12 Bestselling Authors Of All Time

Books are the fundamental sources of knowledge as well as tales. Books work as a link between the world, fiction, and empathy. We all of us might have our favorite book or a favorite author. But there some authors who make their way to straight into our hearts and turned out to be the best sellers of all time.

Here are the 12 bestselling authors of all time. With an amalgam of some familiar names to some surprising one all has given an astonishing contribution to the book world.

William Shakespeare “Bard of Avon”

bestselling authors of all the time

Who doesn’t know his name – The greatest writer, the world’s greatest dramatist and legendary “bard of Avon”. With 38 plays and 154 sonnets, you can’t deny that the author of “Romeo and Juliet” is one of the bestselling writers of all time. Most of us have gone through his plays like ” As you like it”, “Julias Ceaser” in our iambic middle school. Widely considered to be the most prominent writer with an estimated 4 billion copies of his work in circulation. There are almost enough copies on earth for each individual to praise Shakespeare’s astounding work.

Here is the list of some most popular and bestselling books of William Shakespeare:

  • Romeo and Juliet
  • Macbeth
  • Hamlet
  • The Tempest
  • A Midsummer Night’s Dream
  • The First Folio of Shakespeare
  • Twelfth Night
  • Much Ado About Nothing
  • King Lear

Barbara Cartland “Sheer number of books”

One of the most essential names of the list. Worth being claimed as the bestselling author of all time with an incredibly prolific approach.

Wrote 723 novels during her career and experienced the Guinness World Records for publishing the most novels in a single year. Making Cartland one of the most prolific authors of the 20th century has sold over 750 million copies of her work. The claim on the numbers is disputed.

Here is the list of some most popular and bestselling books of Barbara Cartland:

  • Hazard of Hearts. 
  • The Wicked Marquis.
  • The Poor Governess. 
  • A Duel of Hearts
  • Lucifer and the Angel
  • The Duke and the Preacher’s Daughter
  • The Love Pirate. 
  • The Rhapsody of Love. 

Agatha Christie “The Queen of Mystery”

If there’s one writer that any fan of mystery and crime has read its the undeniable queen of the mystery novel- Agatha Christie. The matriarch has tricked, confused, and surprised millions of readers. Throughout her career, Christie autographed classic gems like “And Then There Were None” which have become a classic novel to be taught in various schools.

Her website alleges her as “the bestselling authors of all the time,” with more than 2 Billion copies and 70 works have racked up a sale, its huge isn’t it! 

Here is the list of some most popular and bestselling books of Agatha Christie:

  • The Mysterious Affair at Styles.
  • And Then There Were None.
  • Murder on the Orient Express.
  • Death on the Nile.
  • The A.B.C. Murders.
  • The Murder of Roger Ackroyd.
  • Five Little Pigs.
  • Crooked House

Harold Robbins “Hollywood Renowned”

Most of the time it’s observed that the author’s writing is the replica of their personal life writing and sometimes the author’s life is more interesting than their books. Brooklyn, New York-born writer Harold Robbins started his journey to become a writer from an errand boy to an executive at Universal Studios.

Harold’s work “A Stone for Danny Fisher” adopted to make a film. This iconic writer sold 750 million copies, Robbins had made his way to the list of bestselling authors of all time

Here is the list of some most popular and bestselling books of Harold Robbins:

  • The Carpetbaggers
  • The Curse
  • The Secret
  • Goodbye, Janette
  • The Stallion
  • Never Love A Stranger
  • The Betsy The Looters

Georges Simenon “Detective Fiction”

Non-English writing author on the list yet hold a similar fanbase, Georges Simenon was a prolific Belgian author.  Over 400 novels and numerous short works of fiction the writer is the most popular and productive writer of all time. Many authors are popular due to the theme that they write detective fiction. Simenon’s well-known creation Jules Maigret, a detective that featured in over 75 of his novels. Sold estimated 700 million copies, Simenon, easily made on the list of best sellers.

Here is the list of some most popular and bestselling books of Georges Simenon:

  • Dirty Snow
  • The Man Who Watched Trains Go By
  • Monsieur Monde Vanishes
  • Red Lights
  • The Strangers in the House 
  • Pedigree
  • The Widow
  • Tropic Moon 
  • The Yellow Dog

Sidney Sheldon “A Man of Many Talents”

The most prominent writer started as a screenwriter. Sheldon got recognition after the age of 50 by writing bestselling books that emphasize suspenseful romance plots. Sheldon worked as a TV producer and created the iconic show “I Dream of Jeannie.”

In addition to being one of the bestselling authors of all time, 300 million copies sold around, Sheldon is definitely worth the fame.

Here is the list of some most popular and bestselling books of Sidney Sheldon:

  • The Naked Face
  • If Tomorrow Comes
  • Bloodline
  • Tell Me Your Dreams
  • Memories of Midnight
  • Master of the Game
  • Nothing Lasts Forever
  • Rage of Angels

Enid Blyton “A Controversial Legacy”

Enid Blyton is well known for his classic work of literature such as “Brer Rabbit.” the prolific author ruled children’s heart for his work. Blyton’s work has sold around 600 million copies but you deny his controversial legacy, critics claimed her numerous novels to be “deeply racist”. Besides Depictions and descriptions of people and color, Blyton’s sales numbers have captured the spot on the bestseller list.

