There are 62 authors that start with the letter L. From Labas, Juozas to Lemon, Lee. Authors are individuals who create written works, spanning a broad range of genres and forms, including novels, short stories, poetry, essays, and plays. The role of an author can vary significantly depending on cultural and historical contexts, but they often serve as observers and commentators on society, weaving together themes of human experience through their narratives. Throughout history, authors have played a pivotal role in shaping cultural identities, influencing public opinion, and fostering literacy through their contributions. Notable authors often leave a lasting legacy, inspiring future generations of writers and readers alike.

An interesting fun fact about authors is that many of the most celebrated works in literature, such as “1984” by George Orwell and “The Catcher in the Rye” by J.D. Salinger, were created under pseudonyms. Authors sometimes adopt alternate names to separate their writing identities from their personal lives, to avoid persecution, or to write in different genres without the constraints of their established reputation.

Here’s what each of the columns in the table means:

Column Name: Here, “nationality” refers to the country or countries with which the author is associated, reflecting their cultural background and influence.

Column Name: “Genre” denotes the specific category of literature to which the author’s works belong, such as fiction, non-fiction, poetry, or drama.

Column Name: “Notable works” lists significant titles authored by the individual, often recognized as their most important or influential contributions to literature.

Column Name: “Description” provides a brief summary of the author’s life, career, and contributions to literature, giving context to their significance as a writer.

