List of best-selling fiction authors: Difference between revisions

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→‎List of best-selling fiction authors: remove low estimates that are >10 years older than the high - keeping them in is deceptive (as sales continue)
Undid revision 242719024 by Fish and karate (talk) Please discuss first at talk page.
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|{{sortname|Harold|Robbins}}
|{{sortname|Harold|Robbins}}
|600 million<ref>[http://www.chron.com/cgi-bin/auth/story.mpl/content/chronicle/special/yearend/stories/deaths////zest-obits-1997.html The Houston Chronicle] on Harold Robbins: "His books sold more than 600 million copies." ([[24 December]] [[1997]])</ref>
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|750 million<ref>[http://www.usatoday.com/printedition/life/20071009/d_robbinsrev.art.htm USA Today] on Harold Robbins: "Starting in 1948, he sold 750 million books, including megasellers such as The Carpetbaggers, A Stone for Danny Fisher and The Betsy." ([[9 October]] [[2007]])</ref>
|750 million<ref>[http://www.usatoday.com/printedition/life/20071009/d_robbinsrev.art.htm USA Today] on Harold Robbins: "Starting in 1948, he sold 750 million books, including megasellers such as The Carpetbaggers, A Stone for Danny Fisher and The Betsy." ([[9 October]] [[2007]])</ref>
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|{{sortname|Georges|Simenon}}
|{{sortname|Georges|Simenon}}
|300 million<ref>[http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,906881,00.html Time magazine] on Georges Simenon: "All told, more than 300 million copies of Simenon books have been printed, including translations into 47 languages." ([[19 February]] [[1973]])</ref>
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|700 million<ref>[http://online.wsj.com/article/SB104916057186893100.html?mod=googlewsj The Wall Street Journal] on Georges Simenon: "In his lifetime Simenon published some 570 books, using 17 pen names, which have sold more than 700 million copies in 40 countries and were translated into 57 languages." ([[1 April]] [[2003]])</ref>
|700 million<ref>[http://online.wsj.com/article/SB104916057186893100.html?mod=googlewsj The Wall Street Journal] on Georges Simenon: "In his lifetime Simenon published some 570 books, using 17 pen names, which have sold more than 700 million copies in 40 countries and were translated into 57 languages." ([[1 April]] [[2003]])</ref>
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|{{sortname|Danielle|Steel}}
|{{sortname|Danielle|Steel}}
|380 million<ref>[http://www.cnn.com/books/news/9803/31/danielle.steel/index.html CNN] on Danielle Steel: "The 50-year-old writer, who has sold some 380 million books worldwide [...]" ([[31 March]] [[1998]])</ref>
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|560 million<ref>[http://www.reuters.com/article/peopleNews/idUSN2145543420080222 Reuters] on Danielle Steel: "Steel has since sold more than 560 million books and on Tuesday will publish her 72nd novel "Honor Thyself."" ([[21 February]] [[2008]])</ref>
|560 million<ref>[http://www.reuters.com/article/peopleNews/idUSN2145543420080222 Reuters] on Danielle Steel: "Steel has since sold more than 560 million books and on Tuesday will publish her 72nd novel "Honor Thyself."" ([[21 February]] [[2008]])</ref>
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|{{sortname|Horatio|Alger, Jr.}}
|{{sortname|Horatio|Alger, Jr.}}
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|200 million<ref>[http://nl.newsbank.com/nl-search/we/Archives?p_product=CKOR&p_multi=CKOB&p_theme=ckor&p_action=search&p_maxdocs=200&p_topdoc=1&p_text_direct-0=11620D6224F9DDB8&p_field_direct-0=document_id&p_perpage=10&p_sort=YMD_date:D&s_trackval=GooglePM The Chinook Observer] on Horatio Alger, Jr.: "Americans bought 200 million copies of his dime novels -- with intriguing titles like Raggedy Dick and Sink or Swim. " ([[30 March]] [[2005]])</ref>
|200 million<ref>[http://nl.newsbank.com/nl-search/we/Archives?p_product=CKOR&p_multi=CKOB&p_theme=ckor&p_action=search&p_maxdocs=200&p_topdoc=1&p_text_direct-0=11620D6224F9DDB8&p_field_direct-0=document_id&p_perpage=10&p_sort=YMD_date:D&s_trackval=GooglePM The Chinook Observer] on Horatio Alger, Jr.: "Americans bought 200 million copies of his dime novels -- with intriguing titles like Raggedy Dick and Sink or Swim. " ([[30 March]] [[2005]])</ref>
|400 million<ref>[http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,903859,00.html Time magazine] on Horatio Alger: "[...] that have sold from 100 million to 400 million copies, depending on which literary historian you believe." ([[12 February]] [[1973]])</ref>
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|[[Dime novel]]s
|[[Dime novel]]s
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|{{sortname|R. L.|Stine}}
|{{sortname|R. L.|Stine}}
|100 million<ref>[http://www.hindu.com/lr/2003/09/07/stories/2003090700040100.htm The Hindu] on R. L. Stine: "As R.L. Stine points out (and he should know, having sold over a 100 million copies of over 160 different spooky stories)" ([[7 September]] [[2003]])</ref>
|100 million<ref>[http://www.hindu.com/lr/2003/09/07/stories/2003090700040100.htm The Hindu] on R. L. Stine: "As R.L. Stine points out (and he should know, having sold over a 100 million copies of over 160 different spooky stories)" ([[7 September]] [[2003]])</ref>
