Books play a significant role in our life. It is said that “When you open a book, you open a new world”. I believe that everyone would agree with this statement. Each tale of fiction and nonfiction has touched millions of hearts. Even in today’s era, when the majority is inclined to video games and online streaming, there are millions of people who still prefer to read.
Are you one of them? If that’s a yes then let’s find out the top 10 best selling novels.
1. Don Quixote
This is a Spanish novel written by Miguel de Cervantes. It was published in two parts, in 1605 and 1615. It is considered to be the most influential work of literature from the Spanish age and literary canon. The book has sold 500 million copies worldwide.
It’s also labelled as “the first modern novel”, and thought by many to be the best literary work ever written .By the 20th century, the novel was thought of as one of the foundations of modern literature. Pretty cool isn’t it?
Published in : 1605(part one)- 1615 (second part)
1612(part one)- 1620 (second part)(published in English)
Language : Early Modern Spanish
Copies Sold: 500 Million
2. A Tale of Two Cities
This 1859 historical novel by, Charles Dickens, was set in London and Paris before and during the French Revolution. It tells the story of the plight of the French peasantry demoralized by the French aristocracy in the years leading up to the revolution. The corresponding brutality showed by the revolutionaries toward the former aristocrats in the early years of the revolution, and many unflattering social parallels with life in London during the same time period.
In 2003, the book was ranked 63rd on The BBC’s, The Big Red Poll, and inspired Johnathan Nolan’s screenplay for The Dark Knight Rises.
Published : 1859
Language : English
Copies Sold: 200 Million
3. The Lord of the Rings
The Lord of The Rings is a high intensity fantasy novel written by J.R.R Tolkien, and is the sequel to his first book, The Hobbit. It has converted the book into a multi-million dollar earning movie series with the same name. They’ve all been made into award-winning films and the books were named Britain’s best novel of all time in the BBC’s The Big Read in 2003.
Published : 29 July 1954
Language : English
Copies Sold: 150 Million
4. The Little Prince
“The Little Prince”, written by French aristocrat and writer Antoine de Saint-Exupéry. Very few stories are as widely read and as universally cherished by children and adults alike as The Little Prince. The Little prince represents the free minds of children and their constant urge to ask questions, engage the invisible, and seek the mysteries of the universe. The book has been translated into 300 languages and dialects.It follows a boy who visits different planets in space and addresses themes of loneliness, love, friendship and loss.
Language : English and French
Published : 6 April 1943
Copies Sold: 142 Million
5. Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone
The fantasy novel by British Author, J.K. Rowling, is the first novel in the Harry Potter series, and Rowling’s debut. We all love Harry Potter and know of his journey, considered as one of the biggest young adult books of all time. The book went on to win a ton of British and American book awards, and reached the top of the New York Times list of best-selling fiction in 1999; where it pretty much stayed until 2000.It’s been translated into 80 languages, and was the first of all the series to be made into a full length feature film of the same name. And there were a lot more novels which came after this one.
Published : 26 June 1997
Language : English
Copies Sold: 120 Million
6. And Then There Were None
“And Then There Were None” is a mystery novel by English writer, Agatha Christie.The book was first published in 1939, and since then it has been seen as one of the best thriller novels of all time.Ten strangers, each from a different background receives an invitation from a Mr. or Mrs. U.N. Owen, or a Mrs. Constance Culming ton, to come to the island for a weekend. However, soon they realize that they are all alone standing face to face with death.The book has been made into a blockbuster film and a famous HBO show.
Publication date: 6 November 1939
Language : English
Copies Sold: 100 Million
7. The Hobbit
At the 7th place, we have the very famous, The Hobbit by J. R. R. Tolkien. The child fantasy novel, written by J.R.R. Tolkien, was first published on 21 September 1937, and was quickly nominated for the Carnegie Medal, and awarded a prize for best juvenile fiction, by the New York Herald Tribune. It is set in the pre-timings of ‘Lord of the Rings’ the book has been made into a blockbuster film with the same name. The Hobbit is the first book of the series of three books.
Publication date: 21 September 1937
Language : English
Copies Sold: 100 Million
8. Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland
Notably seen as one of the best children’s novels, ‘Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland’ by Lewis Carroll comes at 8th place in the list.The book was first published in 1865, and since then it has sold 100 million copies worldwide.The book has been made into several blockbuster films, animated films, and cartoon series.
Published: 26 November 1865
Language : English
Copies Sold: 100 Million
9. The Lion, The Witch, and the Wardrobe
One of the most well-known books on our list, it was released in 1950 and written by children’s novelist, C.S. Lewis. The fantasy novel was best known as being part of the “Chronicles of Narnia“, and was originally the first book in the Chronicles until recent years, where it was changed to second.Lewis wrote the book for his goddaughter, Lucy Lewis, and the book went on to be featured in Time Magazines, 100 Best Young-Adult books of all time.
Also, in 2003, the book was ranked ninth in the BBC’s, The Big Red Poll.
Published : 16 October 1950
Language : English
Copies Sold: 85 Million
10. She: A History of Adventure
Written by English novelist H.Rider Haggard, “She: A History of Adventure,” was extremely popular upon its release in 1886, and has never been out of print since. The story is about a Victorian professor and his adopted son who travels to Africa for a quest of a lost civilization. On finding the lost civilization, they realize that it is ruled by an immortal woman of extraordinary beauty, power, and cruelty. There definitely should be more more of such novels.
Published : 24 December 1886
Language : English
Copies Sold: 83 Million
Wrapping Up
If you’re a bookworm and you enjoyed reading about these novels and want more related to books, let us know.
Read more about Wacky Facts on F.R.I.E.N.D.S.