Authors That Start With L

Authors nationality genre notable works
Labas, Juozas Lithuanian poetry ‘Nuvagoti laukai’ (Plowed Fields)
Labouvie-Vief, Gisela German-American Psychology, Lifespan Development ‘Psyche and Eros’
Lacerda, Nilce Brazilian fiction ‘O Buriti’
Lacoue-Labarthe, Philippe French philosophy, literary criticism ‘Typography: Mimesis, Philosophy, Politics’
Lafargue, Paul French political theory ‘The Right to Be Lazy’
Lahiri, Jhumpa Indian-American Novels, Short Stories ‘The Interpreter of Maladies’, ‘The Namesake’
Laitinen, Kai Finnish Literary Criticism, Essays ‘A History of Finnish Literature’
Lakoff, George American Linguistics, Cognitive Science ‘Metaphors We Live By’, ‘Women, Fire, and Dangerous Things’
Lalli, Joanna American poetry ‘Even the Hollow My Body Made Is Gone’
Lam, Wifredo Cuban visual art ‘The Jungle’
Lamantia, Philip American Poetry ‘Ekstasis’, ‘Destroyed Works’
Lamb, Charles English essays, literary criticism ‘Essays of Elia’
Lambdin, Laura American Fiction ‘The Tarnished Crown’ series
Lamming, George Barbadian fiction, non-fiction ‘In the Castle of My Skin’
Lamott, Anne American non-fiction, memoirs Bird by Bird, Traveling Mercies
Lampedusa, Giuseppe Tomasi di Italian Novels ‘The Leopard’
Lan, Samantha Chang American Fiction, Nonfiction ‘All Is Forgotten, Nothing Is Lost’, ‘The Chang Sisters’
Lancre, Andrew Canadian Fantasy, Science Fiction ‘The Doomsday Vault’ series
Landau, Jacob Israeli Poetry, Translation ‘Collected Poems’
Landor, Walter Savage English Poetry, Prose ‘Imaginary Conversations’, ‘Pericles and Aspasia’
Lang, Andrew Scottish Folklore, Anthropology ‘The Blue Fairy Book’, ‘The Red Fairy Book’
Lang, Berel American Philosophy, Holocaust Studies ‘Holocaust Representation’, ‘The Future of the Holocaust’
Lang, Jack French Politics, Memoirs ‘The Memoirs of Jack Lang’
Langbaum, Robert American Literary Criticism ‘The Poetry of Experience’, ‘Mysteries of Identity’
Langeland, Sigrid Norwegian Nonfiction, Travel Writing ‘The Savage Dreamers’, ‘Island Life’
Langland, William English Poetry ‘Piers Plowman’
Langston, Andrew Jamaican poetry, short stories Hot Milk, Sunlight on the Grass
Langston, Hughes American Poetry, Prose ‘The Weary Blues’, ‘Montage of a Dream Deferred’
Lanham, Richard American Rhetoric, Literary Criticism ‘The Electronic Word’, ‘Analyzing Prose’
Lao Tzu Chinese Philosophy ‘Tao Te Ching’
Larbaud, Valery French Novels, Poetry ‘A.O. Barnabooth’, ‘Barnabooth: His Diary’
Larkin, Philip English Poetry ‘The Less Deceived’, ‘High Windows’
Larsen, Nella African-American Novels ‘Quicksand’, ‘Passing’
Lasch, Christopher American History, Social Criticism ‘The Culture of Narcissism’, ‘The Revolt of the Elites’
Latchem, Syd Australian Science Fiction, Fantasy ‘The Drakken Saga’
Latimer, Hugh English religious writings Sermons
Latour, Bruno French Sociology, Anthropology ‘We Have Never Been Modern’, ‘Reassembling the Social’
Laurents, Arthur American Playwright, Screenwriter ‘West Side Story’, ‘Gypsy’
Lavarack, John Australian Military History ‘The Siege of Tobruk’, ‘The River Kwai Railway’
Lawrence, Frieda German-British Memoirs, Biographies ‘Not I, But the Wind…’
Lawrence, Jerome American Playwright, Screenwriter ‘Inherit the Wind’, ‘The Night Thoreau Spent in Jail’
Lawson, John American Playwriting, Screenwriting ‘A Raisin in the Sun’, ‘The Sign in Sidney Brustein’s Window’
Le Fanu, Sheridan Irish Gothic Fiction, Supernatural Stories ‘Carmilla’, ‘Uncle Silas’
Lea, Hermann English Literary Criticism, Travel Writing ‘Dante’s Italy’, ‘Highways and Byways in Donegal and Antrim’
Leach, Maria American Folklore, Mythology ‘Funk & Wagnalls Standard Dictionary of Folklore, Mythology, and Legend’
Leavitt David Lebowa Lect
Leavitt, David American Fiction, Nonfiction ‘The Lost Language of Cranes’, ‘While England Sleeps’
Lebowitz, Fran American Essays, Commentaries ‘Metropolitan Life’, ‘Social Studies’
Lee, Gus Chinese-American Novels, Memoirs ‘China Boy’, ‘Honor and Duty’
Lee, Laurie English Memoirs, Poetry ‘Cider with Rosie’, ‘A Moment of War’
Lee, Li-Young American Poetry ‘Rose’, ‘The City in Which I Love You’
Lee, Margo American Nonfiction, Memoirs ‘The Dancing Granny’, ‘My Mother’s Clothes’
Lee, Phyllis American Nonfiction, Memoirs ‘The Dance of the Dissident Daughter’, ‘Sabbath’
Lee, Ta-Nehisi American Nonfiction, Journalism ‘Between the World and Me’, ‘The Case for Reparations’
Leech, Geoffrey British Linguistics, English Language ‘A Linguistic Guide to English Poetry’, ‘English Grammar for Today’
Lefebvre, Henri French Sociology, Philosophy ‘The Production of Space’, ‘Critique of Everyday Life’
Lefew, Bonnie American Science Fiction, Fantasy ‘The Fae Chronicles’, ‘The Fae Wars’
Leffingwell, Ernest American Architecture, Design ‘Small Houses’, ‘The Small House of the Present Day’
Lehmann, Rosamond English Novels, Short Stories ‘Dusty Answer’, ‘The Weather in the Streets’
Leinonen, Lilja Finnish Fiction, Nonfiction ‘The Blinding’, ‘The Bird Cottage’
Leland, John American Nonfiction, Music Criticism ‘Hip: The History’, ‘Why I Hate Saturn’
Lemon, Lee American Literary Criticism, Translation ‘Russian Formalist Criticism’, ‘Mikhail Bakhtin’

