WELL-KNOWN WRITERS AND THEIR PEN NAMES

Do you know these 10 famous authors who published under pseudonyms?

Image: Aaron Burden

What do Lewis Carroll, George Sand, Mark Twain, and Dr. Seuss have in common? They are all pseudonyms for some of the most celebrated writers in history. Whether for reasons of gender discrimination, insecurity, shyness, fear of social repercussions, or simply to have more freedom to write, many authors have chosen to sign their work under different names. Read on to discover 10 writers who, by hiding their identity, changed the course of literature.

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British sisters Charlotte, Emily, and Anne Brontë hold a privileged place in the 19th-century literary canon thanks to great books such as Jane Eyre and Wuthering Heights. However, their literary careers were marked by the male names of Currer, Ellis, and Acton Bell.

Throughout their lives, the authors insisted on anonymity, and the only people who knew their true identities were their publishers. They made this decision because their writing style and ideas were not considered "feminine," and they didn't want to be subjected to the prejudice of the time. After Emily and Anne's deaths, Charlotte revealed the identity of the Bell siblings to the public. However, she continued to publish under the Currer Bell name until her last book, Villette, in 1853.

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Samuel Langhorne Clemens worked as a prospector, journalist, typographer, and river steamboat pilot before publishing the often-called "Great American Novel" The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn under the pseudonym Mark Twain.

Although the satirist used several pen names throughout his career, the one that went down in history was Mark Twain. The origin of this name is not entirely clear, since the author made sure to spread different stories that only contributed to feed the legend. The most widely accepted theory is that it is an expression used by river workers: mark twain, meaning "mark two", in reference to two fathoms, the minimum draft necessary for ships to navigate and maneuver safely.

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Few Victorian-era personalities had a more fascinating life than Mary Anne Evans. Born into a religious and aristocratic family, she opposed all conventions, writing numerous significant works. Under the male pseudonym George Eliot, Mary Anne fought for equal opportunities and marked an unprecedented turning point in Anglo-Saxon literature.

The chosen pen name derived from the first name of her then-partner, George Lewes. Regarding the name Eliot, the author said it was "a good mouth-filling, easily pronounced word." Although by that time women were signing their works, she wanted the freedom to write about subjects other than those typically considered feminine, such as lighthearted romances.

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Stephen King, the great American horror author, was already well known when he began writing under a pseudonym in the late 1970s. At that time, his publishers only allowed him to publish one book a year; moreover, King wanted to test whether his success was due to the quality of his work or to the fame of his name.

Therefore, in 1977 he published the novel Rage under the pen name Richard Bachman. He went on to publish four other novels: The Long Walk (1979), Roadwork (1981), The Running Man (1982), and Thinner (1984). He planned to release Misery (1985) under the same pseudonym, but a bookseller found similarities with his previous work and uncovered his identity. After his true identity was revealed, the writer issued a press release stating that Bachman had died of "cancer of the pseudonym, a rare form of schizonomia."

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Amantine Aurore Lucile Dupin, better known as George Sand, was one of the most popular writers of the 19th century and a prominent figure in European Romanticism. She was also a very controversial figure: she criticized the institution of marriage, smoked, and dressed in men's clothing.

An advocate of women's rights, Sand used a male pseudonym to generate confusion regarding her identity and thus be able to insert herself into the predominantly male literary circle. The origin of the chosen pen name is quite simple: George is a feminization of the classic name Georges, and Sand is a diminutive of "Sandeau," the surname of her lover at the time.

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Lewis Carroll, best known for Alice's Adventures in Wonderland, is the pseudonym used by Charles Lutwidge Dodgson, a 19th-century British Anglican priest, mathematician, photographer, and writer. The reason for choosing a pen name to publish his works was that Dodgson, as an instructor at Oxford, was a very modest gentleman who wanted to preserve his privacy.