|400 million<ref>[http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/08099/871281-42.stm Pittsburgh Post-Gazette] on R. L. Stine: "Altogether, Stine has sold more than 400 million books." ([[8 April]] [[2007]])</ref>
|400 million<ref>[http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/08099/871281-42.stm Pittsburh Post-Gazette] on R. L. Stine: "Altogether, Stine has sold more than 400 million books." ([[8 April]] [[2007]])</ref>
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|''[[Goosebumps]]'', ''[[Fear Street]]''
|''[[Goosebumps]]'', ''[[Fear Street]]''
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|{{sortname|Stephen|King}}
|{{sortname|Stephen|King}}
|300 million<ref>[http://www.cbc.ca/hottype/season98-99/98-10-13.html CBC] on Stephen King: "He has sold almost 300 million books worldwide and many of his stories have been made into blockbuster films. " ([[13 October]] [[1998]])</ref>
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|350 milion<ref>[http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/low/programmes/newsnight/6174256.stm BBC] on Stephen King: "But - after selling 350 million copies of his horror and suspense books - the author's latest work draws on a series of events which almost broke him." ([[22 November]] [[2006]])</ref>
|350 milion<ref>[http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/low/programmes/newsnight/6174256.stm BBC] on Stephen King: "But - after selling 350 million copies of his horror and suspense books - the author's latest work draws on a series of events which almost broke him." ([[22 November]] [[2006]])</ref>
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|{{sortname|Sidney|Sheldon}}
|{{sortname|Sidney|Sheldon}}
|200 million<ref>[http://www.variety.com/article/VR1117862789.html?categoryid=2&cs=1 Variety] on Sidney Sheldon: "A NEW MILESTONE FOR Sidney Sheldon, who has sold more than 200 million books" ([[6 October]] [[1995]])</ref>
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|300 million<ref>[http://www.columbusdispatch.com/live/contentbe/EPIC_shim.php?story=243459 The Columbus Dispatch] on Sidney Sheldon: "He was one of the world's most translated authors, selling more than 300 million books in 180 countries." ([[January 31]] [[2007]])</ref>
|300 million<ref>[http://www.columbusdispatch.com/live/contentbe/EPIC_shim.php?story=243459 The Columbus Dispatch] on Sidney Sheldon: "He was one of the world's most translated authors, selling more than 300 million books in 180 countries." ([[January 31]] [[2007]])</ref>
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|{{sortname|Janet|Dailey}}
|{{sortname|Janet|Dailey}}
|200 million<ref>[http://www.chron.com/cgi-bin/auth/story/content/chronicle/features/books/97/08/03/romances.html The Houston Chronicle] on Janet Dailey: "Dailey has written 93 books over two decades. Sales of her books, which have been sold in 98 countries and 19 languages, have surpassed 200 million copies." ([[31 July]] [[1997]])</ref>
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|300 million<ref>[http://books.google.com/books?id=juPQyVJrsFAC&pg=PA159&dq=%22300+million+copies%22&lr=&as_brr=3&ei=AZ_0R5i8B5XOywS-5vGwDg&sig=iaVGvcvnYqrw3WPgU_JpdZwJLXY Pamela Regis in ''A Natural History of the Romance Novel''] page 159 on Janet Dailey: "There are 300 million copies of her books in print, making her the third best-selling
|300 million<ref>[http://books.google.com/books?id=juPQyVJrsFAC&pg=PA159&dq=%22300+million+copies%22&lr=&as_brr=3&ei=AZ_0R5i8B5XOywS-5vGwDg&sig=iaVGvcvnYqrw3WPgU_JpdZwJLXY Pamela Regis in ''A Natural History of the Romance Novel''] page 159 on Janet Dailey: "There are 300 million copies of her books in print, making her the third best-selling
author of all time" (2007)</ref>
author of all time" (2007)</ref>
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|{{sortname|Robert|Ludlum}}
|{{sortname|Robert|Ludlum}}
|110 million<ref>[http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/entertainment/1217668.stm BBC] on Robert Ludlum: "He has sold more than 110 million books in 40 countries and 32 languages." ([[13 March]] [[2001]])</ref>
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|290 million<ref>[http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/entertainment/4142130.stm BBC] on Robert Ludlum: "The author, who died in 2001, has sold more than 290 million books worldwide." ([[11 August]] [[2005]])</ref>
|290 million<ref>[http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/entertainment/4142130.stm BBC] on Robert Ludlum: "The author, who died in 2001, has sold more than 290 million books worldwide." ([[11 August]] [[2005]])</ref>
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|{{sortname|Richard|Scarry}}
|{{sortname|Richard|Scarry}}
|100 million<ref>[http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9D04E0D91030F930A35756C0A962958260 New York Times] obituary of Richard Scarry: "...more than 100 million Scarry books have been sold in the United States and other countries." ([[3 May]] [[1994]])</ref>
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|150 million<ref>[http://www.worldscreen.com/newscurrent.php?filename=cookiejar040207.htm Worldscreen] on Richard Scarry: "More than 150 million books by Richard Scarry have been sold worldwide and translated into 30 languages." ([[2 April]] [[2007]])</ref>