Descriptions

Labas, Juozas
Lithuanian poet known for his pastoral-themed lyric poetry, exploring the connection between human and natural worlds.
Labouvie-Vief, Gisela
A developmental psychologist known for her work on cognitive and emotional development across the lifespan, with a focus on adolescence and adulthood.
Lacerda, Nilce
Brazilian author whose magical realist novels and stories explore the lives and struggles of rural communities in Brazil.
Lacoue-Labarthe, Philippe
French philosopher and literary theorist who examined the relationship between philosophy, literature, and politics.
Lafargue, Paul
French Marxist philosopher who critiqued the cult of work in capitalist societies and advocated for the right to leisure.
Lahiri, Jhumpa
A Pulitzer Prize-winning author, known for her lyrical depictions of the immigrant experience and the complexities of identity and belonging.
Laitinen, Kai
A prominent Finnish literary critic and historian, who played a significant role in the development of Finnish literary studies.
Lakoff, George
A cognitive linguist who has made significant contributions to the field of cognitive science, particularly in the study of metaphor and language.
Lalli, Joanna
American poet known for her unique voice and exploration of themes like identity, sexuality, and family.
Lam, Wifredo
Cuban artist whose surrealist paintings blended European modernism with Afro-Cuban imagery and symbolism.
Lamantia, Philip
A Beat Generation poet, known for his surrealistic and visionary poetry that explored themes of spirituality and the human condition.
Lamb, Charles
English essayist and literary critic, best known for his nostalgic and humorous Essays of Elia.
Lambdin, Laura
A prolific American historical fiction writer, best known for her mystery series set in Tudor-era England.
Lamming, George
Barbadian novelist and essayist who explored themes of colonialism, identity, and the Caribbean diaspora.
Lamott, Anne
Celebrated author and writing teacher whose works blend personal anecdotes, spiritual insights, and practical advice on the writing process. Her honest and compassionate approach has made her a beloved voice in the realm of creative non-fiction.
Lampedusa, Giuseppe Tomasi di
An Italian author whose sole novel, ‘The Leopard’, is considered a classic of 20th-century literature, exploring the decline of the Sicilian aristocracy.
Lan, Samantha Chang
A Chinese-American writer, known for her novels and memoirs that explore issues of identity, family, and the immigrant experience.
Lancre, Andrew
A Canadian author who specializes in steampunk and speculative fiction, known for his ‘Doomsday Vault’ series.
Landau, Jacob
An Israeli poet and translator, known for his lyrical explorations of identity, history, and the human condition.
Landor, Walter Savage
An English writer and poet, known for his contributions to the Romantic movement and his innovative use of dialogue in his literary works.
Lang, Andrew
A Scottish writer and folklorist, best known for his influential series of fairy tale collections, which introduced many classic stories to English-speaking audiences.
Lang, Berel
A philosopher and Holocaust scholar, known for his work on the ethical and philosophical implications of the Holocaust and its representation.
Lang, Jack
A French politician and former Minister of Culture, known for his efforts to promote French culture and the arts both domestically and internationally.
Langbaum, Robert
An American literary critic, known for his influential work on the dramatic monologue and the exploration of moral and philosophical questions in literature.
Langeland, Sigrid
A Norwegian writer and journalist, known for her captivating nonfiction works that explore remote and untamed landscapes.
Langland, William
An English poet of the late 14th century, best known for his allegorical poem ‘Piers Plowman’, which is considered a classic of Middle English literature.
Langston, Andrew
Jamaican writer whose works explore themes of identity, migration, and the Caribbean experience. His poetic style is marked by a vivid evocation of place and a keen observation of the human condition.
Langston, Hughes
A prominent figure of the Harlem Renaissance, renowned for his lyrical and politically-charged poetry that gave voice to the African-American experience.
Lanham, Richard
An American scholar of rhetoric and literary criticism, known for his work on the impact of digital technologies on language and communication.
Lao Tzu
A Chinese philosopher, traditionally regarded as the founder of Taoism, whose influential work ‘Tao Te Ching’ explores the principles of the Tao and the art of living in harmony with the natural world.
Larbaud, Valery
A French novelist and poet, known for his exploration of cosmopolitanism and the complexities of identity in his works, which were influenced by his extensive travels.
Larkin, Philip
An English poet, regarded as one of the most influential and admired poets of the 20th century, known for his wry, melancholic, and deeply insightful poems.
Larsen, Nella
An American novelist of the Harlem Renaissance, known for her groundbreaking exploration of issues of race, identity, and the complexities of the African-American experience.
