There are 68 authors that start with the letter D. From Dacia Maraini to Delia Smith. 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 D

Authors nationality genre notable works
Dacia Maraini Italian Fiction, Nonfiction The Silent Duchess, History of the Body
Dag Solstad Norwegian Fiction Professor Andersen’s Night, T Singer
Dai Sijie Chinese Fiction ‘Balzac and the Little Chinese Seamstress’
Daisaku Ikeda Japanese Non-Fiction, Philosophy ‘The Human Revolution’, ‘The New Human Revolution’
Daisy Ashford British Fiction ‘The Young Visiters’
Dalai Lama Tibetan Non-fiction, Spirituality ‘The Art of Happiness’, ‘Ethics for the New Millennium’
Damon Galgut South African Fiction The Good Doctor, The Promise
Dan Brown American Fiction The Da Vinci Code, Angels & Demons
Dan Chaon American Fiction Await Your Reply, Among the Missing
Dana Spiotta American Fiction ‘Stone Arabia’, ‘Eat the Document’, ‘Lightning Field’
Daniel Abse Welsh Poetry ‘Collected Poems’, ‘Pythagoras’
Daniel Alarcon American Fiction, Journalism ‘Lost City Radio’, ‘At Night She Cries, While He Rides His Steed’
Daniel Clowes American Graphic Novels Ghost World, Eightball
Daniel Defoe English Fiction, Non-Fiction ‘Robinson Crusoe’, ‘Moll Flanders’
Daniel Dennett American Philosophy ‘Consciousness Explained’, ‘Breaking the Spell’
Daniel Dubois Canadian Non-Fiction ‘The Postage Stamp Vegetable Garden’, ‘How to Grow More Vegetables’
Daniel Gallant Canadian Non-Fiction ‘Numb Bats’, ‘The Chicken Genius’
Daniel Goleman American Non-Fiction, Psychology ‘Emotional Intelligence’, ‘Focus’
Daniel Handler American Fiction ‘A Series of Unfortunate Events’, ‘Why We Broke Up’
Daniel Kehlmann German Fiction ‘Measuring the World’, ‘F’
Daniel Levitin Canadian-American Non-Fiction ‘The Organized Mind’, ‘This Is Your Brain on Music’
Daniel Menaker American Fiction, Non-Fiction ‘The Treatment’, ‘My Mistake’
Daniel Pennac French Fiction ‘The Scapegoat’, ‘School Blues’
Daniel Pinkwater American Children’s Literature ‘The Snarkout Boys and the Avocado of Death’, ‘The Hoboken Chicken Emergency’
Daniel Silva American Thriller ‘The Unlikely Spy’, ‘The English Assassin’
Daniel Woodrell American Fiction ‘Winter’s Bone’, ‘The Outlaw Album’
Daniel Yergin American Non-Fiction ‘The Prize’, ‘The Quest’
Danielle Steel American Fiction ‘The Klone and I’, ‘Happy Birthday’
Daniil Kharms Russian Fiction, Poetry Today I Wrote Nothing, Incidences
Danny Dyer British Non-Fiction, Memoir Life Lessons
Dante Alighieri Italian Poetry ‘The Divine Comedy’, ‘Vita Nuova’
Daphne du Maurier British Fiction ‘Rebecca’, ‘Jamaica Inn’
Darina Allen Irish Cookbooks ‘Ballymaloe Cooking School Cookbook’
Dario Fo Italian Drama, Comedy ‘Accidental Death of an Anarchist’, ‘Can’t Pay? Won’t Pay!’