|150 million<ref>[http://www.worldscreen.com/newscurrent.php?filename=cookiejar040207.htm Worldscreen] on Richard Scarry: "More than 150 million books by Richard Scarry have been sold worldwide and translated into 30 languages." ([[2 April]] [[2007]])</ref>
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|{{sortname|Catherine|Cookson}}
|{{sortname|Catherine|Cookson}}
|100 million<ref>[http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/low/uk_news/110851.stm BBC] obituary of Catehrine Cookson: "Even though her first novel was not published until almost halfway through her life, Dame Catherine sold more than 100 million books in 30 different countries." ([[11 June]] [[1998]]</ref>
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|120 million<ref>[http://www.hastingschronicle.com/features/catherine-cookson-her-life-and-husband/ Hastings Chronicle] on Catherine Cookson: "When Dame Catherine died, in June 1998, she had completed 103 novels, sold over 120 million books worldwide and had £20 million in the bank - all of which went to charities." (2008)</ref>
|120 million<ref>[http://www.hastingschronicle.com/features/catherine-cookson-her-life-and-husband/ Hastings Chronicle] on Catherine Cookson: "When Dame Catherine died, in June 1998, she had completed 103 novels, sold over 120 million books worldwide and had £20 million in the bank - all of which went to charities." (2008)</ref>
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Revision as of 11:17, 3 October 2008

This page provides a list of best-selling fiction authors to date and in any language. While a precise number for any given author is near impossible, the list is based on approximate numbers provided or repeated by reliable sources. "Best-selling" refers to the estimated number of copies sold of all fiction books written or co-written by an author. To keep the length of the list manageable, only authors with estimated sales of at least 100 million books are included. Authors of comic books are not included. For a few authors, including Miguel de Cervantes, Alexandre Dumas, père, Jack Higgins and Leon Uris, no exact figure could be found, although there are indications that they too have more than 100 million copies of their work in print. They have not been included in the below table.

This is a dynamic list and may never be able to satisfy particular standards for completeness. You can help by adding missing items with reliable sources.

List of best-selling fiction authors

Author Min. estimated sales Max. estimated sales Original language Genre or title Number of books Nationality
William Shakespeare 2 billion[1] English Plays and poetry English
Agatha Christie 100 million[2] 2 billion[3] English Detectives, Marple, Poirot 85 English
Barbara Cartland 500 million[4] 1 billion[5] English Romance 723 British
Harold Robbins 600 million[6] 750 million[7] English Adventure 23 American
Georges Simenon 300 million[8] 700 million[9] French Detectives, Maigret 570 Belgian
Enid Blyton 300 million[10] 600 million[11] English Children's literature, Noddy 800 British
Danielle Steel 380 million[12] 560 million[13] English Romance 72 American
Dr. Seuss 100 million[14] 500 million[15] English Children's literature 44 American
Gilbert Patten 125 million[16] 500 million[17] English Adolescent adventures 209 American
Leo Tolstoy 413 million[18] Russian Russian
J. K. Rowling 350 million[19] 400 million[20] English Harry Potter 9 British
Jackie Collins 250 million[21] 400 million[22] English Romance 25 British
Horatio Alger, Jr. 200 million[23] 400 million[24] English Dime novels 135 American
R. L. Stine 100 million[25] 400 million[26] English Goosebumps, Fear Street 160 American
Aleksandr Sergeyevich Pushkin 357 million[18] Russian Russian
Stephen King 300 million[27] 350 milion[28] English Horror, Fantasy 70 American
Louis L'Amour 230 million[29] 330 million[30] English Western American
Dean Koontz 200 million[31] 325 million[32] English Thriller 60 American
Erle Stanley Gardner 100 million[33] 325 million[34] English Mystery, Perry Mason 140 American
Sidney Sheldon 200 million[35] 300 million[36] English Suspense 19 American
Yong Jin 100 million[37] 300 million[38] Chinese Wuxia 15 Hong Kong Chinese
Jirō Akagawa 300 million[39] Japanese Mystery 500+ Japanese
Janet Dailey 200 million[40] 300 million[41] English Romance 93 American
Nora Roberts 145 million[42] 300 million[43] English Romance 145 American
Robert Ludlum 110 million[44] 290 million[45] English Espionage 40 American
Frédéric Dard 200 million[46] 290 million[47] French Detective, San Antonio 300 Swiss
Stan and Jan Berenstain 200 million[48] 260 million[49] English Berenstain Bears 300+ American
John Grisham 100 million[50] 250 million[51] English Legal thriller 22 American
Zane Grey 250 million[52] English Western American
Karl May 100 million[53] 200 million[54] German Western, Adventure 80 German
J. R. R. Tolkien 100 million[55] 200 million[56] English The Lord of the Rings, The Hobbit, classical fantasy 36 British
Mickey Spillane 100 million[57] 200 million[58] English Detective, Mike Hammer American
C. S. Lewis 100 million[59] 200 million[60] English The Chronicles of Narnia 38 British
Kyotaro Nishimura 200 million[61] Japanese Mystery 400+ Japanese
Charles Dickens 200 million[62] English Literature British
Ann M. Martin 172 million[63] 180 million[64] English The Baby-sitters Club 335 American
Ryōtarō Shiba 180 million[65] Japanese Historical 350 Japanese
Irving Wallace 180 million[66] English Suspense American
Arthur Hailey 150 million[67] 170 million[68] English Thriller 11 American
