking his work is fluff, which allows the satire to sneak past their barriers.

Pratchett's books are well-written, gripping, moving, hilarious, and thought-provoking all at the same time. I've never read a book by any other author that ticks all of these boxes.
Vladimir Nabokov

Vladimir Vladimirovich Nabokov, also known by the pen name Vladimir Sirin (April 22, 1899 [O.S. April 10, 1899] - July 2, 1977), was a Russian-American novelist, poet, translator, literary critic, and entomologist. He wrote his first nine novels in Russian before transitioning to English, where he gained... read more

The only author to explore the mind of a pedophile, straying into the usual controversies while writing Lolita, a book that is both hailed and condemned.

He's the greatest prose writer of all time, in my opinion. His style is pure, unadulterated genius.

A great writer. Really enjoyed reading Lolita.
H.P. Lovecraft

Howard Phillips Lovecraft was an American author born on August 20, 1890, and he died on March 15, 1937. He achieved posthumous fame through his influential works of horror fiction. Virtually unknown and published only in pulp magazines before he died in poverty, he is now regarded as one of the most... read more

In my opinion, the best horror author to tread the surface of this planet is Howard Philips Lovecraft. I love Stephen King, but his works wouldn't be what they are without Lovecraft. As King himself has pointed out countless times, he avidly read Lovecraft as a child, and his works are influenced by him.
No one else comes close to inflicting terror on readers like Howard Philips Lovecraft. The fear in his work doesn't stem from spooky sea monsters but from the incomprehensible cosmic horrors he hints at. His works have practically shaped the modern horror genre.
P.S. Sorry if I seemed melodramatic or made grammar mistakes. I wrote this on a mobile device.
Hans Christian Andersen

Hans Christian Andersen, often referred to in Scandinavia as H. C. Andersen (April 2, 1805 - August 4, 1875), was a Danish author. Although a prolific writer of plays, travelogues, novels, and poems, Andersen is best remembered for his fairy tales. His popularity is not limited to children, as his stories... read more

I really love Hans Christian Andersen. I really enjoy his books, movies, and songs too. Some of his songs are catchy and can get stuck in your head. I also like Danny Kaye because he has a great sense of humor, and he is a great singer whom I grew up listening to.

His fairy tales have several dimensions and can be enjoyed by both children and adults. He takes 19th-century society and puts it on the edge.

His stories are absolutely amazing. They have been the inspiration for movies like "The Little Mermaid" and "Frozen."
John Steinbeck

John Ernst Steinbeck Jr. was an American author of twenty-seven books, including sixteen novels, six non-fiction books, and five collections of short stories. He is best known for works such as The Grapes of Wrath, Of Mice and Men, and East of Eden. Steinbeck received the Nobel Prize in Literature in... read more

The characters in Steinbeck's novels were everyday people who found themselves confronted with extraordinary challenges. Steinbeck was extremely adept at capturing the down-to-earth nature of these challenges and the common man's struggle to endure them.

He wrote timeless classics like The Grapes of Wrath, East of Eden, and Of Mice and Men. A truly visionary writer!

"A guy needs somebody - to be near him. A guy goes nuts if he ain't got nobody. Don't make no difference who the guy is, long's he's with you. I tell ya, I tell ya a guy gets too lonely an' he gets sick."
Jeff Kinney

Jeffrey Patrick Kinney, born on February 19, 1971, is an American author and cartoonist. He is best known for creating the children's book series Diary of a Wimpy Kid. In addition to writing, Kinney is also involved in designing online games and founded the website Poptropica.

There is a fine line within every story. His is just another person's perspective on what children want to read. He's really just another children's author who wants people to read. He seems to have some eagerness for his viewers. It's the same story inside each novel - lame.

All the guys mentioned in this list are great. I like all these authors, but I really love Jeff's sense of humor. I have all the DWK books and am looking forward to book 12.

Quit complaining. I think he is a great author for kids.
It doesn't say anywhere that we can't include different types of authors.
Jane Austen

Jane Austen was an English novelist known principally for her six major novels, which interpret, critique, and comment upon the life of the British landed gentry at the end of the 18th century.
Her most famous works include Pride and Prejudice, Sense and Sensibility, and Emma. Austen's novels... read more

Jane Austen is an amazing author! I'm not a big romance reader, but her stories are so beautifully written and her plots so intricate. Sense and Sensibility, Pride and Prejudice, and Northanger Abbey are my favorites. I would definitely put Jane Austen in the Top 10.

OK, people, this is sad. Jane Austen is incredible. You don't even need to like her books to understand that she is a superb writer. I love her, and please do yourselves a favor and read one of her books. Pride and Prejudice is the best.

Austen laid bare the business of marriage, the male upper hand, and the social predicaments of the time, whilst retaining humour and, of course, romance. A tricky wicket, but she pulls it off marvellously!
Oscar Wilde

Oscar Fingal O'Flahertie Wills Wilde (16 October 1854 - 30 November 1900) was an Irish playwright, novelist, essayist, and poet.
After writing in various forms throughout the 1880s, he became one of London's most popular playwrights in the early 1890s. He is remembered for his epigrams, his novel... read more

If he had written any scripture I could believe in that, because anything that Wilde said is 100% right in reality. But still, I can't understand how this genius believed in a homophobic God who is one of the worst figures in religious history, who is unaware of the nature He created, and who is the Father of Jesus who was able to walk on water. On the other hand, it is said that Oscar was in fact an atheist.

Just pure satirical genius and very enthralling. Tolkien and Rowling can't compare to this man's genius. No one recognises good literature anymore. By the way, where are Shakespeare and Christopher Marlowe? I know they were both mainly playwrights but show them some respect.