Lasch, Christopher
An American historian and social critic, known for his incisive analysis of American culture and his critiques of contemporary society’s emphasis on individualism and consumerism.
Latchem, Syd
An Australian author who has written extensively in the science fiction and fantasy genres, particularly known for his ‘Drakken Saga’ series.
Latimer, Hugh
Prominent figure of the English Reformation, known for his outspoken and provocative sermons that challenged the corruption and abuses within the Catholic Church. His writings were instrumental in the spread of Protestant ideas in 16th-century England.
Latour, Bruno
A French sociologist and anthropologist, known for his influential work on the study of science and technology, and his development of Actor-Network Theory.
Laurents, Arthur
An American playwright and screenwriter, best known for his collaborations on the classic musicals ‘West Side Story’ and ‘Gypsy’.
Lavarack, John
An Australian historian and author, known for his extensive research and writing on World War II, particularly the campaigns in North Africa and the Burma Railway.
Lawrence, Frieda
The wife of D.H. Lawrence, Frieda Lawrence was a German-British writer who wrote memoirs and biographies, offering insights into the life and work of her famous husband.
Lawrence, Jerome
An American playwright and screenwriter, best known for his collaborations on the plays ‘Inherit the Wind’ and ‘The Night Thoreau Spent in Jail’.
Lawson, John
An American playwright and screenwriter, best known for his groundbreaking play ‘A Raisin in the Sun’, which explored the experiences of a Black family in 1950s Chicago.
Le Fanu, Sheridan
An Irish writer, considered a leading figure in the development of the modern ghost story and Gothic fiction, known for his innovative use of psychological suspense and the supernatural.
Lea, Hermann
An English writer and literary critic, known for his extensive studies of Dante’s works and his travel writings that explored the landscapes and cultural traditions of Ireland and Italy.
Leach, Maria
An American folklorist and mythologist, best known for her comprehensive ‘Dictionary of Folklore, Mythology, and Legend’, which served as a seminal reference work in the field.
Leavitt
Ledo
Leavitt, David
An American author, known for his fiction that explores themes of sexuality, relationships, and the challenges of contemporary life, as well as his nonfiction works on art and culture.
Lebowitz, Fran
An American essayist and public speaker, known for her acerbic wit, social commentary, and sharp observations on contemporary American culture and society.
Lee, Gus
A Chinese-American author, known for his semi-autobiographical novels that explore the immigrant experience and the challenges of navigating multiple cultural identities.
Lee, Laurie
An English author and poet, best known for his acclaimed memoir ‘Cider with Rosie’, which vividly captures his childhood in the Cotswolds and the fading rural way of life in early 20th-century England.
Lee, Li-Young
A Chinese-American poet, known for his lyrical and introspective poems that explore themes of identity, family, and the immigrant experience.
Lee, Margo
An American author and artist, known for her nonfiction works and memoirs that celebrate the lives of ordinary people, particularly her mother and grandmother.
Lee, Phyllis
An American author and feminist theologian, known for her nonfiction works and memoirs that explore issues of spirituality, gender, and personal transformation.
Lee, Ta-Nehisi
An American author, journalist, and cultural critic, known for his powerful and critically acclaimed nonfiction works that examine race, identity, and the legacy of racism in the United States.
Leech, Geoffrey
A British linguist, known for his contributions to the field of stylistics and his influential works on the analysis of literary language and the grammar of the English language.
Lefebvre, Henri
A French sociologist, philosopher, and urban theorist, known for his influential work on the social production of space and his critiques of everyday life in modern capitalist societies.
Lefew, Bonnie
An American author who writes primarily in the science fiction and fantasy genres, best known for her acclaimed ‘Fae Chronicles’ and ‘Fae Wars’ series.
Leffingwell, Ernest
An American architect and author, known for his influential writings on the design of small and affordable homes, which helped shape the development of modern residential architecture.
Lehmann, Rosamond
An English novelist and short story writer, known for her sensitive and insightful portrayals of women’s experiences in the early 20th century.
Leinonen, Lilja
A Finnish writer, known for her lyrical and introspective novels and nonfiction works that explore themes of nature, memory, and the human condition.
Leland, John
An American writer, journalist, and music critic, known for his insightful works that explore the cultural and historical significance of hip-hop and popular music.
Lemon, Lee
An American scholar of Russian literature, known for his influential translations and critical studies of the works of Russian formalist and Bakhtin.

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