Gérard de Villiers 150 million[69] French Detectives, SAS 170 French
Beatrix Potter 100 million[70] 150 million[71] English Peter Rabbit 23 British
Michael Crichton 150 million[72] 150 million[73] English Techno Thriller 25 American
Richard Scarry 100 million[74] 150 million[75] English Illustrated children's books 250 American
James Patterson 100 million[76] 150 million[77] English Thriller 48 American
Clive Cussler 40 million[78] 150 million[79] English Adventure, Dirk Pitt 37 American
Alistair McLean 150 million[80] English Adventure,Thriller Wartime stories 32 British
Astrid Lindgren 100 million[81] 145 million[82] Swedish Children's literature 100 Swedish
Eiji Yoshikawa 120 million[83] Japanese Musashi 7 Japanese
Jeffrey Archer 100 million[84] 120 million[85] English Crime Thriller 30 British
Catherine Cookson 100 million[86] 120 million[87] English Romance 103 British
Norman Bridwell 100 million[88] 110 million[89] English Clifford the Big Red Dog 80 American
Paulo Coelho 92 million[90] 100 million[91] Portuguese Literature, The Alchemist Brazilian
Roald Dahl 100 million[92] 100 million[93] English Children's literature 50 British
Evan Hunter 100 million[94] 100 million[95] English Detective (Ed McBain) 94 American
Andrew Neiderman 100 million[96] 100 million[97] English V. C. Andrews, The Devil's Advocate 60 American
Roger Hargreaves 100 million[98] 100 million[99] English Children's literature, Mr. Men British
Anne Rice 100 million[100] 100 million[101] English Thriller, vampires 27 American
Robin Cook 100 million[102] 100 million[103] English Medical Thriller 27 American
Wilbur Smith 100 million[104] 100 million[105] English African Adventure 32 Zambian
Erskine Caldwell 80 million[106] 100 million[107] English Literature 25 American
Eleanor Hibbert 100 million[108] 100 million[109] English Romance, historical, suspense 200 British
Lewis Carroll 100 million[110] English Alice in Wonderland 5 British
Denise Robins 100 million[111] English Romance 200 British
Xueqin Cao 100 million[112] Chinese Dream of the Red Chamber Chinese
Ian Fleming 100 million[113] 100 million[114] English James Bond 14 British
Hermann Hesse 100 million[115] 100 million[116] German Literature German-Swiss
Rex Stout 100 million[117] 100 million[118] English Nero Wolfe 50 American
Anne Golon 100 million[119] 100 million[120] French Angélique 14 French
Ken Follett 90 million[121] 100 million[122] English Spy Thriller,Historical Thriller 30 British
Frank G. Slaughter 100 million[123] English Medical 62 American
Edgar Rice Burroughs 100 million[124] English Tarzan, Barsoom American
John Creasey 100 million[125] English Crime thriller 600 British
James Michener 100 million[126] English Historical 47 American
Yasuo Uchida 100 million[127] Japanese Mystery 130+ Japanese
Seiichi Morimura 100 million[127] Japanese Mystery 350+ Japanese
Debbie Macomber 60 million[128] 100 million[129] English Romance American

See also

Notes

  1. ^ Times Online on William Shakespeare: "Christie sold more than two billion books, translated into 103 languages. Only the Bible and Shakespeare’s works are said to have sold more." (September 14 2005)
  2. ^ The Telegraph on Agatha Christie: "Christie, who was born in nearby Torquay in 1890 and wrote some 75 detective novels that sold more than 100 million copies, bought Greenway as a summer home in 1938." (7 December 1999)
  3. ^ International Herald Tribune on Agatha Christie: "With a billion books sold in English and a further billion in translations into more then 40 languages, Agatha Christie remains the most widely read author in history and the undisputed "Queen of Crime"." (November 27 1999)
  4. ^ The Telegraph on Barbara Cartland: "Barbara Cartland, who, we are informed (on www.condor-sj.com), 'is the most widely read author in the world with more than 500 million books in print'?" (25 February 2007)
  5. ^ CBS News on Barbara Cartland: "Dame Barbara Cartland, 98. Considered the world's most prolific author and Britain's queen of romantic fiction, with total sales of 1 billion books." (December 20 2000)
  6. ^ The Houston Chronicle on Harold Robbins: "His books sold more than 600 million copies." (24 December 1997)
  7. ^ USA Today on Harold Robbins: "Starting in 1948, he sold 750 million books, including megasellers such as The Carpetbaggers, A Stone for Danny Fisher and The Betsy." (9 October 2007)
  8. ^ Time magazine on Georges Simenon: "All told, more than 300 million copies of Simenon books have been printed, including translations into 47 languages." (19 February 1973)
  9. ^ The Wall Street Journal on Georges Simenon: "In his lifetime Simenon published some 570 books, using 17 pen names, which have sold more than 700 million copies in 40 countries and were translated into 57 languages." (1 April 2003)
  10. ^ Encyclopedia Britannica on Enid Blyton: "By the late 20th century her books had sold more than 300 million copies and been translated into at least 90 languages." (24 November 2007)
  11. ^ The Huddersfield DailyExaminer on Enid Blyton: "She has been translated into 90 languages, is the sixth most popular writer worldwide according to UNESCO and almost equal to Shakespeare, and has sold 600 million copies." (25 August 2008)
  12. ^ CNN on Danielle Steel: "The 50-year-old writer, who has sold some 380 million books worldwide [...]" (31 March 1998)
