There are 67 authors that start with the letter J. From Jack Higgins to Julie Otsuka. 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 J

Authors nationality genre notable works
Jack Higgins British Thriller, Crime Fiction The Eagle Has Landed, The Day of the Jackal
Jack Kerouac American Novels, Poetry, Autobiography ‘On the Road’, ‘The Dharma Bums’, ‘Desolation Angels’
Jack London American Fiction, Adventure ‘The Call of the Wild’, ‘White Fang’
Jackson Pollock American Visual Art Drip paintings
Jamaica Kincaid American Novels, Short Stories, Essays ‘Annie John’, ‘Lucy’, ‘A Small Place’
James Baldwin American Fiction, Essays Go Tell It on the Mountain, The Fire Next Time
James Clavell British-American Historical Fiction, Novels ‘Shogun’, ‘Tai-Pan’, ‘King Rat’
James Dickey American Poetry, Novels ‘Deliverance’, ‘Poems 1957-1967’, ‘The Zodiac’
James Ellroy American Crime Fiction, Mystery The Black Dahlia, L.A. Confidential
James Fenimore Cooper American Historical Novels ‘The Last of the Mohicans’, ‘The Deerslayer’, ‘The Pathfinder’
James Hannaham American Novels, Short Stories ‘Delicious Foods’, ‘God Says No’
James Herbert British Horror, Thriller ‘The Rats’, ‘The Fog’, ‘Haunted’
James Herriot British Autobiographical Fiction All Creatures Great and Small
James Jones American Novels ‘From Here to Eternity’, ‘The Thin Red Line’, ‘Some Came Running’
James Joyce Irish Fiction, Modernist Literature Ulysses, Dubliners
James McBride American Memoir, Fiction The Color of Water, The Good Lord Bird
James McTeigue Australian Film Director ‘V for Vendetta’, ‘Ninja Assassin’, ‘The Raven’
James Michener American Historical Novels ‘Centennial’, ‘Hawaii’, ‘Texas’
James Patterson American Thriller, Mystery Alex Cross series, Women’s Murder Club series
James Purdy American Novels, Short Stories ‘Cabot Wright Begins’, ‘Eustace Chisholm and the Works’, ‘Garments the Living Wear’
James Salter American Novels, Short Stories ‘A Sport and a Pastime’, ‘Light Years’, ‘All That Is’
James Tate American Poetry ‘Selected Poems’, ‘Worshipful Company of Fletchers’, ‘The Lost Pilot’
James Thurber American Short Stories, Humor, Cartoons ‘The Secret Life of Walter Mitty’, ‘My Life and Hard Times’, ‘Fables for Our Time’
Jane Austen British Fiction Pride and Prejudice, Emma
Jane Bowles American Novels, Short Stories ‘Two Serious Ladies’, ‘Plain Pleasures’
Jane Hirshfield American Poetry Nine Gates, Given Sugar, Given Salt
Janet Evanovich American Mystery, Humor Stephanie Plum series
Janet Fitch American Fiction White Oleander, Paint It Black
Jared Diamond American Non-Fiction, History Guns, Germs, and Steel, Collapse
Jean Craighead George American Children’s Literature, Young Adult Julie of the Wolves, My Side of the Mountain
Jean Rhys Dominica-born British Fiction Wide Sargasso Sea, Good Morning, Midnight
Jean-Paul Sartre French Philosophy, Literature ‘Being and Nothingness’, ‘Nausea’, ‘No Exit’
Jeanette Winterson British Fiction ‘Oranges Are Not the Only Fruit’, ‘The Passion’
Jeff Kinney American Children’s Literature, Graphic Novels Diary of a Wimpy Kid series
Jeffrey Eugenides American Fiction The Virgin Suicides, Middlesex
Jennifer Egan American Fiction A Visit from the Goon Squad, Manhattan Beach
Jenny Han American Young Adult Fiction To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before series
Jessamyn West American Fiction, Memoir The Friendly Persuasion, Hide and Seek
Jesse Ball American Fiction, Poetry A Cure for Suicide, Census
Jhumpa Lahiri American Fiction ‘Interpreter of Maladies’, ‘The Namesake’, ‘The Lowland’