Darren Shan Irish Young Adult Fiction ‘The Cirque du Freak’ series
Darryl Pinckney American Fiction, Non-Fiction ‘High Cotton’, ‘Black Deutschland’
Daryl Gregory American Fiction, Science Fiction Spoonbenders, Pandemonium
Dave Eggers American Fiction, Non-Fiction ‘A Heartbreaking Work of Staggering Genius’, ‘What Is the What’
David Adams Richards Canadian Fiction, Non-Fiction ‘Mercy Among the Children’, ‘Lines on the Water’
David Baldacci American Fiction ‘The Camel Club’, ‘Memory Man’
David Benioff American Fiction ‘City of Thieves’, ‘The 25th Hour’
David Brooks American Non-Fiction ‘The Road to Character’, ‘The Second Mountain’
David Deida American Non-Fiction ‘The Way of the Superior Man’, ‘Finding God Through Sex’
David Diop French Fiction ‘At Night All Blood is Black’
David Duchovny American Fiction ‘Holy Cow’, ‘Bucky F*cking Dent’
David Eddings American Fantasy ‘The Belgariad’, ‘The Malloreon’
David Foster Wallace American Fiction, Non-Fiction ‘Infinite Jest’, ‘Consider the Lobster’
David Grann American Non-Fiction ‘The Lost City of Z’, ‘Killers of the Flower Moon’
David Grossman Israeli Fiction ‘To the End of the Land’, ‘A Horse Walks Into a Bar’
David Guterson American Fiction ‘Snow Falling on Cedars’, ‘Our Lady of the Forest’
David Halberstam American Non-Fiction ‘The Best and the Brightest’, ‘The Fifties’
David Hanrahan British Fiction, Non-Fiction ‘The Poisoner: The Life and Crimes of Victorian England’s Most Notorious Doctor’
David Hare British Drama, Non-Fiction ‘Plenty’, ‘The Absence of War’
David Ignatius American Thriller ‘Body of Lies’, ‘The Increment’
David Leavitt American Fiction ‘The Lost Language of Cranes’, ‘The Indian Clerk’
David Levithan American Young Adult Fiction Every Day, Two Boys Kissing
David Liss American Fiction A Conspiracy of Paper, The Whiskey Rebels
David Lodge British Fiction, Literary Criticism ‘Changing Places’, ‘Small World’
David Malouf Australian Fiction ‘Remembering Babylon’, ‘An Imaginary Life’
David Maraniss American Non-Fiction ‘Barack Obama: The Story’, ‘When Pride Still Mattered’
David McCullough American Non-Fiction ‘Truman’, ‘John Adams’
David Mitchell British Fiction ‘Cloud Atlas’, ‘The Bone Clocks’
David Quammen American Non-Fiction ‘The Song of the Dodo’, ‘Spillover’
David Sedaris American Non-Fiction, Humor ‘Me Talk Pretty One Day’, ‘Dress Your Family in Corduroy and Denim’
David Shields American Non-Fiction ‘Reality Hunger’, ‘The Thing About Life Is That One Day You’ll Be Dead’
David Simon American Non-Fiction ‘Homicide: A Year on the Killing Streets’, ‘The Corner’
David Toop British Non-Fiction ‘Haunted Weather’, ‘Ocean of Sound’
Delia Smith British Cookbooks ‘How to Cook’, ‘Delia’s Complete Cookery Course’

Descriptions

Dacia Maraini
Dacia Maraini is an acclaimed Italian writer and feminist activist. Her novels and plays often focus on the experiences of women, challenging traditional gender roles and social norms. She is known for her unflinching examination of power dynamics and her commitment to social justice.
Dag Solstad
Dag Solstad is a Norwegian novelist and playwright considered one of the most important literary figures in Scandinavia. His works often explore the complexities of modern life, social alienation, and the search for meaning, blending realism with experimental narrative techniques.
Dai Sijie
Dai Sijie is a Chinese-French novelist and filmmaker. His novel ‘Balzac and the Little Chinese Seamstress’ is a semi-autobiographical story about the Cultural Revolution in China.
Daisaku Ikeda
Daisaku Ikeda is a Japanese philosopher, Buddhist leader, and prolific author. His works, such as ‘The Human Revolution’ and ‘The New Human Revolution’, focus on the interconnectedness of humanity and the power of individual transformation.
Daisy Ashford
Daisy Ashford was a British writer best known for her novel ‘The Young Visiters,’ which she wrote at the age of 9 and was published in 1919. The book is a satire of Victorian society and has become a celebrated example of precocious literary talent.
Dalai Lama
The Dalai Lama is the spiritual leader of Tibetan Buddhism. He has written extensively on topics of spirituality, ethics, and the Tibetan struggle for independence.
Damon Galgut
Damon Galgut is a South African novelist known for his nuanced depictions of post-apartheid South African society. His novels delve into issues of identity, morality, and the legacy of colonialism, earning him critical acclaim and numerous literary awards, including the Booker Prize in 2021.
Dan Brown
Dan Brown is an American author best known for his thrilling, conspiracy-driven novels that often blend elements of history, art, and religion. His books, including the blockbuster ‘The Da Vinci Code,’ have captivated global audiences and been adapted into successful films.