  13. ^ Reuters on Danielle Steel: "Steel has since sold more than 560 million books and on Tuesday will publish her 72nd novel "Honor Thyself."" (21 February 2008)
  14. ^ The Daily Utah Chronicle on Dr. Seuss: "The Pulitzer Prize-winning Seuss wrote and illustrated 47 books and sold more than 100 million copies in 18 languages." (5 March 2001)
  15. ^ The New York Times on Dr. Seuss: "Today Dr. Seuss's 44 books have been translated into 21 languages, selling more than 500 million copies." (2 March 2004)
  16. ^ Susan Edgerton e.a. in Imagining the Academy: Higher Education and Popular Culture page 53, on Gilbert Patten: "It is estimated that at least 125 million copies of the Frank Merriwell series (which itself ran to at least 209 books) were sold." (2004)
  17. ^ LeRoy Ashby in With Amusement For All: A History of American Popular Culture Since 1830 page 145, on Gilbert Patten: "[...] the Merriwell brothers, the heroes of almost 250 children's books, whose total sales of 500 million copies surpassed those of the Bible between 1896 and 1918." (2006)
  18. ^ a b New York Times February 15, 1987
  19. ^ AFP on J. K. Rowling: "Rowling's stories of boy wizard Harry Potter have sold almost 350 million copies around the world in some 65 languages." (8 May 2008)
  20. ^ NineMSN on J. K. Rowling: "Rowling has amassed an estimated $1.2 billion fortune from the Potter series, which has sold over 400 million books worldwide and spawned a $15 billion industry." (23 March 2008)
  21. ^ The Chicago Tribune on Jackie Collins: "More than 250 million copies of her books have been sold to fans in more than 40 countries" (1 January 2007)
  22. ^ The Guardian on Jackie Collins: "One of the world's bestselling writers with more than 400 million books sold in over 40 countries. " (27 June 2004)
  23. ^ The Chinook Observer on Horatio Alger, Jr.: "Americans bought 200 million copies of his dime novels -- with intriguing titles like Raggedy Dick and Sink or Swim. " (30 March 2005)
  24. ^ Time magazine on Horatio Alger: "[...] that have sold from 100 million to 400 million copies, depending on which literary historian you believe." (12 February 1973)
  25. ^ The Hindu on R. L. Stine: "As R.L. Stine points out (and he should know, having sold over a 100 million copies of over 160 different spooky stories)" (7 September 2003)
  26. ^ Pittsburh Post-Gazette on R. L. Stine: "Altogether, Stine has sold more than 400 million books." (8 April 2007)
  27. ^ CBC on Stephen King: "He has sold almost 300 million books worldwide and many of his stories have been made into blockbuster films. " (13 October 1998)
  28. ^ BBC on Stephen King: "But - after selling 350 million copies of his horror and suspense books - the author's latest work draws on a series of events which almost broke him." (22 November 2006)
  29. ^ Ray Broadmus Browne and Pat Browne in The Guide to United States Popular Culture page 473, on Louis L'Amour: "His books have sold over 230 million copies, making him one of the best- selling authors in modern literary history. " (2001)
  30. ^ The Jamestown Sun on Louis L'Amour: "More than 330 million copies of his books have been sold, translated into 27 languages." (29 October 2001)
  31. ^ The Times of India on Dean Koontz: "His books are published in 38 languages; worldwide sales are nearly 200 million copies, and that figure currently increases more than 17 million copies per year." (22 July 2003)
  32. ^ The OC Register on Dean Koontz: "Admitting to finally having found a great editor at Bantam, the author, who has sold 325 million books in 38 languages, talked about his craft. " (September 25 2007)
  33. ^ The New York Sun on Erle Stanley Gardner: "Erle Stanley Gardner (whose Perry Mason stories sold more than a 100 million books)" (20 July 2005)
  34. ^ The New York Times on Erle Stanley Gardner: "Gardner's books continue to be reissued regularly both here and abroad. Sales to date exceed 325 million copies." (22 November 1992)
  35. ^ Variety on Sidney Sheldon: "A NEW MILESTONE FOR Sidney Sheldon, who has sold more than 200 million books" (6 October 1995)
  36. ^ The Columbus Dispatch on Sidney Sheldon: "He was one of the world's most translated authors, selling more than 300 million books in 180 countries." (January 31 2007)
  37. ^ The International HeraldTribune on Jin Yong: "Jin Yong is an even more popular novelist whose lengthy kung fu fantasies have sold more than 100 million copies" (20 June 2000)
  38. ^ The People's Daily on Jin Yong: "Jin Yong, born in Zhejiang in East China, is the world's biggest-selling author of martial arts novels, having sold almost 300 million copies of his works." (11 April 2005)
  39. ^ Nishi-Nippon Shinbun (Japanese Language, 25 February 2007)
  40. ^ The Houston Chronicle on Janet Dailey: "Dailey has written 93 books over two decades. Sales of her books, which have been sold in 98 countries and 19 languages, have surpassed 200 million copies." (31 July 1997)
  41. ^ Pamela Regis in A Natural History of the Romance Novel page 159 on Janet Dailey: "There are 300 million copies of her books in print, making her the third best-selling author of all time" (2007)
  42. ^ BBC on Nora Roberts: "Nora Roberts currently has 145 million books in print." (6 June 2002)
  43. ^ The Herald-Mail on Nora Roberts: "There are nearly 300 million copies of her books in print." (4 May 2007)
  44. ^ BBC on Robert Ludlum: "He has sold more than 110 million books in 40 countries and 32 languages." (13 March 2001)