Here is the list of some most popular and bestselling books of Enid Blyton:

  •  First Term at Malory Towers 
  •  Naughty Amelia Jane! 
  • Mr Galliano’s Circus
  • The Secret Seven 
  •  Adventures of the Wishing-Chair
  • The River of Adventure 
  • The Magic Faraway Tree
  • The Enhancement Wood
  • Five on a Treasure Island

Danielle Steel “The Queen of Romance”

Danielle Steel is an ocean of romance novel genre. Despite not being critically acclaimed her books have sold somewhere between 300 and 800 million copies over the years.

Her work resembles that she has a hunger to write than to become famous the author of over 165 books, mends her way to the bestseller list.

Here is the list of some most popular and bestselling books of Danielle Steel:

  • The Gift
  • Changes
  • The Long Road Home
  • Prodigal Son
  • Until the End of Time
  • Big Girl
  • Undercover
  • Crossings
  • Lone Eagle

Dr. Suess “Childhood Creation”

Dr Seuss has shaped several childhoods, most of us have grown up with his book nearby. Classic gems of children’s literature have been espoused across the intact world and translated into more than 20 languages.

Theodor Seuss Geisel was a versatile author, a political cartoonist, poet, animator, screenwriter, filmmaker, and artist he is beyond your imagination. Over 60 books in his career and sold around 600 million copies, counted under the bestseller list.

Here is the list of some most popular and bestselling books of Dr. Seuss:

  • Oh, the Places You’ll Go!
  • Love You Forever
  • Goodnight Moon
  • The Elf on the Shelf
  • Green Eggs and Ham
  • The Very Hungry Caterpillar
  • Where the Wild Things Are
  • Brown Bear, Brown Bear, What Do You See
  • The Polar Express

Gilbert Patten “Frank Merriwell- Sporting Series” 

With over 500 million copies, Gilbert Patten is much loved as an undisputed king of the dime novel. In his signature, he wrote over 75 novels and copious short stories. He owned his own newspaper and not only that he holds a semi-professional baseball team as well.

His well-known sporting series “Frank Merriwell” got him into the limelight. he also wrote numerous westerns which is enough to get him into the bestseller list.

Here is the list of some most popular and bestselling books of Gilbert Patten:

  • Frank Merriwell’s -Father-: An Autobiography.
  • Frank Merriwell at Yale.
  • Frank Merriwell’s Chums.
  • Frank Merriwell Down South.
  • Frank Merriwell’s Cruise.
  • Frank Merriwell’s Races.
  • Frank Merriwell’s Bravery.
  • Frank Merriwell’s Son.

Stephen King “The King of Dark Fiction”

Author of horror, supernatural fiction, suspense, and fantasy, Stephen spent half of the century scaring us. Sold more than 350 million copies it took decades for King’s work to be critically appreciated. Several books like “IT,” “The Shining,” and “The Green Mile” resulted in movie adaptations, King’s work endures not because of its inherent darkness but because of its inherent hope.  

Here is the list of some most popular and bestselling books of Stephen King:

  • The Shining
  • Salem’s Slot
  • The Dead Zone
  • The Green Mile
  • Pet Sematary
  • Misery 
  • It
  • The Stand
  • The Dark Tower

R.L. Stine’s “Scared You as a Kid”

No kid can forget “Goosebumps” books which scared kids for decades. 400 million copies of the books out in the world are enough to make scare kids around the world. This spooky literature is definitely kid-friendly and highly popular among kids. There was a time “Goosebumps” books was sold with an astonishing number of 4 million copies a week.

Here is the list of some most popular and bestselling books of R.L. Stine’s:

  • Goosebumps
  • Stay Out Of The Basement
  • The Cuckoo Clock Of The Doom
  • Piano Lessons Can Be Murder
  • Monster Blood
  • The Thrill Club

J.K Rowling ” Created Historic Harry Potter.”

Not only kids but adults are equally fan of the most famous series of iconic “Harry Potter”. The book got adopted to become a film and gained fame throughout the world, not only that numerous spin-offs and even a theme park are equally astounding. Nearly 500 million copies of wizarding Harry Potter novels are mending their way around the world at the moment. J.K. Rowling’s series took the world by storm with the world beyond your imagination. Being rejected several counts, Rowling has risen to prominence as one of the wealthiest and bestselling authors in history. 

Though Rowling got recognition as a well-known author with Harry Potter, she also accounted for some classic gems like “The Cuckoo’s Calling,” “The Silkworm,” and “The Casual Vacancy.” That is not enough the Harry Potter holds the Guinness World Record for All-Time Bestselling Series of Books with its unmatched popularity.

Here is the list of some most popular and bestselling books of J.K Rowling:

  • Harry Potter And The Philosopher’s Stone 
  • Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire 
  • Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows 
  • Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince 
  • Harry Potter And The Chamber Of Secrets
  • Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix 
  • Harry Potter And The Prisoner Of Azkaban

Conclusion

While finding precise sales numbers for any given author is nearly impossible, the above-mentioned numbers are approximate or provided by repeatedly and reliable sources. The authors mentioned above have brought a revolutionary change in the number of copies to be sold.

These were some bestseller authors of all time. The authors mentioned in the article are some of the best authors of different genres and are known for their numerous works. Do let us know in the comment section how you liked this article and suggestions or queries or are always appreciated, you can ask them by commenting below.