Jim Butcher American Fantasy, Urban Fantasy ‘The Dresden Files’, ‘The Cinder Spires’
Jim Harrison American Fiction, Poetry ‘Legends of the Fall’, ‘The Road Home’
Joan Aiken British Children’s Literature, Fantasy The Wolves of Willoughby Chase series
Joan Didion American Non-Fiction, Fiction Slouching Towards Bethlehem, The Year of Magical Thinking
Joan London Australian Fiction The Good Parents, The Golden Age
Joanna Trollope British Fiction The Rector’s Wife, Marrying the Mistress
Joanne Harris British Fiction Chocolat, Five Quarters of the Orange
Joe Hill American Horror, Fantasy NOS4A2, The Fireman
Johann Wolfgang von Goethe German Fiction, Poetry, Drama Faust, The Sorrows of Young Werther
John Green American Young Adult Fiction The Fault in Our Stars, Paper Towns
John Grisham American Legal Thriller, Fiction The Firm, A Time to Kill
John Guare American Playwright, Screenwriter Six Degrees of Separation, The House of Blue Leaves
John Hersey American Non-Fiction, Fiction Hiroshima, A Bell for Adano
John Knowles American Fiction A Separate Peace, Peace Breaks Out
John Steinbeck American Fiction, Naturalism The Grapes of Wrath, Of Mice and Men
John Updike American Fiction Rabbit series, The Witches of Eastwick
Jonathan Franzen American Fiction The Corrections, Freedom
Jonathan Safran Foer American Fiction Everything Is Illuminated, Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close
Jorge Luis Borges Argentine Fiction, Poetry Ficciones, The Aleph
Joseph Heller American Fiction Catch-22, Something Happened
Joseph Kanon American Thriller, Historical Fiction The Good German, The Accomplice
Joy Harjo American Poetry, Memoir An American Sunrise, Crazy Brave
Jude Deveraux American Romance, Historical Fiction A Knight in Shining Armor, The Summerhouse
Julia Alvarez Dominican-American Fiction, Poetry How the Garc�a Girls Lost Their Accents, In the Time of the Butterflies
Julian Barnes British Fiction, Non-Fiction The Sense of an Ending, Flaubert’s Parrot
Julian Fellowes British Screenwriter, Novelist Downton Abbey, Gosford Park
Julie Otsuka American Fiction When the Emperor Was Divine, The Buddha in the Attic

Descriptions

Jack Higgins
Jack Higgins is a British author known for his thriller and crime fiction novels, including the bestsellers ‘The Eagle Has Landed’ and ‘The Day of the Jackal’, which have been adapted into successful films.
Jack Kerouac
A key figure of the Beat Generation, Kerouac’s spontaneous, stream-of-consciousness writing style revolutionized American literature and captured the restless, unconventional spirit of post-World War II youth culture.
Jack London
Jack London was an American novelist, short story writer, and social activist, best known for his adventure novels set in the Klondike Gold Rush and the North American wilderness.
Jackson Pollock
Jackson Pollock was an American abstract expressionist painter known for his innovative ‘drip technique’ and large-scale, energetic canvases that revolutionized the art world in the mid-20th century.
Jamaica Kincaid
A prolific Caribbean-American writer whose work explores themes of colonialism, identity, and family relationships, often drawing on her own experiences growing up in Antigua.
James Baldwin
James Baldwin was an American novelist, playwright, and social critic, best known for his novels and essays exploring racial, sexual, and class tensions in 20th-century America, such as ‘Go Tell It on the Mountain’ and ‘The Fire Next Time.’
James Clavell
A best-selling author known for his epic historical novels, often set in Asia, that combine sweeping narratives with detailed cultural, political, and social insights.