  45. ^ BBC on Robert Ludlum: "The author, who died in 2001, has sold more than 290 million books worldwide." (11 August 2005)
  46. ^ The New York Times on Frédéric Dard: "Mr. Dard wrote almost 300 books, of which more than 200 million copies have been sold." (15 June 2000)
  47. ^ The Washington Post on Frédéric Dard: "Mr. Dard worked as a journalist in Lyon from 1942 to 1950 before dedicating himself to novels, theater and film. He used a number of pseudonyms, among them Frederic Charles, Kaput and L'Ange Noir (The Black Angel), and sold more than 270 million books." (9 June 2000)
  48. ^ The Daily Nebraskan on the Berenstains: ""They've sold over 200 million copies of their books," said director James Larson." (21 November 2005)
  49. ^ Variety on the Berenstains: "The company also is offering a new animated series based on the Berenstain Bears, the hugely popular children's brand that has sold more than 260 million books worldwide." (7 April 2002)
  50. ^ The New York Times on John Grisham: "Over the last 15 years, more than 100 million copies of Mr. Grisham's books have been published in hardcover and paperback worldwide." (19 January 2005)
  51. ^ BBC on John Grisham: "While legal thriller writer Grisham - who has sold more that 250 million books in his 20-year career - picked up a lifetime achievement award, Ian Rankin's The Naming of the Dead won best crime thriller." (28 March 2007)
  52. ^ The Payson Roundup on Zane Grey: ""Zane Grey had 250 million books published," Wolfe said." (22 November 2005)
  53. ^ The Wall Street Journal on Karl May: "the best-selling German author of all time, with 100 million books" (1 January 2004)
  54. ^ Deutsche Welle on Karl May: "With sales of over 200 million books, Karl May remains a household name in today's Germany." (4 April 2001)
  55. ^ Entertainment Weekly on J. R. R. Tolkien: "Globally, Tolkien has sold some 100 million books" (December 19 2001)
  56. ^ USA Today on J. R. R. Tolkien: "Tolkien's franchise has resulted in more than 200 million books sold globally and $3.5 billion in box office revenue — not to mention tens of millions of DVDs sold." (23 April 2007)
  57. ^ CBC obituary of Mickey Spillane: "He sold more than 100 million books, and Hammer inspired several TV series and movies." (18 July 2006)
  58. ^ The Washington Post on Mickey Spillane: "According to today's industry estimates, his 26 books have sold more than 200 million copies." (22 August 2001)
  59. ^ BBC on C. S. Lewis: "favourite Northern Irish author has sold over 100 million books and inspired the Harry Potter and the Lord of the Rings novels." (8 February 2008)
  60. ^ The Daily Herald on C. S. Lewis: "C.S. Lewis may not be on the best-seller list, but it is estimated that his 38 books have sold more than 200 million copies worldwide and remain in print 38 years after his death." (20 October 2001)
  61. ^ Famitsu.com (Japanese language, May 11 2007)
  62. ^ Broadway.com on Charles Dickens (figures for A Tale of Two Cities only!): "Since its inaugural publication on August 30, 1859, A Tale of Two Cities has sold over 200 million copies in several languages, making it one of the most famous books in the history of fictional literature." (24 April 2008)
  63. ^ Benjamin M. Compaine and Douglas Gomery, 'Who Owns the Media?: Competition and Concentration in the Mass Media Industry' page 115"
  64. ^ The Wall Street Journal on Ann M. Martin: "A year earlier, however, the movie version of "The Baby-Sitters Club" -- based on a series of young-adult books that have sold more than 180 million copies -- sold only $10 million in tickets, barely exceeding its $6.5 million budget." (8 October 2004)
  65. ^ Japan Inc. on Ryōtarō Shiba: "Altogether, including such genres as dialogues with other authors, more than 180 million copies of his books have been printed" (22 June 2006)
  66. ^ The New York Times on Irving Wallace: "According to his publisher, more than 180 million copies have been sold of books by Mr. Wallace, who wrote The Chapman Report, The Prize and The Man." (31 August 1984)
  67. ^ The Age on Arthur Hailey: "Arthur Hailey , who has died at his home in the Bahamas aged 84, was one of the most commercially successful authors of all time, producing 11 books which sold more than 150 million copies, were translated into about 40 languages, and brought him tens of millions of dollars" (28 November 2004)
  68. ^ The Washington Post on Arthur Hailey: "He wrote 11 books, which were published in 40 countries and 38 languages, with about 170 million copies in print." (27 November 2004)
  69. ^ Sunday Herald on Gerard De Villiers: "De Villiers, now 78, claims to have sold an extraordinary 150 million books over his career - with every year a million more added to the total in France alone." (November 19 2007)
  70. ^ Lucia Marginean in Collecting Beatrix Potter Figurines page 2, on Beatrix Potter: "Beatrix Potter's books have been translated into more than 35 languages and sold over 100 million copies. " (2008)
  71. ^ USA Today on Beatrix Potter: "Potter's story of the rabbit who is nearly killed after defying his mother's warnings to avoid the garden of a farmer named McGregor has sold more than 150 million copies in 35 languages." (23 June 2003)
  72. ^ The Telegraph on Michael Crichton: "His books have sold more than 150 million copies." (1 July 2007)
