The 25 Best-Selling Books Of All Time

This article compiles a list of the 25 best-selling literary fiction books of all time, acknowledging the inherent difficulties in definitively ranking books due to varying editions, translations, and historical record-keeping inconsistencies. The list excludes religious texts, self-help, political works, and books with complex publication histories like The Lord of the Rings. Sales figures are estimates.

Note: Sales figures are approximate and based on available estimates. The ranking itself is not definitively provable due to the challenges mentioned above.

25. Anne of Green Gables

Author: L.M. Montgomery

Country: Canada

Publication Date: 1908

Estimated Sales: 50 million copies

This beloved children's classic follows the adventures of a spirited orphan in Avonlea, Prince Edward Island. Its enduring popularity led to numerous sequels.

24. Heidi

Author: Johanna Spyri

Country: Switzerland

Publication Date: 1880-1881

Estimated Sales: 50 million copies

This children's story centers on an orphan girl raised in the Swiss Alps, whose life is enriched by her friendship with a disabled girl from Frankfurt.

23. Lolita

Author: Vladimir Nabokov

Country: United States

Publication Date: 1955

Estimated Sales: 50 million copies

Nabokov's controversial novel, initially shunned by publishers, explores the disturbing relationship between a professor and a young girl. It has since been adapted for stage, opera, and film.

22. One Hundred Years of Solitude (Cien años de soledad)

Author: Gabriel García Márquez

Country: Colombia

Publication Date: 1967

Estimated Sales: 50 million copies

This magical realism masterpiece chronicles the multi-generational saga of the Buendía family in the fictional town of Macondo.

21. Ben-Hur: A Tale of the Christ

Author: Lew Wallace

Country: United States

Publication Date: 1880

Estimated Sales: 50 million copies

This historical novel follows Judah Ben-Hur's life during the time of Jesus Christ, culminating in a famous chariot race scene famously depicted in the Charlton Heston film adaptation.

20. The Bridges of Madison County

Author: Robert James Waller

Country: United States

Publication Date: 1992

Estimated Sales: 60 million copies

This romance novel depicts a passionate affair between an Italian-American war bride and a traveling photographer. It has been adapted into a successful film and Broadway musical.

19. The Catcher in the Rye

Author: J.D. Salinger

Country: United States

Publication Date: 1951

Estimated Sales: 65 million copies

Salinger's only novel, a coming-of-age story featuring the iconic and cynical character Holden Caulfield, remains a significant work in American literature.

18. Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows

Author: J.K. Rowling

Country: United Kingdom

Publication Date: 2007

Estimated Sales: 65 million copies

The final installment in the Harry Potter series concludes the epic battle between Harry, Ron, Hermione, and Lord Voldemort.

17. Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince

Author: J.K. Rowling

Country: United Kingdom

Publication Date: 2005

Estimated Sales: 65 million copies

This penultimate book in the series provides crucial backstory and sets the stage for the final confrontation.

16. Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix

Author: J.K. Rowling

Country: United Kingdom

Publication Date: 2003

Estimated Sales: 65 million copies

The longest book in the series, it expands the world and characters, setting up the climactic events to come.

15. Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire

Author: J.K. Rowling

Country: United Kingdom

Publication Date: 2000

Estimated Sales: 65 million copies

This installment introduces the Triwizard Tournament, significantly raising the stakes and marking a shift in tone.

14. Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban

Author: J.K. Rowling

Country: United Kingdom

Publication Date: 1999

Estimated Sales: 65 million copies

This book marks a significant leap in maturity and complexity, introducing new challenges and mysteries.

13. The Alchemist (O Alquimista)

Author: Paulo Coelho

Country: Brazil

Publication Date: 1988

Estimated Sales: 65 million copies

This allegorical novel follows a Spanish shepherd's journey to Egypt in search of treasure.

12. Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets

Author: J.K. Rowling

Country: United Kingdom

Publication Date: 1998

Estimated Sales: 77 million copies

The second book expands the wizarding world beyond Hogwarts, introducing new characters and mysteries.

11. The Da Vinci Code

Author: Dan Brown

Country: United States

Publication Date: 2003

Estimated Sales: 80 million copies

This controversial thriller sparked widespread interest with its blend of historical fiction and religious conspiracy theories.

10. Vardi Wala Gunda

Author: Ved Prakash Sharma

Country: India

Publication Date: 1992

Estimated Sales: 80 million copies

This Hindi-language mystery thriller focuses on corrupt police officers and assassination plots.

9. She: A History of Adventure

Author: H. Rider Haggard

Country: United Kingdom

Publication Date: 1886

Estimated Sales: 83 million copies

This influential adventure novel features explorers discovering a lost kingdom in Africa, impacting subsequent works in the fantasy genre.

8. The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe

Author: C.S. Lewis

Country: United Kingdom

Publication Date: 1950

Estimated Sales: 85 million copies

This classic children's fantasy novel introduces the magical world of Narnia, launching a successful series.

7. The Hobbit

Author: J.R.R. Tolkien

Country: United Kingdom

Publication Date: 1937

Estimated Sales: 100 million copies

This prequel to The Lord of the Rings follows Bilbo Baggins' adventures with dwarves and a wizard.

6. Dream of the Red Chamber

Author: Cao Xueqin

Country: China

Publication Date: 1791

Estimated Sales: 100 million copies

This classic Chinese novel depicts the rise and fall of a noble family.

5. And Then There Were None

Author: Agatha Christie

Country: United Kingdom

Publication Date: 1939

Estimated Sales: 100 million copies

This murder mystery traps ten people on an island, where they die one by one according to a nursery rhyme.

4. Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone

Author: J.K. Rowling

Country: United Kingdom

Publication Date: 1997

Estimated Sales: 120 million copies

The first book in the series introduced the magical world of Harry Potter to a global audience.

3. The Little Prince (Le Petit Prince)

Author: Antoine de Saint-Exupéry

Country: France

Publication Date: 1943

Estimated Sales: 140 million copies

This allegorical tale explores themes of childhood, adulthood, and the human condition.

2. A Tale of Two Cities

Author: Charles Dickens

Country: United Kingdom

Publication Date: 1859

Estimated Sales: 200 million copies

Dickens' historical fiction novel is set during the French Revolution, exploring themes of class and social upheaval.

1. Don Quixote

Author: Miguel de Cervantes

Country: Spain

Publication Date: 1605 (Part One), 1615 (Part Two)

Estimated Sales: 500 million copies

This epic tragicomedy follows the adventures of a delusional knight errant, whose exploits have become iconic.

Best Selling Books in 2024 (Amazon)

Amazon's best-selling books of 2024 (a partial representation of overall sales) include: The Women (Kristin Hannah), Onyx Storm (Rebecca Yarros), Atomic Habits (James Clear), Hillbilly Elegy (J.D. Vance), The Housemaid (Freida McFadden), Mom, I Want to Hear Your Story (Jeffrey Mason), Dad, I Want to Hear Your Story (Jeffrey Mason), The Anxious Generation (Jonathan Haidt), It Ends With Us (Colleen Hoover), and Good Energy (Casey Means M.D.).