He presented several options to his publisher who ultimately chose the one that would make him famous. This name was created by Latinizing his first name and his mother's surname: Lutwidge was Latinized as "Ludovicus," and Charles as "Carolus." The resulting "Ludovicus Carolus" was translated back into English as Lewis Carroll.

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Theodor Seuss Geisel was an American writer and cartoonist, mostly known for his children's books written under his pen name, Dr. Seuss. Even as early as his time contributing to his college newspaper, the Dartmouth Jack-O-Lantern, Theodor used his mother's surname, Seuss, as a pseudonym.

The "Dr." came a few years later and is a tribute to his father's wishes, who wanted him to earn a Ph.D. at Oxford. The first time he signed his work as Dr. Seuss was for the humor magazine Judge, where he had begun working in 1927. Over the years, Dr. Seuss published more than 60 children's books, which were translated into more than 20 languages.

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Eric Arthur Blair, better known by the pseudonym George Orwell, was a British writer, novelist, essayist, and journalist. His work, fundamental to 20th-century literature, includes masterpieces such as the allegorical novel Animal Farm and the dystopian novel 1984.

In 1933, when he was about to publish Down and Out in Paris and London, Blair decided to use a pen name to spare potential embarrassment to his parents. Among several options, he finally decided on "George" —inspired by the patron saint of England—, and "Orwell" —in homage to the Orwell River in Suffolk, one of his favorite places.

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Louisa May Alcott is best known for her juvenile novels such as Little Women and Good Wives. However, the American author, who was an abolitionist and a feminist, also wrote sensation stories, gothic thrillers, and adult novels anonymously or under pen names, such as A. M. Barnard.

It is believed that Alcott published those texts under pseudonyms to preserve her reputation as a juvenile writer. These stories were less optimistic and followed more obscure themes, such as incest, murder, secret identities, sensuality, and suicide. Some historians even claim she wrote one of the first works of detective fiction in American literature —preceded only by Edgar Allan Poe's Dupin stories.

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This list would not be complete if we didn’t include Daniel Foe. The 18th-century English novelist, journalist, and spy is probably the writer who signed under the largest number of different pseudonyms during his literary career.

The creator of Robinson Crusoe used at least 198 different aliases to write 400 works. Although the most popular is Daniel Defoe —he added the "De" to sound more aristocratic—, the author of numerous political pamphlets also signed works with pen names such as Eye Witness, Merchant, and Heliostrapolis, secretary to the Emperor of the Moon.

Hospital secrets

What is a "Code Gray" and what you should know if you hear it at the E.R.

A trip to the emergency room can be stressful enough without hearing doctors and nurses speak a language that sounds like a secret code. One minute, someone is asking for medication "STAT," the next there’s a "Code Gray," and another patient is suddenly "NPO." What do those words really mean? Some are official medical terms, others are insider slang, but they all help hospital staff communicate quickly when every second counts. Here are 10 of those codes explained.

The E.R. can be hectic and unpredictable. Most patients are frightened or uncomfortable, but now and then someone becomes aggressive because of pain, confusion, mental illness, or the effects of alcohol or other substances. That’s when you can hear "Code Gray" announced over the speakers.

The code is used to summon security officers to help manage a violent or combative situation. While color codes vary from one hospital to another, Code Gray commonly signals that staff needs extra assistance to protect patients, visitors, and healthcare workers. Even if you know it now, most people in the waiting room never know what happened, and that’s exactly the point.

You have a scheduled surgery, you’re in your bed waiting to be taken to the surgery room, and you ask for a cup of coffee to make the wait lighter. The nurse will probably tell you you’re an NPO. You may think it’s serious, but it’s simply a procedure.

"NPO" is an abbreviation that comes from the Latin phrase Nil Per Os, which means "nothing by mouth." It tells patients they cannot eat, drink, or sometimes even take medication until doctors say it’s safe. The rule is most common before surgery or certain medical tests, when food or liquids could increase the risk of complications or alter the results. It may be frustrating, but it’s an important part of keeping patients safe.