  73. ^ Wall Street Journal on Michael Crichton: "Although it is always difficult to gauge the total sales of any author, Mr. Crichton's Web site states that he has sold more than 150 million books, and that 13 of them have been adapted into movies." (16 November 2006)
  74. ^ New York Times obituary of Richard Scarry: "...more than 100 million Scarry books have been sold in the United States and other countries." (3 May 1994)
  75. ^ Worldscreen on Richard Scarry: "More than 150 million books by Richard Scarry have been sold worldwide and translated into 30 languages." (2 April 2007)
  76. ^ The Times-Union on James Patterson: "The prolific novelist has more than 100 million books in print and has spent 150 straight weeks on USA Today's list of overall top-selling authors. " (February 26 2006)
  77. ^ ABC News on James Patterson: "Interesting that James Patterson has sold nearly 150 million books." (13 March 2008)
  78. ^ The Rocky Mountain Collegian on Clive Cussler: "An audit later revealed the number of Cussler books sold was around 40 million at the time the contract was negotiated in 2000." (5 March 2007)
  79. ^ The Telegraph on Clive Cussler: "His widely popular novels - his new one, Golden Buddha, the first in an adventure series called The Oregon Files, is published next month - have sold 150 million copies in 40 languages and have made the author a very wealthy man." (23 February 2004)
  80. ^ Dominic Head in The Cambridge Guide to Literature in English page 431 on Alistair McLean: "Alistair Maclean's works have sold more than 150 million copies worldwide." (2006)
  81. ^ BBC on Astrid Lindgren: "Lindgren's books have sold over 100 million copies in some 80 languages." (28 January 2002
  82. ^ BusinessWeek on Astrid Lindgren: "True, Lindgren's books, which have sold more than 145 million copies the world over, remain bestsellers to this day and the films based on her scripts continue to be immensely popular." (16 November 2007)
  83. ^ The New York Times on Eiji Yoshikawa: "It has remained on the Japanese best-seller list ever since its initial publication as a novel in 1971, and has sold an estimated 120 million copies." (13 September 1981)
  84. ^ Telegraph on Jeffrey Archer: "The disgraced peer and author - who has sold more than 100 million books... " (22 July 2001)
  85. ^ Hello Magazine on Jeffrey Archer: "To date he has notched up sales of over 120 million books worldwide." (2008)
  86. ^ BBC obituary of Catehrine Cookson: "Even though her first novel was not published until almost halfway through her life, Dame Catherine sold more than 100 million books in 30 different countries." (11 June 1998
  87. ^ Hastings Chronicle on Catherine Cookson: "When Dame Catherine died, in June 1998, she had completed 103 novels, sold over 120 million books worldwide and had £20 million in the bank - all of which went to charities." (2008)
  88. ^ The Library of Congress on Norman Bridwell: "Now more than 80 Clifford books have been published, close to 100 million books are in print, and Clifford's adventures are published in several languages worldwide." (2002)
  89. ^ KRCB television on Nroman Bridwell: "Scholastic’s beloved, best-selling children’s books by Norman Bridwell, with more than 160 titles and 110 million books in print." (2008)
  90. ^ AFP on Paulo Coelho: "He is the all-time best-selling writer in the Portuguese language, with a total of between 92 million and 100 million books sold." (May 31 2008)
  91. ^ The Times on Paulo Coelho: "Coelho is estimated to have sold more than 100 million books since 1982, his work having been translated into 66 languages" (1 March 2008)
  92. ^ The International Herald Tribune on Roald Dahl: "Dahl's books, many of them darkly comic and featuring villainous adult enemies of the child characters, have sold over 100 million copies." (13 September 2006)
  93. ^ BBC on Roald Dahl: "Exhibitions and children's reading campaigns are being held to commemorate the life of Dahl, who died in 1990 and has sold more than 100 million books." (13 September 2006)
  94. ^ The New York Times on Ed McBain: "Ms. Gelfman, his agent, estimated that in 50 years of writing, he had sold more than 100 million copies of his work." (July 7 2005)
  95. ^ The Hollywood Reporter on Ed McBain: "Evan Hunter, 78, a best-selling cop novel author who sold more than 100 million books under his own name and the pseudonym Ed McBain." (December 30 2005)
  96. ^ The Sun Runner on Andrew Neiderman: "Aside from the fact that “The Devil’s Advocate” is a film classic featuring Al Pacino, Keanu Reeves and Charlize Theron, Neiderman has over 100 million books in print and has been published in 95 countries. " (2005)
  97. ^ Authors' Den on Andrew Neiderman: "Neiderman has over 100 million books in print and has been published in 95 countries." (3 August 2006)
  98. ^ The Independent on Roger Hargreaves: "The popularity of the original characters led to a television series, sold 100 million books and created a business worth £130m" (22 January 2003)
  99. ^ News Australia on Roger Hargreaves: "The popular series featured characters like Mr Strong, Mr Tickle and Mr Muddle, and it has been estimated that more than 100 million books from the Mr Men range had been sold worldwide." (February 11 2008)
  100. ^ The Kansas City Star on Anne Rice: "Her books have sold more than 100 million copies." (4 April 1996)
  101. ^ CBC on Anne Rice: "Anne Rice, who has sold over 100 million copies of her books, is currently signed to a 17 million-dollar deal with Knopf." (29 October 2000)
