Contemporary
Contemporary anonymity is deliberate, managed, and sometimes marketed. This era holds the directory sensitive cases: living authors whose anonymity this site reports and does not investigate.
14 works.
- Later revealed
Primary Colors
The 1996 roman a clef of a Clintonesque campaign, published as Anonymous. Joe Klein denied authorship, then admitted it six months later.
- Later revealed
The Bride Stripped Bare
The 2003 erotic novel of a wife's secret life, submitted for anonymous publication. The press identified Nikki Gemmell just before publication, and she acknowledged it.
- Later revealed
Through Our Enemies' Eyes
The 2003 study of bin Laden published as 'Anonymous', required by the author's CIA employment. Michael Scheuer was identified and acknowledged the book.
- Later revealed
Imperial Hubris: Why the West Is Losing the War on Terror
The 2004 critique of the war on terror published as 'Anonymous'. Its author was identified in the press as CIA analyst Michael Scheuer, who acknowledged the book.
- Pseudonym
Recipes for Disaster: An Anarchist Cookbook
The 2004 direct action handbook published by the CrimethInc. collective, whose contributors are deliberately unnamed as a matter of principle.
- Pseudonym
Rolling Thunder
An anarchist journal of eleven issues, 2005 to 2014, published by the CrimethInc. collective with deliberately unnamed contributors.
- Still unknown
Bourbon Kid
A supernatural horror series begun in 2000 with The Book with No Name, published by an author who has remained anonymous by choice ever since.
- Still unknown
Diary of an Oxygen Thief
A 2006 confessional novel published anonymously in Amsterdam, narrated by an advertising man who recounts cruelty and comeuppance. Its author has remained anonymous.
- Pseudonym
My Immortal
The notorious 2006 to 2007 Harry Potter fan fiction posted under the handle XXXbloodyrists666XXX. A 2017 authorship claim was publicly contested and remains unverified.
- Later revealed
O: A Presidential Novel
The 2011 novel of a presidential campaign published as by Anonymous, someone 'in the room'. Press analysis identified former McCain aide Mark Salter.
- Still unknown
Lucy in the Sky
A 2012 young adult diary novel of a teenager's descent into drug use, published under the byline Anonymous in the Go Ask Alice tradition.
- Still unknown
Letting Ana Go
A 2013 young adult novel in diary form about anorexia, published by Simon and Schuster under the byline Anonymous, in the tradition of Go Ask Alice.
- Still unknown
The Incest Diary
A 2017 memoir of childhood sexual abuse by a father, published anonymously to protect its author. The anonymity is deliberate and is respected here.
- Later revealed
A Warning
The 2019 book credited to Anonymous, a senior Trump administration official. Miles Taylor revealed himself as the author in 2020.
Other eras:Before 1700 · The 1700s · The 1800s · Early 1900s · Mid 1900s