The world of literature has witnessed countless wordsmiths whose written works have transcended generations, captivated minds, and left an indelible mark on the literary landscape. In this blog, we embark on a journey through literary history to unveil the 15 best-selling fiction authors of all time. These gifted storytellers have woven tales that resonate with millions, earning them a place in the annals of literary greatness. From timeless classics to contemporary masterpieces, the narratives penned by these authors have not only graced bookshelves but have also been translated into numerous languages, enthralling readers from every corner of the globe. Join us as we celebrate the creative genius of these prolific authors whose literary legacies continue to shape the world of fiction.
The list of the 15 Best-Selling Fiction Authors of All Time
15. Leo Tolstoy
Estimated Sales: 413 million
Notable Works: War and Peace, Anna Karenina
Number of Books: 48
Nationality: Russian
Leo Tolstoy (September 9, 1828 – November 20, 1910), stands as an enduring literary giant. As one of the greatest authors in history, he was repeatedly nominated for the Nobel Prize in Literature between 1902 and 1906. Additionally, he received nominations for the Nobel Peace Prize in 1901, 1902, and 1909.
Tolstoy’s renowned works, including “War and Peace” (1869) and “Anna Karenina” (1878), are celebrated as masterpieces of realist fiction. His literary journey commenced with the semi-autobiographical trilogy “Childhood,” “Boyhood,” and “Youth” (1852–1856), along with the “Sevastopol Sketches” (1855), inspired by his experiences in the Crimean War. The literary treasure chest of Tolstoy also includes a multitude of short stories, such as “After the Ball” (1911), and several novellas, including “The Death of Ivan Ilyich” (1886), “Family Happiness” (1859), and “Hadji Murad” (1912). Beyond fiction, he ventured into essays, plays, and writings of profound philosophical, moral, and religious significance.
14. Akira Toriyama
Estimated Sales: 298 million – 438 million
Notable Works: Manga, Dr. Slump, Dragon Ball, Dragon Ball Super
Number of Books: 66
Nationality: Japanese
Akira Toriyama (born April 5, 1955), is a renowned Japanese manga artist and character designer celebrated for his monumental contributions to the world of manga and anime. His journey to fame commenced with the immensely successful manga series “Dr. Slump,” which earned him the 1981 Shogakukan Manga Award and sold over 35 million copies in Japan. This series was also adapted into a prosperous anime.
Toriyama’s magnum opus, “Dragon Ball,” further solidified his legacy, becoming one of the world’s most popular manga series, selling 260 million copies globally and significantly impacting manga’s circulation during the mid-1980s and mid-1990s. Additionally, he has left his creative mark on various video games, including the Dragon Quest series and Chrono Trigger, serving as a character designer. Beyond his contributions to the arts, his work has been a source of inspiration for many manga artists worldwide, and in 2019, he received the prestigious Chevalier of the French Ordre des Arts et des Lettres for his remarkable artistic contributions.
13. Dr. Seuss
Estimated Sales: 100 million – 500 million
Notable Works: Children’s literature
Number of Books: 44
Nationality: American
Theodor Seuss Geisel (March 2, 1904 – September 24, 1991), was a prominent American children’s author and cartoonist, widely recognized by his pen name, Dr. Seuss. His illustrious career spanned the creation of more than 60 books, many of which are regarded as timeless classics in children’s literature, with a collective sale of over 600 million copies and translations into over 20 languages. Geisel initially adopted the moniker “Dr. Seuss” during his academic years at Dartmouth College and later at Lincoln College, Oxford.
He embarked on his professional journey as an illustrator and cartoonist, contributing to notable publications like Vanity Fair and Life. Amidst his illustrious career, he temporarily shifted to illustrating political cartoons during World War II and also worked in the animation and film department of the United States Army. In 1984, he was awarded a Pulitzer Prize Special Citation for his invaluable contributions to the literary world. Remarkably, his birthday, March 2, has been embraced as the annual National Read Across America Day, championed by the National Education Association to promote reading.
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12. Tom Clancy
Estimated Sales: 100 Million
Notable Works: Espionage, Thriller, Jack Ryan
Number of Books: 19
Nationality: American
Thomas Leo Clancy Jr. (April 12, 1947 – October 1, 2013) was a celebrated American author known for his meticulously detailed espionage and military-science novels, often centered around the Cold War era and its aftermath. His literary career began with the publication of “The Hunt for Red October” in 1984, a novel he initially sold for $5,000. Clancy authored seventeen bestsellers, collectively amassing over 100 million book sales.
