Rather than classics, the world favor’s popular fiction, according to data complied by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), which compiles translation records in its Index Translationum.
Mystery writer Agatha Christie has the distinction of the world’s most-translated author with 7,233 translations — almost 3,000 more than the next most popular, Jules Verne.
Other top writers in UNESCO’s ranking include masters of sci-fi, suspense and romance as well as three writers of children’s books. Six of the top authors write in English, but French, German and Danish writers also make the list.
Here are the top ten. You can see the complete list at the Index Translationum website.
Agatha Christie
The Most Translated Author of All Time
7,233 translations from English
Genre: Mystery
Notable translated works: Murder on the Orient Express, And Then There Were None
Jules Verne
The Pioneer of Science Fiction
4,781 translations from French
Genre: Science fiction
Notable translated works: Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Sea, Around the World in Eighty Days
William Shakespeare
The Master of Theatre
4,281 translations from English
Genre: Theatre
Notable translated works: Hamlet, Romeo and Juliet, The Tempest
Enid Blyton
Beloved Children’s Author
3,921 translations from English
Genre: Children’s books
Notable translated works: The Famous Five, Noddy
Barbara Cartland
The Romance Novelist
3,628 translations from English
Genre: Romance
Notable translated works: A Sword to the Heart, Fascination in France
Danielle Steel
The Romance Icon
3,592 translations from English
Genre: Romance
Notable translated works: Safe Harbor, A Perfect Stranger
Vladimir Ilyich Lenin
Political Theory Translations
3,520 translations from Russian
Genre: Political theory
Notable translated works: What is to be done?, The Right of Nations to Self-Determination
Hans Christian Anderson
Fairy Tales for All Ages
3,354 translations from Danish
Genre: Children’s books
Notable translated works: Anderson’s Fairy Tales (including stories such as “The Little Mermaid” and “The Emperors’ New Clothes”)
Stephen King
Master of Suspense
3,354 translations from English
Genre: Suspense
Notable translated works: The Shawshank Redemption, The Shining
Jacob Grimm
The Fairy Tale Innovator
2,976 translations from German
Genre: Children’s books
Notable translated works: Children’s and Household Tales (including stories such as “Snow White,” “Hansel and Gretel”)
While there are some authors I wasn’t surprised to see on the list, I didn’t expect Agatha Christie to be number one!
Are you surprised by the list? Have you read the original works or the translations from any of these authors? Let us know in the comments below!