James Dickey
A distinguished American poet and novelist, best known for his novel ‘Deliverance’, which was adapted into a critically acclaimed film, and for his evocative, nature-inspired poetry.
James Ellroy
James Ellroy is an American crime fiction and mystery writer known for his gritty, complex novels set in mid-20th century Los Angeles, including ‘The Black Dahlia’ and ‘L.A. Confidential’.
James Fenimore Cooper
Considered a pioneer of the American novel, Cooper is known for his Leatherstocking Tales, a series of historical novels set in the American frontier that helped define the genre of the frontier romance.
James Hannaham
A contemporary American author whose works explore themes of race, identity, and social justice, often through the lens of marginalized or oppressed communities.
James Herbert
One of the most popular and influential British horror writers of the 20th century, known for his visceral, frightening tales that often tackle social and political themes.
James Herriot
James Herriot was a British veterinarian and author who wrote a series of popular autobiographical fiction books about his experiences working as a veterinarian in the Yorkshire Dales, including the beloved ‘All Creatures Great and Small’ series.
James Jones
A renowned American novelist whose works, often set during World War II, are known for their gritty realism, psychological depth, and exploration of the effects of war on individuals and communities.
James Joyce
James Joyce was an Irish novelist, short story writer, poet, and literary critic, considered one of the most influential writers of the 20th century. His most famous works include the modernist novels ‘Ulysses’ and ‘Dubliners’.
James McBride
James McBride is an American author, musician, and journalist, known for his memoir ‘The Color of Water’ and his novel ‘The Good Lord Bird’, which won the National Book Award for Fiction.
James McTeigue
Film director known for visually striking and politically-charged films, often adapting literary works.
James Michener
A prolific writer of epic historical novels that often span generations and centuries, known for his meticulous research, sweeping narratives, and rich character development.
James Patterson
James Patterson is an American author known for his prolific output of thriller and mystery novels, including the popular Alex Cross and Women’s Murder Club series, which have sold over 300 million copies worldwide.
James Purdy
A highly regarded but controversial American author whose experimental, unsettling works often explore themes of alienation, sexuality, and society’s outcasts.
James Salter
A critically acclaimed but commercially underappreciated American writer, known for his lyrical, introspective prose and profound explorations of the human condition.
James Tate
A Pulitzer Prize-winning American poet whose surreal, often humorous works subverted traditional poetic forms and explored themes of alienation, absurdity, and the human experience.
James Thurber
A renowned American humorist, cartoonist, and short story writer, best known for his quirky, whimsical tales that often satirize the complexities of modern life.
Jane Austen
Jane Austen was a British novelist known for her witty and insightful social commentary, particularly in her novels ‘Pride and Prejudice’ and ‘Emma’, which have become beloved classics of English literature.
Jane Bowles
A cult figure of American literature, Bowles’ experimental, unconventional works often explore themes of identity, sexuality, and the complexities of human relationships.
Jane Hirshfield
Jane Hirshfield is an American poet and essayist known for her contemplative and spiritually-infused poetry, including the collections ‘Nine Gates’ and ‘Given Sugar, Given Salt’.
Janet Evanovich
Janet Evanovich is an American author known for her best-selling Stephanie Plum series of humorous mystery novels, featuring a bounty hunter working in Trenton, New Jersey.
Janet Fitch
Janet Fitch is an American novelist known for her complex, character-driven novels, such as ‘White Oleander’ and ‘Paint It Black’, which explore themes of identity, loss, and human resilience.
Jared Diamond
Jared Diamond is an American historian, biologist, and professor, best known for his Pulitzer Prize-winning non-fiction works ‘Guns, Germs, and Steel’ and ‘Collapse’, which explore the societal and environmental factors that have shaped the course of human history.
Jean Craighead George
Jean Craighead George was an American author of children’s and young adult fiction, known for her nature-themed novels such as ‘Julie of the Wolves’ and ‘My Side of the Mountain’.