His influence extended beyond literature to screenplays penned by ghostwriters, nonfiction books on military topics, and popular video game series like Ghost Recon and Splinter Cell, inspired by his works. Clancy was also known for his involvement with the Baltimore Orioles, his hometown’s Major League Baseball team, where he served as vice-chairman for community initiatives. Following his passing in 2013, the Jack Ryan series continued under the stewardship of his family estate, with various authors contributing to the series.
11. Gilbert Patten
Estimated Sales: 125 million – 500 million
Notable Works: Adolescent adventures
Number of Books: 209
Nationality: American
William George “Gilbert” Patten (October 25, 1866 – January 16, 1945) was a prolific writer known for his dime novels, particularly for creating the Frank Merriwell stories using the pseudonym Burt L. Standish. His literary career began with the publication of his first dime novel, “The Diamond Sport; or, The Double Face of Bed Rock,” in 1886. While he also wrote westerns under the pen name Wyoming Bill, he gained enduring fame for his sporting stories in the Frank Merriwell series, written as Burt L. Standish. This series, featured in Tip-Top Weekly, achieved immense popularity with a weekly circulation of around 135,000 copies.
In addition to his written works, Patten expanded his influence to the Frank Merriwell comic strip in 1928 and supervised the 1934 NBC radio series. Between 1927 and 1930, he introduced a new series of Frank Merriwell stories, often with the help of ghostwriters. In 1930, Patten initiated his own publication, “The Dime Novel,” though only one issue was ever released. Apart from the Merriwell stories, Patten authored 75 complete novels and an indeterminate number of short stories. Impressively, his literary output resulted in an astonishing 500 million copies in print, solidifying his status as one of the highest-selling fiction authors in history.
10. Eiichiro Oda
Estimated Sales: 516.5 million – 516.5 million
Notable Works: Manga, One Piece
Number of Books: 106
Nationality: Japanese
Eiichiro Oda (born January 1, 1975), is a prominent Japanese manga artist celebrated as the mastermind behind the renowned series, One Piece. His creation, One Piece, stands as the highest-selling manga globally, with over 516.6 million tankōbon copies in circulation. Oda’s remarkable success with One Piece has not only earned him the title of one of the top-selling fiction authors but also the distinction of being among the influential manga artists who left an indelible mark on the manga’s history
Oda’s journey into the manga world commenced at 17 when he secured a position at the Weekly Shōnen Jump magazine. By the age of 19, he had already become an assistant to Nobuhiro Watsuki, contributing to Rurouni Kenshin, and subsequently earned the prestigious Hop Step Award for emerging manga artists. His early work featured two pirate-themed one-shot stories titled “Romance Dawn.” In 1997, the legendary One Piece made its debut in Weekly Shōnen Jump, ascending to become one of Japan’s most adored manga and ultimately the best-selling manga series globally. By February 2005, it had reached a significant milestone of 100 million collected tankōbon volumes sold, and its momentum only grew, reaching over 450 million copies in print as of March 2019.
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9. Sidney Sheldon
Estimated Sales: 370 million – 600 million
Notable Works: Suspense
Number of Books: 21
Nationality: American
Sidney Sheldon (February 11, 1917 – January 30, 2007), was a highly acclaimed American writer whose career spanned various forms of entertainment. Initially, during the 1930s, he made his mark in Broadway theater, transitioning later to the film industry where he notably penned the script for the successful comedy “The Bachelor and the Bobby-Soxer” (1947), earning him an Academy Award in 1948. He then ventured into television, where he impressively created well-known series like “The Patty Duke Show” (1963–66), “I Dream of Jeannie” (1965–70), and “Hart to Hart” (1979–84) over a span of two decades.
Remarkably, after reaching the age of 50, he reinvented himself as a novelist, producing a string of best-selling romantic suspense books, including “Master of the Game” (1982), “The Other Side of Midnight” (1973), and “Rage of Angels” (1980). His literary works have garnered enormous success, collectively selling over 300 million copies in 51 languages. Sheldon’s novels often featured resilient women navigating a challenging world controlled by adversarial men, filled with suspense and narrative elements that engaged readers, solidifying his position as one of the all-time top-ten best-selling fiction authors.
8. J. K. Rowling
Estimated Sales: 600 million
Notable Works: young adult, fantasy, crime fiction, including the Harry Potter series
Number of Books: 22
Nationality: British
Joanne Rowling (born July 31, 1965), widely recognized under her pen name J. K. Rowling, is a British author celebrated for her literary contributions and philanthropic efforts. She is best known for crafting the enchanting world of Harry Potter, a seven-volume fantasy series introduced to readers between 1997 and 2007. This series has not only achieved remarkable sales of over 600 million copies but has also been translated into 84 languages, leading to the creation of a global media empire encompassing films and video games. In 2012, Rowling ventured into adult fiction with “The Casual Vacancy.” She also pens the Cormoran Strike series, a crime fiction collection, using the pseudonym Robert Galbraith.