You’ve probably been through the experience of visiting an emergency room, either to get checked or to visit a loved one. In that part of the hospital where everyone is rushing to save lives, you’ve probably heard a doctor asking for the R.C.P. cart or medication "STAT!" It sounds urgent, and that's because it is.

The expression comes from the Latin statim, which means "immediately" or "without delay." Hospitals have used Latin medical terms for centuries, but STAT is one of the few that remains part of everyday conversation. When a doctor says it, the request jumps to the top of the priority list. It doesn’t always refer to a life-or-death situation, but it does mean the medical team needs something done as quickly as possible.

Newborns are always a reason to celebrate at the hospital. Parents usually rest happily next to their child as they receive congratulations from close relatives. However, the hospital is always prepared to handle extremely rare emergencies under "code pink."

If you hear a "Code Pink," it usually means a baby or young child is suspected of being abducted from the hospital. Within seconds, security officers respond, exits may be monitored or blocked, and staff begins following carefully rehearsed procedures. Although different hospitals sometimes use different color codes, Code Pink has become widely recognized across North America as one of the most serious alerts a hospital can issue.

If you’ve ever spent a few days in the hospital, you’ve probably noticed that some patients are walking up and down the halls, while others need help just getting out of bed. When a nurse refers to someone as a "walkie-talkie," it’s actually good news.

This informal expression refers to patients who can walk on their own, use the bathroom without assistance, and handle most basic tasks independently. It’s not an official medical term, of course, but it’s commonly used among healthcare workers because it quickly tells the next shift that the patient requires less hands-on care than many others.

As nurses change shifts, you’ll often hear them give a quick report about each patient. One person may only need medication, while another is described as a "total."

The term is short for a patient who requires total care. They may need help eating, bathing, getting dressed, turning in bed, or moving from one place to another. Although the expression sounds impersonal, it’s simply a practical way for caregivers to communicate how much assistance someone needs.

Most people hear "frequent flyer" and think of an airline reward program. And that’s correct, but in an emergency room, the phrase has a very different meaning.

A frequent flyer is an informal nickname for patients who repeatedly return to the hospital, often due to chronic illness, recurring medical conditions, or other ongoing health issues. Behind the light-hearted nickname is often a difficult reality. Many of these patients are simply dealing with medical problems that require regular emergency care, and the expression is just a way to make the experience a bit lighter among the familiar faces of doctors and nurses.

Not all codes are for patients. The next time you’re in a hospital, look closely at what the nurse is pushing from room to room. It may look like a small rolling desk with a computer on top. Staff often call it a "WOW," short for "workstation on wheels."

As hospitals switched from paper charts to electronic medical records, these mobile computers became essential. Nurses use them to review test results, scan medications, update patient charts, and check doctors’ orders without leaving the bedside. The name sounds funny, but the technology helps caregivers spend more time with patients instead of walking back and forth to a nursing station.

After getting a shot or having blood drawn, most patients never think about where the used needle ends up. It certainly doesn't go into an ordinary trash can.

Hospitals place needles, scalpels, and other sharp medical instruments into special containers designed to prevent accidental injuries. These sturdy, puncture-resistant boxes are sealed when full and safely disposed of in accordance with strict health regulations. This not only protects nurses, but it also protects cleaning crews, waste handlers, and even the public from dangerous needle sticks. It’s one of the most important safety measures in every hospital, even though most patients never notice it.

If you’ve ever watched a medical drama, you've probably seen a patient become so agitated that several staff members rush into the room. In situations like that, a doctor or nurse may ask for a "B-52." But the name has nothing to do with numbers themselves; it actually comes from a medicine.

B-52 is hospital slang for a fast-acting injection used to calm down patients who are severely combative or at risk of harming themselves or others. The nickname comes from a commonly used combination of medications that usually include diphenhydramine, haloperidol, and lorazepam. It’s strictly reserved for when other methods of calming the patient haven’t worked.