Jean Rhys
Jean Rhys was a Dominica-born British author known for her modernist novels, including the classic ‘Wide Sargasso Sea’, a prequel to Charlotte Bronte’s ‘Jane Eyre’, and ‘Good Morning, Midnight’, which explore themes of alienation and identity.
Jean-Paul Sartre
Prominent French existentialist philosopher and novelist, known for his influential works on the human condition.
Jeanette Winterson
Jeanette Winterson is a British author known for her experimental, genre-blending novels that often explore themes of love, identity, and the nature of reality.
Jeff Kinney
Jeff Kinney is an American author and cartoonist, best known for his Diary of a Wimpy Kid series of humorous children’s fiction books, which have been adapted into a successful film franchise.
Jeffrey Eugenides
Jeffrey Eugenides is an American novelist known for his acclaimed novels ‘The Virgin Suicides’ and ‘Middlesex’, which explore themes of identity, gender, and family history.
Jennifer Egan
Jennifer Egan is an American novelist and short story writer, known for her innovative and genre-blending works, including the Pulitzer Prize-winning ‘A Visit from the Goon Squad’ and the historical novel ‘Manhattan Beach’.
Jenny Han
Jenny Han is an American young adult fiction author best known for her ‘To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before’ series, a popular romantic comedy that was adapted into a successful Netflix film franchise.
Jessamyn West
Jessamyn West was an American novelist and short story writer, best known for her semi-autobiographical novel ‘The Friendly Persuasion’ and her memoir ‘Hide and Seek’, which explore themes of family, faith, and growing up in a Quaker community.
Jesse Ball
Jesse Ball is an American novelist and poet known for his experimental and unconventional works, such as the novels ‘A Cure for Suicide’ and ‘Census’, which explore themes of identity, mortality, and the human experience.
Jhumpa Lahiri
Pulitzer Prize-winning Indian-American author, known for her sensitive portrayals of the immigrant experience and cultural identity.
Jim Butcher
Prolific American author, best known for his urban fantasy series ‘The Dresden Files’, featuring a modern-day wizard private investigator.
Jim Harrison
Jim Harrison was an American author known for his lyrical, nature-inspired writings, including novels, short stories, and poetry that often explored the human experience in the American Midwest and the American West.
Joan Aiken
Joan Aiken was a British author known for her children’s fantasy novels, particularly the popular ‘The Wolves of Willoughby Chase’ series, which blends historical fiction with supernatural elements.
Joan Didion
Joan Didion was an American writer known for her acclaimed works of literary journalism, such as ‘Slouching Towards Bethlehem’, as well as her personal memoirs, including ‘The Year of Magical Thinking’, which explored grief and loss.
Joan London
Joan London is an Australian novelist and short story writer, known for her intimate, character-driven works, such as ‘The Good Parents’ and ‘The Golden Age’, which explore themes of family, love, and the human experience.
Joanna Trollope
Joanna Trollope is a British novelist known for her contemporary fiction exploring family dynamics and relationships, including the novels ‘The Rector’s Wife’ and ‘Marrying the Mistress’.
Joanne Harris
Joanne Harris is a British author known for her novels that blend elements of magical realism, mythology, and culinary themes, such as the bestselling ‘Chocolat’ and ‘Five Quarters of the Orange’.
Joe Hill
Joe Hill is an American author of horror and fantasy fiction, known for his novels ‘NOS4A2’ and ‘The Fireman’, which have earned him critical acclaim and a loyal readership in the genre.
Johann Wolfgang von Goethe
Johann Wolfgang von Goethe was a German writer and polymath, considered one of the most influential figures in the history of Western literature. His best-known works include the tragic play ‘Faust’ and the semi-autobiographical novel ‘The Sorrows of Young Werther’.
John Green
John Green is an American author of young adult fiction, best known for his acclaimed novels ‘The Fault in Our Stars’ and ‘Paper Towns’, which blend humor, romance, and poignant explorations of adolescent experiences.
