Mystery Initials

Updated August 5, 2020 | Infoplease Staff

Full names of famous authors

tracked down by Holly Hartman

Maybe "John Ronald Reuel" didn't fit on the book cover?!

Ever wonder what the two R's stand for in J. R. R. Tolkien? Curious about whether S. E. Hinton is a man or a woman? Want to know J. K. Rowling's elusive middle name? Read on to solve those mysteries—and get on a first-name basis with other favorite children's authors.

• J. M. Barrie
  Known for: Peter Pan
  Full name: James Matthew Barrie


• L. Frank Baum
  Known for: The Wonderful Wizard of Oz
  Full name: Lyman Frank Baum


• L. M. Boston
  Known for: Green Knowe series
  Full name: Lucy Maria Boston


• S. E. Hinton
  Known for: The Outsiders
  Full name: Susan Eloise Hinton


• E. L. Konigsburg
  Known for: From the Mixed-Up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler
  Full name: Elaine Lobl Konigsburg


• C. S. Lewis
  Known for: The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe
  Full name: Clive Staples Lewis


• A. A. Milne
  Known for: Winnie the Pooh
  Full name: Alan Alexander Milne


• F. N. Monjo
  Known for: The Drinking Gourd
  Full name: Ferdinand Nicholas Monjo


• L. M. Montgomery
  Known for: Anne of Green Gables
  Full name: Lucy Maud Montgomery


• E. Nesbit
  Known for: Five Children and It
  Full name: Edith Nesbit


• H. A. Rey
  Known for: Curious George
  Full name: Hans Augusto Rey


• J. K. Rowling
  Known for: Harry Potter series
  Full name: Joanne Kathleen Rowling


• R. L. Stine
  Known for: Goosebumps series
  Full name: Robert Lawrence Stine


• J. R. R. Tolkien
  Known for: The Hobbit
  Full name: John Ronald Reuel Tolkien


• P. L. Travers
  Known for: Mary Poppins
  Full name: Pamela Lyndon Travers


• E. B. White
  Known for: Charlotte's Web
  Full name: Elwyn Brooks White


• T. H. White
  Known for: The Sword in the Stone
  Full name: Terence Hanbury White