There are 52 authors that start with the letter P. From Paal Helge Haugen to Pynchon, Thomas. 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 P

Authors nationality genre notable works
Paal Helge Haugen Norwegian Fantasy, Young Adult Troll Fell series
Pablo Neruda Chilean Poetry Veinte Poemas de Amor y una Cancion Desesperada, Canto General, Residencia en la Tierra
Pablo Picasso Spanish Visual Art Les Demoiselles d’Avignon, Guernica, The Weeping Woman
Padma Lakshmi Indian-American Memoir, Cookbook, Actress ‘Love, Loss, and What We Ate’, ‘Top Chef’
Pam Houston American Fiction, Nonfiction ‘Cowboys Are My Weakness’, ‘Deep Creek’
Pam Jenoff Paolo Cognetti Pamela Erens Patrick Cockburn
Pamela Druckerman American Nonfiction, Parenting ‘Bringing Up B�b�’
Pamela Travers Australian Children’s Literature Mary Poppins
Pankaj Mishra Indian non-fiction, essays, literary criticism ‘The Age of Anger’, ‘From the Ruins of Empire’
Paola Kaufmann Argentine Fiction, Historical Fiction ‘The Scribe of Siena’
Paolo Bacigalupi American Science Fiction, Dystopian The Windup Girl, The Doubt Factory
Paolo Coelho Brazilian fiction ‘The Alchemist’, ‘Eleven Minutes’, ‘The Pilgrimage’
Parag Khanna Singaporean Nonfiction, Geopolitics How to Run the World, Connectography
Paritosh Sen Indian Fiction, Nonfiction ‘The Painter’s Eye’
Park Kyung-ni South Korean Historical Fiction ‘Land’
Parke Godwin American Speculative fiction, fantasy ‘Waiting for the Galactic Bus’, ‘Firelord’, ‘Sherwood’
Parker Bilal British Crime Fiction, Mystery The Makana Investigation series
Pat Barker British Historical fiction ‘The Regeneration Trilogy’, ‘The Ghost Road’, ‘Life Class’
Pat Conroy American Fiction ‘The Prince of Tides,’ ‘The Great Santini’
Patricia Briggs American Urban Fantasy, Paranormal Romance Mercy Thompson series, Alpha and Omega series
Patricia Cornwall American Crime fiction, thriller ‘The Scarpetta Novels’, ‘Portrait of a Killer: Jack the Ripper’, ‘Postmortem’
Patricia Highsmith American Mystery, Thriller The Talented Mr. Ripley, Strangers on a Train, The Price of Salt
Patricia McKillip American Fantasy, Magical Realism The Forgotten Beasts of Eld, Ombria in Shadow
Patrick McGrath British Gothic Fiction, Psychological Thriller Spider, Asylum
Patrick Ness British Young Adult Fiction The Chaos Walking Trilogy, A Monster Calls
Patrick O’Brian British Historical Fiction The Aubrey-Maturin series
Patrick Rothfuss American Fantasy The Kingkiller Chronicle
Patti Smith American memoir, poetry ‘Just Kids’, ‘M Train’
Paul Auster American Literary fiction, postmodernism ‘The New York Trilogy’, ‘The Book of Illusions’, ‘The Brooklyn Follies’
Paul Beatty American Fiction ‘The Sellout’, ‘Slumberland’
Paul Coelho Brazilian Fiction, Nonfiction ‘The Alchemist’, ‘Eleven Minutes’
Paul Doiron American Mystery, Thriller ‘The Poacher’s Son’, ‘Massacre Pond’
Paul Gallico American Fiction, Fantasy ‘The Snow Goose’, ‘The Poseidon Adventure’
Paul Harding American Fiction ‘Tinkers’, ‘Enon’
Paul Laurence Dunbar American Poetry, Fiction ‘Lyrics of Lowly Life’, ‘The Uncalled’
Paul Lisicky American Memoir, Nonfiction ‘The Narrow Door’, ‘Later’
Paul Mooney American Nonfiction, Comedy ‘Black Is the New White’, ‘Highlights and Lowlights’
Paul Murray Irish Fiction ‘Skippy Dies’, ‘The Mark and the Void’
Paule Marshall American Fiction ‘Brown Girl, Brownstones’, ‘Praisesong for the Widow’
Paullina Simons Russian-American Historical Fiction, Romance The Bronze Horseman trilogy
Paulo Coelho Brazilian Fiction The Alchemist, The Pilgrimage, Eleven Minutes
Pearls Before Swine American Comic Strip ‘Pearls Before Swine’
Peg Kehret American Children’s Fiction, Young Adult Stolen Children, Small Steps: The Year I Got Polio
Penelope Fitzgerald British Fiction The Bookshop, Offshore, The Blue Flower
Penelope Lively British Fiction Moon Tiger, Family Album, How It All Began
Percival Everett American Fiction Erasure, I Am Not Sidney Poitier, Telephone
Philip Roth American Fiction American Pastoral, The Human Stain, The Plot Against America
Philipp Meyer American fiction ‘The Son’, ‘American Rust’
Phillis Wheatley American Poetry Poems on Various Subjects, Religious and Moral
Primo Levi Italian Memoir, Non-Fiction If This Is a Man, The Periodic Table, The Drowned and the Saved
Pulp Fiction Writers Varied Crime Fiction Hard-boiled detective stories, noir, pulp magazines
Pynchon, Thomas American Fiction Gravity’s Rainbow, The Crying of Lot 49, Mason & Dixon

Descriptions

Paal Helge Haugen
Norwegian author known for his young adult fantasy series ‘Troll Fell’, which blends Norse mythology with contemporary themes.