Dan Chaon
Dan Chaon is an American author acclaimed for his psychologically complex and unsettling short stories and novels. His works often explore themes of identity, memory, and the fragility of human connections, blending realism with elements of suspense and the uncanny.
Dana Spiotta
An American novelist known for her exploration of American culture, identity, and the impact of technology on modern life.
Daniel Abse
Daniel Abse was a Welsh poet known for his exploration of themes like family, mortality, and the human condition. His collections, including ‘Collected Poems’ and ‘Pythagoras’, are praised for their lyrical and introspective style.
Daniel Alarcon
A Peruvian-American author and journalist who writes fiction exploring themes of exile, displacement, and political turmoil.
Daniel Clowes
Daniel Clowes is an American cartoonist and illustrator known for his darkly humorous and insightful graphic novels. His works, such as ‘Ghost World,’ offer penetrating examinations of alienation, suburban ennui, and the human condition in the modern age.
Daniel Defoe
Daniel Defoe was an English writer, journalist, and pamphleteer, best known for his novels ‘Robinson Crusoe’ and ‘Moll Flanders’. His works, which blend fiction and non-fiction, are considered pioneering examples of the novel genre.
Daniel Dennett
A philosopher and cognitive scientist known for his work on the nature of consciousness, free will, and the evolution of mind.
Daniel Dubois
Daniel Dubois is a Canadian author and horticulturist known for his practical gardening guides, such as ‘The Postage Stamp Vegetable Garden’ and ‘How to Grow More Vegetables’, which provide comprehensive advice on small-scale and sustainable food production.
Daniel Gallant
Daniel Gallant is a Canadian author and researcher whose non-fiction works, including ‘Numb Bats’ and ‘The Chicken Genius’, explore the intersections of science, culture, and everyday life in an engaging and informative manner.
Daniel Goleman
Daniel Goleman is an American psychologist and author known for his groundbreaking work on emotional intelligence, as articulated in his bestselling book ‘Emotional Intelligence’. His other notable works, such as ‘Focus’, examine the role of attention and mindfulness in personal and professional development.
Daniel Handler
Daniel Handler, also known by his pen name Lemony Snicket, is an American author best known for his children’s book series ‘A Series of Unfortunate Events’, which blends dark humor, mystery, and whimsical storytelling. His other works, like ‘Why We Broke Up’, showcase his versatility as a writer.
Daniel Kehlmann
Daniel Kehlmann is a German novelist known for his imaginative and intellectually engaging works, including the bestselling novel ‘Measuring the World’ and the more recent ‘F’, which explore the intersections of history, science, and human nature.
Daniel Levitin
Daniel Levitin is a Canadian-American neuroscientist, psychologist, and author whose non-fiction works, such as ‘The Organized Mind’ and ‘This Is Your Brain on Music’, delve into the science behind cognition, creativity, and the human experience.
Daniel Menaker
An American writer, editor, and teacher known for his contributions to The New Yorker and his memoirs exploring the publishing industry.
Daniel Pennac
Daniel Pennac is a French author known for his novels that tackle complex social and psychological issues with empathy and humor. His works, including ‘The Scapegoat’ and ‘School Blues’, have been praised for their insightful character studies and exploration of themes like education and marginalization.
Daniel Pinkwater
A prolific American author of quirky, humorous children’s books and young adult novels, known for his imaginative and offbeat narratives.
Daniel Silva
An American author best known for his spy novels featuring Israeli intelligence agent Gabriel Allon.
Daniel Woodrell
Daniel Woodrell is an American author known for his gritty, atmospheric novels that often explore the lives of working-class characters in the Ozark Mountains region. His works, such as ‘Winter’s Bone’ and ‘The Outlaw Album’, have been acclaimed for their vivid depictions of rural poverty and the human condition.
Daniel Yergin
Daniel Yergin is an American author and economic historian known for his influential non-fiction works, including the Pulitzer Prize-winning ‘The Prize’ and ‘The Quest’, which explore the history and geopolitics of the global energy industry.
Danielle Steel
Danielle Steel is an American author renowned for her prolific output of popular romance novels. Her works, which have sold over 800 million copies worldwide, often focus on themes of love, relationships, and personal growth against the backdrop of family sagas and high-society dramas.
Daniil Kharms
Daniil Kharms was a Russian avant-garde writer and poet active in the 1920s and 1930s. His surreal, absurdist works, characterized by nonsensical narratives and fragmented language, challenged the conventions of Soviet literature and paved the way for later experimental and postmodern writers.