Her exceptional literary achievements have earned her numerous awards, including the Order of the British Empire (OBE) and the title of Companion of Honour, recognizing her contributions to literature and her philanthropic endeavors. While Harry Potter brought her immense wealth and fame, she has dedicated her resources to champion philanthropic causes and promote political ideals. She co-founded the Lumos charity and established the Volant Charitable Trust, named in honor of her mother. Rowling’s philanthropic focus primarily revolves around supporting medical causes and aiding vulnerable women and children. In the realm of politics, she has extended her support to the British Labour Party.
7. Enid Blyton
Estimated Sales: 600 million
Notable Works: Children’s literature, Noddy, The Famous Five, The Secret Seven
Number of Books: 800
Nationality: British
Enid Mary Blyton (August 11, 1897 – November 28, 1968) was a celebrated English children’s author known for her beloved and enduring books. Her literary works have been bestsellers since the 1930s, with sales exceeding 600 million copies and translations into ninety languages. Blyton is ranked as the fourth most translated author as of June 2019.
Her wide-ranging repertoire covers educational literature, natural history, fantasy, mystery, and stories influenced by biblical themes. Her most famous creations, including Noddy, the Famous Five, Secret Seven, Five Find-Outers, and Malory Towers, remain popular. While these series stand out, she also wrote many other captivating works like St. Clare’s, The Naughtiest Girl, and The Faraway Tree. Blyton’s literary empire was marked by the rapid production of up to fifty books annually, with rumors of ghostwriters, which she strongly denied.
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6. Georges Simenon
Estimated Sales: 500 million – 700 million
Notable Works: French Detectives, Maigret, romans durs
Number of Books: 570
Nationality: Belgian
Georges Joseph Christian Simenon (February 13, 1903 – September 4, 1989), was a renowned Belgian author, celebrated primarily for his creation of the fictional detective Jules Maigret. Simenon ranks among the most popular authors of the 20th century, having authored an extensive body of work comprising roughly 400 novels, 21 volumes of memoirs, and numerous short stories, collectively amassing over 500 million copies in sales.
His literary contributions extended beyond detective fiction, earning him critical acclaim for his “romans durs,” or “hard novels.” Simenon’s life journey, which took him from his roots in Liège, Belgium, to extensive sojourns in France (1922–45), the United States (1946–55), and ultimately Switzerland (1957-1989), significantly influenced his semi-autobiographical writing. His works drew inspiration from his childhood in Liège, global travels, wartime experiences, tumultuous marriages, and numerous romantic liaisons. Among his most notable literary creations are “The Saint-Fiacre Affair” (1932), “Monsieur Hire’s Engagement” (1933), “Act of Passion” (1947), “The Snow was Dirty” (1948), and “The Cat” (1967).
5. Harold Robbins
Estimated Sales: 750 million
Notable Works: Adventure
Number of Books: 23
Nationality: American
Harold Robbins (May 21, 1916 – October 14, 1997) was a renowned American author known for his highly popular novels. Born as Harold Rubin to well-educated Jewish immigrants from the Russian Empire, he became one of the best-selling authors in literary history, with over 25 best-sellers that collectively sold more than 750 million copies and were translated into 32 languages.
Robbins’ literary career began with “Never Love a Stranger” in 1948. He is best known for “The Carpetbaggers,” which drew from notable figures like Howard Hughes, Bill Lear, Harry Cohn, and Louis B. Mayer. His works, including “Where Love Has Gone” (1962) and “The Adventurers” (1966), often reflected his own experiences, such as living in South America and spending time with Colombian bandits. After his death, new books were published based on Robbins’s notes, sometimes co-credited to Junius Podrug.
4. Danielle Steel
Estimated Sales: 500 million – 800 million
Notable Works: General fiction, romance
Number of Books: 179
Nationality: American
Danielle Fernandes Dominique Schuelein-Steel, born on August 14, 1947, is a celebrated American author known primarily for her romance novels. She’s distinguished as the best-selling living author and ranks among the most successful fiction writers ever, with over 800 million copies of her books sold. As of 2021, she had an impressive literary portfolio of 190 books, including more than 140 novels.
Throughout her career, primarily based in California, Steel demonstrated remarkable productivity, often managing several projects simultaneously, all of which consistently became bestsellers. Despite limited critical acclaim, her novels attracted a wide readership, even in hardback format. Her stories often revolve around wealthy families facing crises involving issues like imprisonment, fraud, extortion, and despair. Beyond romance novels, Steel ventured into children’s literature and poetry. She also founded a charitable organization that supports mental health-related causes. Her literary influence extends globally, with translations of her works into 43 languages and 22 television adaptations, two of which received Golden Globe nominations.
