Autobiography, Pseudonyms, Multiple Personality: Title pages that omit the author’s real name may be a sign that the author has multiple personality.

When the title page of an autobiography—by a famous author or anyone who is best known by a pen name or pseudonym of any kind—omits the person’s real name, most readers don’t give it a second thought.

But they should, since autobiographies are nonfiction, and when you read nonfiction, the least you have a right to expect is that the title page will give the author’s real name.

For example, the title page of “The Autobiography of Frank Richards” (search recent posts) did not give the author’s real name, Charles Hamilton. Why didn’t it? Because, psychologically speaking, it was not written by Charles Hamilton. It was written by his Frank Richards alternate personality.

In short, whenever the title page of an autobiography omits the author’s real name, it may be a sign of multiple personality. This is not, by itself, proof of multiple personality, but should make you wonder.