Pablo Neruda
A renowned 20th-century poet, Neruda drew inspiration from the natural world and explored themes of love, politics, and social justice in his acclaimed poetic works.
Pablo Picasso
One of the most influential artists of the 20th century, Picasso co-founded the Cubist movement and revolutionized modern art with his innovative and diverse artistic style.
Padma Lakshmi
Padma Lakshmi is an Indian-American author, actress, model, and television host. She is best known as the host of the American reality television program ‘Top Chef’.
Pam Houston
Pam Houston is an American author known for her short stories and essays that often explore the relationship between humans and the natural world. Her works are praised for their vivid depictions of the American West.
Pam Jenoff
Patrick Modiano
Pamela Druckerman
Pamela Druckerman is an American author and journalist known for her nonfiction work, particularly her book ‘Bringing Up B�b�,’ which explores the parenting methods of French mothers.
Pamela Travers
The author of the beloved Mary Poppins book series, Travers created a timeless character who has captivated audiences for generations with her magical adventures.
Pankaj Mishra
An Indian essayist and public intellectual, known for his critiques of Western colonialism and the social impacts of globalization.
Paola Kaufmann
Paola Kaufmann is an Argentine author who writes historical fiction. Her debut novel, ‘The Scribe of Siena’, is a time-traveling tale that blends history, romance, and mystery.
Paolo Bacigalupi
American science fiction author whose works often explore environmental and social issues, such as in the award-winning novel ‘The Windup Girl’.
Paolo Coelho
A lyrical and spiritually-minded novelist, often exploring themes of personal transformation and the exploration of one’s inner self.
Parag Khanna
Singaporean author and geopolitical analyst who writes about globalization, urbanization, and the future of international relations.
Paritosh Sen
Paritosh Sen was an Indian artist and writer who is known for his contributions to the Bengal School of Art. His book ‘The Painter’s Eye’ provides insights into his artistic process and philosophy.
Park Kyung-ni
Park Kyung-ni was a renowned South Korean author, best known for her epic historical fiction novel ‘Land,’ which chronicles the lives of a family over several generations.
Parke Godwin
A prolific science fiction and fantasy author who often blended historical figures and events with imaginative storytelling.
Parker Bilal
British author of the Makana Investigation series, which combines crime fiction with an exploration of cultural identity and social issues in modern Egypt.
Pat Barker
A highly acclaimed novelist known for her sensitive explorations of the psychological impact of war, trauma, and social upheaval.
Pat Conroy
Pat Conroy was an acclaimed American author, known for his deeply personal and emotionally charged novels, such as ‘The Prince of Tides’ and ‘The Great Santini.’
Patricia Briggs
American author known for her urban fantasy series ‘Mercy Thompson’ and ‘Alpha and Omega’, which blend modern settings with elements of werewolf and shapeshifter mythology.
Patricia Cornwall
A pioneering and prolific author of forensic crime fiction, groundbreaking for her realistic depictions of forensic science and psychological profiling.
Patricia Highsmith
Highsmith was a master of psychological suspense, known for her complex and morally ambiguous characters as well as her influential contributions to the crime fiction genre.
Patricia McKillip
American author of lyrical, evocative fantasy novels that often incorporate elements of folklore and magical realism, such as the award-winning ‘The Forgotten Beasts of Eld’.
Patrick McGrath
British author known for his gothic and psychological thrillers, often exploring themes of mental illness and the darker aspects of the human psyche.
Patrick Ness
An acclaimed writer of young adult novels, Ness is known for his thought-provoking explorations of themes such as identity, morality, and the human experience.