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3. Barbara Cartland
Estimated Sales: 500 million – 1 billion
Notable Works: Romance
Number of Books: 723
Nationality: British
Dame Mary Barbara Hamilton Cartland, born on July 9, 1901, was a celebrated English author famously known as the “Queen of Romance.” She was a prolific writer in both contemporary and historical romance fiction, often set in the Victorian and Edwardian eras. Cartland was a prominent author in the 20th century, achieving global recognition and immense sales. Many of her novels were adapted into beloved television films, including titles like “A Hazard of Hearts,” “A Ghost in Monte Carlo,” and “Duel of Hearts.”
What set Cartland apart was her ability to transcend language barriers; she was the fifth most translated author globally, excluding religious texts. Her extraordinary literary output consisted of a remarkable 723 novels. In addition to her romantic stories, she ventured into non-fiction, writing biographies, plays, music, poetry, drama, operettas, and even health and culinary guidebooks. She shared her wisdom with television audiences and contributed articles to magazines. Her collective book sales exceeded 750 million copies, although some sources suggest her actual sales may surpass two billion. Her novels were often recognized by distinctive portrait-style cover art, frequently created by Francis Marshall (1901–1980).
2. Agatha Christie
Estimated Sales: 2 billion – 4 billion
Notable Works: Whodunits, including the Miss Marple and Hercule Poirot series
Number of Books: 85
Nationality: British
Dame Agatha Mary Clarissa Christie, born on September 15, 1890, was a renowned English author celebrated for her exceptional contributions to the world of detective fiction. She authored an extensive collection of 66 detective novels and 14 short story compilations, with a focus on iconic fictional detectives Hercule Poirot and Miss Marple. Christie’s notable achievement includes creating the world’s longest-running play, “The Mousetrap,” which has graced the West End stage since 1952. Known as the “Queen of Crime” during the “Golden Age of Detective Fiction,” she also wrote six novels under the pseudonym Mary Westmacott. Guinness World Records recognizes her as the best-selling fiction writer in history, with her novels selling over two billion copies.
Her literary influence extends to being the most widely translated individual author, and her novel “And Then There Were None” ranks among the all-time bestsellers, with around 100 million copies sold. Christie’s play “The Mousetrap” holds the world record for the longest initial theatrical run. In 1955, she received the Mystery Writers of America’s Grand Master Award, and her work “Witness for the Prosecution” earned the prestigious Edgar Award for Best Play. In 2013, she was voted as the preeminent crime writer, with her novel “The Murder of Roger Ackroyd” hailed as the paramount crime novel by 600 professional novelists of the Crime Writers’ Association. Christie’s captivating stories have been adapted into various media forms, including television, radio, video games, graphic novels, and more than 30 feature films.
1. William Shakespeare
Estimated Sales: 2 billion – 4 billion
Notable Works: Plays and poetry, e.g. Romeo and Juliet, Macbeth, and Hamlet
Number of Books: 42
Nationality: British
William Shakespeare (April 26, 1564 – April 23, 1616), was a distinguished English playwright, poet, and actor. Universally acclaimed as the most eminent writer in the English language and the unrivaled dramatist of the world, his enduring literary legacy encompasses a corpus of works, both independent and collaborative, comprising around 39 plays, 154 sonnets, three extensive narrative poems, and a few additional verses, some of uncertain authorship.
Shakespeare retains his status as arguably the most influential figure in English literature, with his creations perpetually scrutinized and reimagined. The bulk of his known works emerged between 1589 and 1613, leaving an indelible imprint extending far beyond the borders of his homeland and the English language. His contributions have been embraced across a multitude of cultures and tongues. Guinness World Records attests that Shakespeare maintains the coveted title of the world’s highest-selling playwright, with estimations of over four billion copies of his plays and poetry sold since his passing nearly four centuries ago. Remarkably, he also claims the distinction of being the third most translated author in recorded history.
Conclusion
In the realm of fiction, these 15 authors have achieved nothing short of immortality through the sheer power of their words. Their collective impact on literature is immeasurable, their stories transcending time and culture. From the enduring classics of William Shakespeare to the enchanting romance of Danielle Steel, from the intricate mysteries spun by Agatha Christie to the fantastical worlds of Enid Blyton, these authors have shown us the boundless possibilities of the written word. Their work has connected generations, transcended borders, and ignited imaginations. As we conclude our exploration of the 15 best-selling fiction authors of all time, we are reminded that their stories are not confined to pages and chapters; they are living, breathing entities that continue to inspire, challenge, and entertain. In the ever-evolving world of literature, these authors remain beacons of creativity and storytelling excellence, offering a timeless invitation to get lost in the worlds they’ve created.
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