As religious and political books such as The Bible are often given away for free it is impossible to ascertain the exact number sold, so they have not been included on this list.
5. And Then There Were None – Agatha Christie – 1939 – 100 million
Quoted as being Christie’s most difficult book to write, And Then There Were None is the world’s best-selling mystery ever, telling the story of ten people lured to an island where they are killed in turn.
4. Harry Potter And The Philosopher’s Stone – JK Rowling – 1997 – 107 million
JK Rowling spent six years writing the first novel in the hugely famous Harry Potter series and was paid a £2,500 advance by Bloomsbury publishers.
3. The Little Prince – Antoine de Saint-Exupéry – 1943 – 140 million
This novella telling the story of a young prince fallen to Earth is the most-read and most-translated book in the French language.
2. The Lord Of The Rings – JRR Tolkien – 1954-1955 – 150 Million
Although often considered a series, Tolkien’s epic fantasy novel was originally intended to be a one-volume novel.
1. A Tale Of Two Cities – Charles Dickens – 1859 – 200 Million
Set during the French Revolution, A Tale of Two Cities was originally published in 31 weekly installments from 30 April 1859 to 26 November of the same year.
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