Premise: Aziyadé (1879; also known as Constantinople) is a novel by French author Pierre Loti. Originally published anonymously, it was his first book, and along with "Le Mariage de Loti" (1880, also published anonymously), would introduce the author to the French public and quickly propel him to fame; his anonymous persona did not last long.
Hypothesis: People originally thought Pierre Loti was a female author.