Danny Dyer
Danny Dyer is a British actor, television presenter, and author. He is known for his roles in films such as ‘The Business’ and ‘Adulthood,’ as well as his work as the host of the television series ‘Danny Dyer’s Right Royal Family.’ His memoir ‘Life Lessons’ was published in 2019.
Dante Alighieri
Dante Alighieri was an Italian poet and philosopher best known for his epic poem ‘The Divine Comedy’, a masterpiece of Western literature that chronicles a spiritual journey through the afterlife. His other notable work, ‘Vita Nuova’, explores the themes of love and the pursuit of redemption.
Daphne du Maurier
Daphne du Maurier was a British author known for her gothic and suspenseful novels, such as the classic ‘Rebecca’ and ‘Jamaica Inn’. Her works often explore themes of identity, the supernatural, and the complexities of human relationships.
Darina Allen
Darina Allen is an Irish chef, television personality, and author of numerous cookbooks, including the acclaimed ‘Ballymaloe Cooking School Cookbook’.
Dario Fo
Dario Fo was an Italian playwright, actor, and Nobel Laureate in Literature known for his politically charged, satirical works that often challenged societal norms and the establishment. His plays, including ‘Accidental Death of an Anarchist’ and ‘Can’t Pay? Won’t Pay!’, are celebrated for their sharp wit and social commentary.
Darren Shan
Darren Shan is an Irish author who is best known for his young adult horror and fantasy series, including ‘The Cirque du Freak’ and ‘The Demonata’.
Darryl Pinckney
Darryl Pinckney is an American author whose works, both fiction and non-fiction, explore themes of race, identity, and the African-American experience. His novel ‘High Cotton’ and essay collection ‘Black Deutschland’ have been praised for their insightful and nuanced perspectives.
Daryl Gregory
Daryl Gregory is an American writer of speculative fiction, known for his imaginative blending of genres. His novels and short stories often explore themes of familial relationships, the nature of consciousness, and the intersection of the ordinary and the extraordinary, earning him critical acclaim in the science fiction and fantasy communities.
Dave Eggers
Dave Eggers is an American author known for his innovative and genre-blending works, such as the memoir ‘A Heartbreaking Work of Staggering Genius’ and the novel ‘What Is the What’, which combine personal narratives with explorations of broader social and political issues.
David Adams Richards
David Adams Richards is a Canadian author known for his gritty, realist novels that delve into the complexities of human nature and the struggles of marginalized communities. His works, including ‘Mercy Among the Children’ and ‘Lines on the Water’, have been widely acclaimed for their poetic language and profound insights.
David Baldacci
David Baldacci is an American author of popular thriller and suspense novels, such as ‘The Camel Club’ and ‘Memory Man’. His fast-paced, page-turning narratives often explore themes of conspiracy, government corruption, and the triumph of the human spirit in the face of adversity.
David Benioff
David Benioff is an American author and screenwriter known for his novels ‘City of Thieves’ and ‘The 25th Hour’, which blend historical elements with compelling character-driven stories. His works have been praised for their atmospheric settings and nuanced exploration of ethical dilemmas.
David Brooks
David Brooks is an American author and New York Times columnist whose non-fiction works, such as ‘The Road to Character’ and ‘The Second Mountain’, explore the intricacies of human nature, social trends, and the search for meaning and purpose in life.
David Deida
David Deida is an American author known for his works on human sexuality, relationships, and spiritual growth. His books, including ‘The Way of the Superior Man’ and ‘Finding God Through Sex’, offer a unique perspective on the integration of personal development and intimate relationships.
David Diop
David Diop is a French author whose debut novel ‘At Night All Blood is Black’ has received critical acclaim for its poetic and visceral exploration of the horrors of World War I from the perspective of an African soldier fighting for the French army.
David Duchovny
David Duchovny is an American actor, director, and author best known for his roles in television shows like ‘The X-Files’. His novels, such as ‘Holy Cow’ and ‘Bucky F*cking Dent’, blend humor, satire, and social commentary, showcasing his versatility as a writer.
David Eddings
David Eddings was an American author renowned for his epic fantasy series, including ‘The Belgariad’ and ‘The Malloreon’, which blend classic fantasy tropes with complex world-building and compelling character development.
David Foster Wallace
An acclaimed American author known for his innovative, postmodern style and his exploration of themes like depression, addiction, and the complexities of modern life.
