Today we're exploring why some of the most famous writers in history hid their identity, never showing their true name on their work in their lifetime. The story of why is complex, and changes over time. In this video I am focusing on the development of the novel and ideas of authorship from about 1750 to about 1870, taking in the likes of Jane Austen, Charlotte Bronte and George Eliot.

If you want to learn more about this period, and the subject of authorship at the time, then I found the work of Peter Garside and Jeremy Raven indispensable in producing this video. You can read Garside's chapter on Authorship in Volume II of the Oxford History Of The Novel In English, English and British Fiction 1750-1820.

Hi, I'm Tom and I'm an antiquarian bookseller, somebody who deals in rare books and manuscripts. If you're interested in book collecting, check out my website www.tomwayling.co.uk :)