3.72 avg rating — 14,758 ratings

"Murasaki Shikibu's story about a concubine in ancient Japan is often considered to be the first novel ever written."

4.21 avg rating — 387 ratings

"High Priestess Enheduana is the first author in history to have a byline and attribute her work to her own name."

3.91 avg rating — 1,882,560 ratings

"Mary Shelley's classic is often considered to be the first science fiction novel."

4.47 avg rating — 11,393,930 ratings

"J.K. Rowling was the first author in history to become a U.S.-dollar billionaire by writing books."

4.50 avg rating — 2 ratings

"Anna Atkins' self-published book of botanical specimens is considered to be the first book ever to use photographs as illustrations."