David Grann
David Grann is an American author and journalist known for his meticulously researched non-fiction works that read like gripping narratives. His books, such as ‘The Lost City of Z’ and ‘Killers of the Flower Moon’, delve into historical mysteries and explore the intersections of power, prejudice, and justice.
David Grossman
David Grossman is an Israeli author renowned for his deeply empathetic and thought-provoking novels, including ‘To the End of the Land’ and ‘A Horse Walks Into a Bar’, which grapple with the complexities of the human condition, political conflict, and the search for meaning in a chaotic world.
David Guterson
David Guterson is an American author best known for his novel ‘Snow Falling on Cedars’, a critically acclaimed work that explores themes of racial prejudice, love, and the search for truth against the backdrop of a murder trial in a Pacific Northwest community.
David Halberstam
David Halberstam was an American journalist and historian known for his meticulously researched and insightful non-fiction works, such as ‘The Best and the Brightest’, which examines the political decisions that led to the Vietnam War, and ‘The Fifties’, a sweeping portrait of American society in the post-war era.
David Hanrahan
A British author and journalist who has written extensively on the history of crime and medicine in Victorian England.
David Hare
David Hare is a British playwright and screenwriter whose works, including the plays ‘Plenty’ and ‘The Absence of War’, are known for their incisive social and political commentary. His dramas often delve into the complexities of contemporary issues and the human experience.
David Ignatius
An American novelist and journalist who writes espionage thrillers drawing on his experience as a foreign correspondent and columnist for The Washington Post.
David Leavitt
An American author known for his sensitive portrayals of LGBTQ+ characters and his exploration of themes like identity, relationships, and the human experience.
David Levithan
David Levithan is an American young adult fiction author, editor, and publisher. He is known for his novels that explore themes of identity, relationships, and LGBTQ+ experiences, often featuring diverse casts of characters.
David Liss
David Liss is an American novelist who writes historical fiction and mystery novels. His works often explore the intersections of finance, politics, and crime, set against the backdrop of various historical eras.
David Lodge
A British novelist and literary critic celebrated for his witty, satirical campus novels that examine academia and the intellectual life.
David Malouf
David Malouf is an Australian author whose works, including the novels ‘Remembering Babylon’ and ‘An Imaginary Life’, are acclaimed for their lyrical prose, poetic sensibility, and exploration of cultural identity, displacement, and the human condition.
David Maraniss
David Maraniss is an American author and journalist known for his critically acclaimed biographies, including ‘Barack Obama: The Story’ and ‘When Pride Still Mattered’, which provide in-depth, nuanced portraits of historical figures and their impact on the world.
David McCullough
David McCullough is an American historian and author renowned for his meticulously researched and engaging non-fiction works, such as the Pulitzer Prize-winning biographies ‘Truman’ and ‘John Adams’, which have helped redefine the genre of presidential biography.
David Mitchell
David Mitchell is a British author known for his inventive and genre-blending novels, such as the critically acclaimed ‘Cloud Atlas’ and ‘The Bone Clocks’, which explore themes of identity, interconnectedness, and the human experience across time and space.
David Quammen
David Quammen is an American author and science journalist known for his insightful and accessible non-fiction works, such as ‘The Song of the Dodo’, which delves into the science of biogeography, and ‘Spillover’, an exploration of the origins and impacts of zoonotic diseases.
David Sedaris
David Sedaris is an American humorist and essayist whose works, such as ‘Me Talk Pretty One Day’ and ‘Dress Your Family in Corduroy and Denim’, are celebrated for their wry, self-deprecating observations on everyday life, family dynamics, and the human experience.
David Shields
David Shields is an American author known for his innovative non-fiction works that challenge traditional genre boundaries. His books, including ‘Reality Hunger’ and ‘The Thing About Life Is That One Day You’ll Be Dead’, explore the nature of truth, memory, and the possibilities of the written form.
David Simon
David Simon is an American author and journalist known for his immersive non-fiction works that examine the complexities of urban life, crime, and institutional dysfunction. His books, such as ‘Homicide: A Year on the Killing Streets’ and ‘The Corner’, have been praised for their gritty realism and insightful social commentary.
David Toop
David Toop is a British author, musician, and sound curator whose non-fiction works, including ‘Haunted Weather’ and ‘Ocean of Sound’, explore the inters
Delia Smith
Delia Smith is a renowned British cookbook author and television personality who has been instrumental in teaching generations of home cooks through her accessible recipes and instructional books.

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