Patrick O’Brian
O’Brian’s Aubrey-Maturin series, set during the Napoleonic Wars, is widely regarded as one of the finest historical fiction sagas, renowned for its rich characters and meticulous period detail.
Patrick Rothfuss
American fantasy author best known for his acclaimed ‘The Kingkiller Chronicle’ series, which blends intricate worldbuilding with lyrical prose and complex character development.
Patti Smith
A pioneering punk rock musician, poet, and visual artist, whose memoir ‘Just Kids’ won the National Book Award.
Paul Auster
A celebrated novelist and essayist whose work often explores themes of identity, chance, and the nature of reality through intricate, genre-blending narratives.
Paul Beatty
Paul Beatty is an American author who is known for his satirical and subversive novels that tackle issues of race, inequality, and social injustice in the United States.
Paul Coelho
Paulo Coelho is a Brazilian author who is best known for his novel ‘The Alchemist’, a spiritual and allegorical tale that has become a global phenomenon and one of the best-selling books of all time.
Paul Doiron
Paul Doiron is an American author who writes the Mike Bowditch series of mystery novels set in the wilderness of Maine. His books are praised for their vivid depictions of the natural world and complex characters.
Paul Gallico
Paul Gallico was an American author known for his genre-bending novels that often combined elements of realism, fantasy, and sentimentality. His best-known works include the classic ‘The Snow Goose’ and the disaster novel ‘The Poseidon Adventure’.
Paul Harding
Paul Harding is an American novelist who won the Pulitzer Prize for Fiction for his debut novel ‘Tinkers’, a lyrical and introspective work that explores themes of family, memory, and the human condition.
Paul Laurence Dunbar
Paul Laurence Dunbar was an African-American poet, novelist, and playwright who is considered a pioneer of African-American literature. His works often explore the experiences of African-Americans during the late 19th and early 20th centuries.
Paul Lisicky
Paul Lisicky is an American author known for his memoirs and nonfiction works that often explore themes of grief, loss, and the complexities of human relationships.
Paul Mooney
Paul Mooney is an American comedian, social critic, and writer who is known for his biting satire and commentary on race and societal issues in the United States.
Paul Murray
Paul Murray is an Irish novelist whose works are known for their blend of humor, social commentary, and complex character development. His novels ‘Skippy Dies’ and ‘The Mark and the Void’ have received critical acclaim.
Paule Marshall
Paule Marshall was an American author who is considered a pioneer of the African-American literary tradition. Her novels often explore the experiences of Caribbean immigrants in the United States.
Paullina Simons
Russian-American author whose work is known for its sweeping historical sagas and epic romantic narratives, particularly her acclaimed ‘The Bronze Horseman’ trilogy.
Paulo Coelho
A bestselling author whose works blend elements of spirituality, mysticism, and self-discovery, Coelho has captivated readers worldwide with his inspiring and empowering narratives.
Pearls Before Swine
Pearls Before Swine is an American comic strip created by Stephan Pastis that is known for its sardonic humor, social commentary, and quirky characters.
Peg Kehret
American author of children’s and young adult fiction, often exploring themes of overcoming adversity and personal growth, such as in the memoir ‘Small Steps: The Year I Got Polio’.
Penelope Fitzgerald
Acclaimed for her concise and elegant prose, Fitzgerald’s novels often focused on characters navigating the complexities of class, relationships, and personal transformation in 20th-century Britain.
Penelope Lively
An award-winning author known for her rich character studies and exploration of memory, Lively’s novels examine the ways in which the past shapes the present and the nature of identity.
Percival Everett
A prolific and critically acclaimed African American author, Everett’s diverse body of work often employs satire and metafiction to challenge societal norms and explore issues of race, identity, and the human condition.
Philip Roth
A towering figure in American literature, Roth’s novels and short stories delved into the complexities of Jewish-American identity, sexuality, and the social and political upheavals of the 20th century.
Philipp Meyer
A contemporary American novelist known for his epic family sagas that explore the history and legacy of the American West.
Phillis Wheatley
Wheatley was the first African American to publish a book of poetry, gaining recognition for her sophisticated and thoughtful explorations of faith, freedom, and the human experience.
Primo Levi
As a Holocaust survivor, Levi’s writing drew upon his harrowing experiences in Auschwitz, offering powerful, unflinching accounts of the tragedy and an enduring moral examination of humanity.
Pulp Fiction Writers
A collective term referring to the numerous authors who contributed to the distinctive style and popularity of pulp fiction magazines in the early-to-mid 20th century, known for their gritty, sensationalized narratives.
Pynchon, Thomas
A reclusive and influential postmodern author, Pynchon’s complex, sprawling novels challenged conventional narrative structures and explored themes of paranoia, technology, and the absurdities of modern life.

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