  102. ^ Variety on Robin Cook: "Cook, who with more than 100 million books in print virtually owns the medical-thriller genre, appears to be branching out of his element by adding an extraterrestrial component." (2 May 1997)
  103. ^ Wesleyan University on Robin Cook: "He has sold more than 100 million books worldwide, which have been translated into approximately 40 languages." (2007)
  104. ^ The Indian Express on Wilbur Smith: "Wilbur Smith, Africa's most famous author, whose tales of adventure and death in the bush have sold more than 100 million copies worldwide, would be hard-pressed to churn out a plot as scandalous as the one he is currently involved in." (20 July 1997)
  105. ^ The Herald on Wilbur Smith: "He is the author of 25 best-sellers and claims in court papers to have sold about 100 million books." (21 May 2002)
  106. ^ Augusta Chronicle on Erskine Caldwell: "Mr. Caldwell's books have sold 80 million copies and have been published in 43 languages. " (11 February 2007)
  107. ^ The New York Times on Erskine Caldwell: "More than 100 million copies of his books have been printed around the world, and his short stories continue to be included in anthologies" (1 December 1982)
  108. ^ The Independent on Eleanor Hibbert: "She sold staggering amounts, in the region of 100 million copies." (28 September 2008)
  109. ^ The New York Times on Eleanor Hibbert: "Eleanor Hibbert, a prolific and popular novelist whose books, written under the pen names Jean Plaidy, Victoria Holt and Philippa Carr, sold more than 100 million copies, died on Monday aboard a Mediterranean cruise ship." (January 21 1993)
  110. ^ The New York Times on Lewis Carroll: "Over 100 million copies of Carroll's book have been sold, Mr. Allen said." (18 April 1985)
  111. ^ The Miami Herald on Denise Robins: "Miss Robins' novels, translated into 15 languages, sold more than 100 million copies. " (3 May 1985)
  112. ^ China.org on Cao Xueqin: "Sun said that the book has sold over 100 million copies worldwide so far. " (14 December 2005)
  113. ^ The Times of India on Ian Fleming: "Faulks took up where Fleming left off in 1966 with Octopussy and the Living Daylights, the last of 14 Bond books which have sold 100 million copies since." (13 July 2007)
  114. ^ The New Zealand Herald on Ian Fleming: "Faulks took up where Fleming left off in 1966 with Octopussy and the Living Daylights, the last of 14 Bond books which have sold 100 million copies since." (July 11 2007-
  115. ^ Eckhard Bernstein in Culture and Customs of Germany page 101 on Hermann Hesse: "Over 100 million copies of his works have been sold worldwide" (2004)
  116. ^ The International Herald Tribune on Hermann Hesse: "Hesse's novels appear in 68 languages and have been sold more than 100 million copies worldwide" (28 October 1999)
  117. ^ The Capital Journal on Rex Stout: "During his 88-year life, he had written about 50 books and 75 novellas and short stories, which had been translated into 26 languages and sold more than 100 million copies." (21 September 2003)
  118. ^ The Philadelphia Enquirer on Rex Stout: "Readers have snapped up more than 100 million copies of the books." (29 November 1986)
  119. ^ Dr. Jaap Van Ginneken in Screening Difference: How Hollywood's Blockbuster Films Imagine Race, Ethnicity and Culture page 124, on Anne Golon: "All together, they published thirteen titles, translated into forty-five languages and selling more than 100 million copies. " (2007)
  120. ^ The Age on Anne Golon: "Somehow, despite her books having sold more than 100 million copies in 45 countries, Golon is living in straitened circumstances" (13 November 2004)
  121. ^ CBS on Ken Follett: "In all, he's sold 90 million books." (7 October 2007)
  122. ^ The Telegraph on Ken Follett: "If you didn't know Ken Follett was a multimillionaire novelist, whose books have sold, according to his publishers, about 100 million copies, you could be forgiven for thinking him a second-hand car-dealer." (7 October 2007)
  123. ^ Kevin McCarthy's The Book Lover's Guide to Florida on Frank G. Slaughter: "Through 1990, Slaughter's books have averaged more than a million sales per title, totaling over 100 million copies." (1992)
  124. ^ Bret E. Carroll in American Masculinities: A Historical Encyclopedia, page 449, on Edgar Rice Burroughs: "The twenty-five novels that followed between 1912 and 1947 were a huge commercial success, with over 100 million copies sold" (2003)
  125. ^ Neil Shulman e.a. in Get Between the Covers: Leave a Legacy by Writing a Book, page 225, on John Creasey: "Over his lifetime, he managed to write over 600 novels and to sell approximately 100 million copies of his books worldwide." (2006)
  126. ^ Thomas D. Hamm in The Quakers in America page 208, on James Michener: "Michener prodcued a steady stream of books for the rest of his life, with total sales of over 100 million." (2003)
  127. ^ a b Zenkoku Shoten Shinbun (Japanese language, March 21 2008)
  128. ^ Publishers Weekly on Debbie Macomber: "Last year her new books sold 2.8 million copies, bringing her total in print to more than 60 million." (19 June 2006)
  129. ^ The Sun Journal on Debbie Macomber: "With more than 100 million copies of her books in print, Debbie Macomber is one of the leading voices in women's fiction today with her novels regularly appearing on the best-seller lists." (29 April 2008)
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