Who is the Best Selling Fiction Author of All Time

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The world of literature has produced countless masterpieces. However, who is the best selling fiction author of all time. Only a few authors have the credentials to lay claim to the throne. These literary giants have captured the hearts and minds of millions with their amazing tales. They’ve sold millions of books and left an indelible mark on popular culture.

But who among them deserves the title of the greatest of all time? In this article, we investigate the criteria that make a fiction writer the best selling fiction author of all time. We also explore the top contenders for the title and analyse the one who reigns supreme.

The best selling fiction author of all time is Agatha Christie, the world-famous mystery writer. Those who came close were Danielle Steel, Harold Robbins, and William Shakespeare. In this article, we discuss them as well as the factors that go into high book sales.

So get ready to enter the world of the literary elite, where the lines between fact and fiction blur. The only rule here is to captivate, enthrall, and entice.

Contents

Book Sales

When we talk about book sales, it’s a little more complicated than it sounds. You might assume it means how many people bought a book, but there are various layers.

Firstly, how many copies are printed. Then, how many of those printed copies are bought by shops and sold to customers, as well as those that go to libraries. Next, how many copies have been bought by customers. And then factors such as audiobook and ebook sales are added in.

Meanwhile some books marked sold may become unsold. This could be due to customer returns or shops returning unsold copies to the publisher. So, with all of this factored in, still having massive book sales is very impressive.

What factors affect sales?

Sales can be affected by many things. For example, an author’s work may speak so directly to a cultural zeitgeist that sales are driven by that alone. Some books sell better after a film adaptation is released. So timing can also be an element.

If an author reaches a certain level of popularity, they can beget their own cultural influence. People will buy the works of a popular author simply because they are famous. Maybe a celebrity plugged the book, or Oprah included it in her book club.

Another element is distribution channels such as book shops and libraries and how they position the title. Are they putting it on displays? Are they recommending it to shoppers?

All these factors and more unquantifiable acts can impact sales.

Top Contenders for the Title

There are many successful authors who have sold extremely well over the years, all of whom are contenders.

Danielle Steel

Stacks of published books at a book warehouse — A table full of Danielle Steel books.

As an example, Danielle Steel’s romance novels have sold around 800 million copies. Her books are known for being full of rich, powerful characters and lots of raunchy sex scenes. While certainly not high literature, they are compelling page-turners.

Harold Robbins

Then there’s Harold Robbins, the American adventure book novelist, who sold 750 million copies. His novels are full of sex, melodrama, and peeks into high society, all popular topics that make bestsellers. His most famous was The Carpetbaggers (1961) which spawned a successful movie.

The Runner-Up – William Shakespeare

The most famous of all authors who comes closest to being the best-selling fiction author but isn’t, is William Shakespeare. Known as the greatest writer in the English language, his plays are estimated to have sold a staggering 4 billion copies.

However, some consider him ineligible for several reasons.

First, his plays may have been collaborative works with numerous contributors.
Second, his work predates copyrights and a clear publication history. It’s difficult to get an accurate number.
Third, there have been so many printings of his work from countless publishers that all we have is an estimate.

So, who is the Best-Selling Fiction Author?

According to the Guinness Book of World Records, the best-selling fiction author of all time is Dame Agatha Christie. Born in Torquay, England in 1890 on the 15^th September.

Most notable works

Murder on the Orient Express
The Murder of Roger Ackroyd
Death on the Nile
The Murder at the Vicarage
Partners in Crime
The A.B.C. Murders
And Then There Were None
The Mousetrap

Notable acheivements

Her world-famous mystery novels (66 in all) have sold over 2 billion copies globally.
Agatha Christie is so popular because in many ways she revolutionised the murder mystery genre.
Her stories are so surprising and her characters so compelling that even years later, her twists haven’t been beaten.
She was so good that some of her mysteries even began to deconstruct the genre she helped create.

Agatha Christie’s Impact

At some point, Christie wrote nearly every possible permutation of murder mystery.

In so doing, her impact on popular culture was massive, and practically every murder mystery that exists today owes some debt to her.

Her books have been adapted for the stage and screen.
Her play The Mousetrap is the longest running stage production of all time.
Her novels have been turned into countless films and TV adaptations.
Many murder mystery series that aren’t directly adapted from her works were inspired by them.
The ever-popular Murder She Wrote starring Angela Lansbury is inspired by Christie and her famous sleuth, Miss Marple.
And the hit film Knives Out is a tribute to her work.

Final Thoughts

The journey to find who is the best-selling fiction author of all time has been a thrilling one. We’ve explored the criteria that make an author a literary legend and delved into the top contenders. Then we analysed the one who claimed the throne.

It has been a testament to the power of storytelling and the impact it can have on our lives. The best-selling fiction author of all time is not just a name on a list. She is a symbol of magic woven through words and the impact it can have on the world.

Agatha Christie’s stories have entertained and inspired millions, transcending time and cultural barriers. They have left a legacy, reminding us of the power of imagination and the importance of storytelling in our lives.

So, raise a glass to Dame Agatha Christie – the best-selling fiction author of all time. A true master of the craft, whose stories will be told for generations to come.

Sources:

Everything You Wanted to Know About Book Sales (But Were Afraid to Ask) – Lincoln Michel – June 30, 2016

Everything You Need to Know About Book Sales Figures – Tucker Max

Report: Film Adaptations Of Books Earn 53% More At The Worldwide Box Office – Adam Rowe – July 11, 2018

The Five Top Bestselling Authors of All Time – March 26, 2021

Five record-breaking book facts for National Bookshop Day – Connie Suggitt – Oct 4, 2018

Uncovering Agatha Christie – Why Were Her Mysteries So Popular? – Sophia Beams – March 22, 2020

Agatha Christie is the best-selling novelist in history – Olivia Rutigliano – April 3, 2020