Creative Freedom: Irving employed pen names to separate his works and explore different writing styles without being constrained by his established reputation. Each pseudonym allowed him to experiment with various literary voices and genres. By using different names, he had the freedom to create distinctive characters and narrative perspectives without confusing readers or overshadowing his earlier publications.
Anonymity: In the early stages of his literary career, Irving chose pen names to maintain a degree of anonymity. During his time, it was not uncommon for authors to publish works anonymously or pseudonymously to gauge public reception without immediately tying their reputations to those works. This approach offered Irving the chance to assess reader response and modify his literary approach if necessary.
Some of the notable pen names Irving used include Geoffrey Crayon, Jonathan Oldstyle, Launcelot Langstaff, and Diedrich Knickerbocker. Each pseudonym served a purpose in exploring specific themes, perspectives, and narrative techniques throughout his illustrious writing career.