Anon, Pseud, and Ghost

This book explores the effects of author attribution of published works with names which are not those of the individuals who composed them. There are distinct repercussions for consumerism as contemporary buyer behaviour is linked to our self-perception. The author name performs as a brand which denotes a message and must therefore appeal to the identities of its readers. Therefore, the author identity may be manipulated merely to improve commercial prospects, or authors must create market-led titles relating to them as a brand. More famous faces with commercial prospects disguise the literary talent of their ghosts. This all raises concerns about the consequences for a romanticised literary tradition and publishing culture, where content is being valued over commerciality when publishers have been commonly thought of as trusted gatekeepers. When an author's identity is hidden, quality and content are at the risk of being undermined, which may have larger social consequences.