Goodreads Librarians Group discussion

https://www.goodreads.com/work/editio...

It seems Pope John Paul I wrote these letters before he became pope. Should the primary author be Albino Luciani, or should Pope John Paul I be the primary author on all editions, with his pope name as on the cover and Albino Luciani as secondary authors?

In other words, is the pseudonym rule applicable in this case, or the rule concerning author names in different languages?

As you can see, many editions do not have the same primary author and some do not have Pope John Paul I added.

Were they first published (rather than written) before he became pope? Can we determine what name was on the cover of the earliest publication of the work?

The earliest edition on GR is from 1976, and that is also the date Wikipedia gives as pub date.

He became pope in August 1978.

The letters were first published in English in 1978, when he was elected pope: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Illustr...

lethe wrote: "The earliest edition on GR is from 1976"

Yes, but the cover says pope, so the cover cannot really be from then.

If it was published then, presumably the original cover had his name at the time?

On Worldcat, the responsibility is for Albino Luciani (scroll down for info on the original pub date):

https://www.worldcat.org/title/illust...

This is an English edition with copyright 1976 (both author names incorrect): https://www.worldcat.org/title/illust...

https://www.worldcat.org/title/illust...

If it was originally published under Albino Luciani, then I see no reason why that would not be the primary author on all editions. Later editions published under Pope John Paul I (or Paus Johannes Paulus I, etc.) should have the cover name as second author.

Thanks!