John Grisham
John Grisham is an American author known for his popular legal thriller novels, including ‘The Firm’ and ‘A Time to Kill’, which have been adapted into successful films and television series.
John Guare
John Guare is an American playwright and screenwriter, known for his acclaimed works ‘Six Degrees of Separation’ and ‘The House of Blue Leaves’, which explore themes of identity, social class, and human connections.
John Hersey
John Hersey was an American journalist and novelist, best known for his non-fiction work ‘Hiroshima’, an in-depth account of the atomic bombing of the city, as well as his Pulitzer Prize-winning novel ‘A Bell for Adano’.
John Knowles
John Knowles was an American novelist, best known for his coming-of-age novel ‘A Separate Peace’, which explores themes of friendship, rivalry, and the loss of innocence during World War II.
John Steinbeck
John Steinbeck was an American novelist known for his works of literary realism and naturalism, including the Pulitzer Prize-winning ‘The Grapes of Wrath’ and the classic novella ‘Of Mice and Men’.
John Updike
John Updike was an American novelist, short story writer, and literary critic, best known for his Rabbit series of novels, as well as works like ‘The Witches of Eastwick’, which explore themes of American suburban life and the human condition.
Jonathan Franzen
Jonathan Franzen is an American novelist known for his critically acclaimed works of contemporary fiction, including the National Book Award-winning ‘The Corrections’ and ‘Freedom’, which explore themes of family, social issues, and the human experience.
Jonathan Safran Foer
Jonathan Safran Foer is an American novelist known for his innovative and genre-blending works, such as ‘Everything Is Illuminated’ and ‘Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close’, which often explore the impact of historical events on individuals and families.
Jorge Luis Borges
Jorge Luis Borges was an Argentine writer, essayist, and poet, considered one of the most influential figures in 20th-century literature. He is best known for his short stories, such as those collected in ‘Ficciones’ and ‘The Aleph’, which explore themes of metaphysics, identity, and the nature of reality.
Joseph Heller
Joseph Heller was an American novelist best known for his acclaimed satirical novel ‘Catch-22’, a landmark work of 20th-century literature that explores the absurdities of war and bureaucracy. He also wrote the novel ‘Something Happened’, which delves into the life of a discontented businessman.
Joseph Kanon
Joseph Kanon is an American author of historical fiction and thrillers, known for his novels ‘The Good German’ and ‘The Accomplice’, which blend elements of mystery, espionage, and the legacy of World War II.
Joy Harjo
Joy Harjo is an American poet, musician, and author, and the first Native American to be named Poet Laureate of the United States. Her acclaimed works, such as ‘An American Sunrise’ and ‘Crazy Brave’, explore her Native American heritage and the human experience.
Jude Deveraux
Jude Deveraux is an American author known for her popular historical romance novels, including ‘A Knight in Shining Armor’ and ‘The Summerhouse’, which blend elements of romance, time travel, and historical fiction.
Julia Alvarez
Julia Alvarez is a Dominican-American author known for her novels and poetry that explore themes of identity, immigration, and the experiences of the Dominican diaspora, including the acclaimed works ‘How the Garc�a Girls Lost Their Accents’ and ‘In the Time of the Butterflies’.
Julian Barnes
Julian Barnes is a British author known for his versatile and critically acclaimed works of fiction and non-fiction, including the Booker Prize-winning novel ‘The Sense of an Ending’ and the literary biography ‘Flaubert’s Parrot’.
Julian Fellowes
Julian Fellowes is a British author, screenwriter, and actor, best known as the creator and writer of the hugely popular period drama television series ‘Downton Abbey’, as well as the Oscar-winning screenplay for the film ‘Gosford Park’.
Julie Otsuka
Julie Otsuka is an American novelist known for her poetic and understated works of historical fiction, including ‘When the Emperor Was Divine’, which explores the experiences of Japanese-Americans during World War II, and ‘The Buddha in

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