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Who is the most read author in the world?

Agatha Christie (1890 – 1976) Dame Agatha Christie currently holds the title of the world's best-selling novelist, according to Guiness World Records, as well as the most-translated author in history.

tckpublishing.com - 10 Best-Selling Authors of All Time - TCK Publishing
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10 Best-Selling Authors of All Time

Most authors dream of seeing their name on bestseller lists, but imagine what an honor it would be to see your name among the best-selling authors of all time! In this post, we’ll show you 10 authors who have sold the most books throughout history, from the days of William Shakespeare to the more recent times of J.K. Rowling.

Best-Selling Authors of All Time

Below are the 10 best-selling authors of all time.

1. William Shakespeare (1564 – 1616)

Copies sold: 2–4 billion

Often cited as the greatest writer in the English language and the bane of every high school student’s existence, William Shakespeare has an estimated 4 billion copies of his works in circulation. The “Bard of Avon” penned 39 plays (including classic works such as Romeo and Juliet, Hamlet, and Othello), 154 sonnets, and three long narrative poems.

2. Agatha Christie (1890 – 1976)

Copies sold: 2–4 billion

Dame Agatha Christie currently holds the title of the world’s best-selling novelist, according to Guiness World Records, as well as the most-translated author in history. Some of her most widely recognized titles include And Then There Were None and Murder On the Orient Express.

3. Barbara Cartland (1901 – 2000)

Copies sold: 600 million – 1 billion

Over the course of her lifetime, Dame Barbara Cartland wrote an astounding 723 books, most of which were romances. Although each individual book sold on average just over a million copies, the sheer output she produced helped her become one of the best-selling authors of all time. Some of her most popular works include A Hazard of Hearts and The Bored Bridegroom.

4. Danielle Steel (1947 – )

Copies sold: 800 million

Since her debut in 1978, Danielle Steel has written 190 books. She’s no stranger to juggling up to five projects per year, and all of her novels have been bestsellers. Most of her novels are romances that revolve around wealthy families and their personal crises, including prison, fraud, blackmail, and suicide. Some of her most popular works include Safe Harbour and Jewels.

5. Harold Robbins (1916 – 1997)

From Wikipedia

Copies sold: 750 million

His 1952 novel, A Stone for Danny Fisher, was adapted into the 1958 film King Creole starring Elvis Presley.

6. Georges Simenon (1903 – 1989)

Copies sold: 500–700 million

Georges Simenon was a Belgian author who wrote over 400 novels and numerous short stories. Among his best-known works are his 75 detective novels featuring Jules Maigret. Simenon is the 17th-most-translated author of all time.

7. Enid Blyton (1897 – 1968)

Copies sold: 600 million

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Enid Blyton was an English children’s writer whose books have sold over 600 million copies since the 1930s. Her books for children covered a wide range of themes and topics, including education, fantasy, natural history, mystery, and biblical narratives. However, her work has also been criticized for its sometimes racist and xenophobic depictions of foreigners and people of color. Nonetheless, her children’s books remain popular, with some of her best-known titles including The Famous Five, The Secret Seven, and The Five Find-Outers.

8. Sidney Sheldon (1917 – 2007)

Copies sold: 370–600 million

Sidney Sheldon got his start writing Broadway plays and Hollywood screenplays, including The Bachelor and the Bobby-Soxer and I Dream of Jeannie. But after turning 50, Sheldon switched gears and began writing romantic-suspense novels. His 18 books include bestsellers like Master of the Game and The Other Side of Midnight.

9. J.K. Rowling (1965 – )

Copies sold: 500 million

A novel written on an old typewriter took J.K. Rowling from a struggling single mother to best-selling billionaire status in just a matter of years. Her iconic Harry Potter books have sold over 500 million copies and launched a franchise of films, merchandise, and even amusement parks.

10. Gilbert Patten (1866 – 1945)

Copies sold: 125–500 million

The king of the dime novel, Gilbert Patten wrote over 75 books and numerous short stories under the pen name Burt L. Standish. He’s best known for penning the popular Frank Merriwell stories, but he also wrote many Westerns.

Who Is the Best-Selling Author Alive?

Currently, the #1 best-selling author alive is Danielle Steel. Although her books receive mixed feedback from literary critics, her romance novels have sold over 800 million copies and remain incredibly popular.

What Is the #1 Best-Selling Book of All Time?

The best-selling individual book of all time is The Hobbit by J.R.R. Tolkien, with approximately 140.6 million copies sold. Don Quixote is also often cited as the best-selling novel of all time, but Cervantes’ novel, along with many other classics, lacks comprehensive sales figures, so we don’t know for sure just how many copies were sold.

More Author Success Stories

If you enjoy reading author success stories, then you may be interested in learning more about the world’s richest authors. While there is some overlap, not all the best-selling authors from this list made the richest authors list. Many authors have found financial success through franchising and other ventures.

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tckpublishing.com - 10 Best-Selling Authors of All Time - TCK Publishing
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