However, what they dont know is that the number of bible translations varies depending on how you count the translations. Why the king james bible of 1611 remains the most popular. The comedies, poems, tragedies, and problem plays i randomly shuffled. Jul 27, 2019 the translated books have captured life in.
It has been translated into over 300 languages and this is a pretty good record of translation. These are 8 of the most translated authors in the world. The bible has also been translated more times, and into more languages, than any other book. White, her grandson and biographer, writes that ellen g. Short story by ngugi wa thiongo translated into over 30. However, unknown to many is that the number of bible translations varies depending on. A 1616 printed king james bible translated by james i on display at the folger shakespeare library in. This slideshow will look at the 20 most translated books in the world. There are many who would name the bible as the most translated book of all time. Institute as he announced the results of history s most expansive authors poll.
This is the most translated chinese book, and it has been translated into at least 250 languages. How beautiful it is to know how much translators have helped us and our education system. The holy bible, available in whole or in part to some 98 percent of the worlds population in 2,233 languages preface, continues to be the most translated book in the world. This is a dynamic list and may never be able to satisfy particular standards for completeness. List of most translated individual authors list of bestselling books index translationum. Most translated books best, greatest of everything ranked. At least one book of the bible has been translated into 2,883 languages.
We have found and listed 20 of the most translated texts throughout history. Regarded by many as among the most powerful works of history ever written, this book offers an unparalleled account of one of the most pivotal and hotly debated events in world history. I did some research and, surprise, surprise, wiki article cites white is the most translated female nonfiction author in the history of literature, as well as the most translated american nonfiction author of either gender. Here are most recently translated chinese books for the us. Top 20 mosttranslated books of all time by randy fishell. The worlds most translated books the translation company. The worlds ten most translated authors translation. Strangely, noone so far has mentioned the unescos index translationum. Being a complete translation of his wellknown and prized work, ibn jawzi enumerates within it, many of the mechanisms and. Nov 01, 2018 most translators know that the bible is the most translated book ever.
Depending on what or who your source of information is, pinocchio is either the second or third most translated book in history. Apart from being the most translated book in the world, the bible also. Heres what every chinese book recently translated for the us is about. With news this week of the discovery of what could be the earliest known siddur, a jewish prayer book dated at around 840 ad we have put together a list of 10 of the oldest known surviving books in the world today writing and literature are thought to have been first developed between the. This religious text was first published in the united states in 1830 and is used by followers of the latter day. This thirukural is the second book that have been translated in more languages where bible stands first. Do you want to read books on islamic history and you are confused. Nov 19, 2012 for those of you who arent familiar with the tao te ching, this is the second most translated book in the world after the bible and it was written more than 2500 years ago by this wise chinese man called lao tzu. These are 8 of the most translated authors in the world today. May 04, 2018 unsurprisingly, childrens books and fairy tales dominate the list of the most translated books throughout history. This page provides list of most translated individual authors to date sorted by the total number of translations. The 5 most translated literary texts in the world day translations.
Feb 10, 2011 you failed to note nonfiction in your question. Mar 29, 2016 a fable by the major kenyan author ngugi wa thiongo has been translated into over 30 languages, making it the single most translated short story in the history of african writing. Jun 11, 2014 the 20 most translated texts in history the content in this article is compiled from data and does not reflect ingco internationals opinions or views. This is a list of literary works sorted by the number of languages they have been translated into. Translation throughout history has offered individuals not just a chance to interact with disparate peoples and cultures, but to see and interpret their environment in a different way. Apr 16, 2019 why the king james bible of 1611 remains the most popular translation in history. And one of the most interesting facts about translation has to do with the the books throughout history that have been translated the most.
The topic of the most translated book in the world is one which is often up for. The most translated books in human history quicksilver translate. The christian bible has been translated into 2,400 of the worlds 6,800 languages re. Besides having been translated into 469 languages, the bible is the most read and sold book in the history of the world. A book that pairs a detectives career with the history of hong kong. White is the most translated female nonfiction author in the history of literature, as well as the. I kept the history plays in chronological order based on the date setting of the play. This effort started with ptolemy philadelphus arrangement for the translation of the hebrew bible into koine, in alexandria, on the island of pharos. This is the most translated, most read and most sold book of all time. Jul 27, 2016 while the most translated website and the most translated book in the world are both religious in their nature, the most translated author is, surprisingly, nothing to do with religion. This book reveals, from the perspective of one of its central actors, the russian revolutions profoundly democratic, emancipatory character. The bible is the most translated book in the world.
While the most translated website and the most translated book in the world are both religious in their nature, the most translated author is, surprisingly, nothing to do with religion. This series of seven fantasy novels chronicles the adventures of a young wizard. The top 10 most translated books in the world eurotrad. White is now the third most translated author in the entire history of literature. On the basis of research in the library of congress, 10 of literatures most translated authors have been identified. Excluding the bible and the quran, the second most translated book format in the world is the novel or novella. Best translated novels 196 books goodreads share book. The most popular literary works in the world are often translated into various languages to ensure that bookstores all over there are a number of reasons as to why a book would be translated into other languages history, context, significance, demand, and reach.
According to itc global translations, the number one, most translated book in known history is the bible. The 20 most translated texts in history ingco international. According to their data worlds top translated authors page on the. The earliest copy of the book has been dated back to the 4 th century bc. If you were stopped on the sidewalk and as part of a survey, asked to guess the most translated books in history, what would your answer be. Christian books still dominate alltime bestsellers lists. To celebrate world book day weve created an infographic that takes a look at 50 of the worlds most translated books, from the alchemist first published in portuguese to wolf totem mandarin. Pilgrims progresswas first translated into dutch but. Pippi longstocking tells the story of a young orphaned girl with crazy red pigtails.
Agatha christie is beloved by all those with a taste for mystery novels. Things we lost in the fire, by mariana enriquez, translated from spanish by megan mcdowell hogarth, february 2017 so many of the best and quite frankly, most terrifying short stories coming. This ancient text, together with the quran, is one of the most translated books in the history of humanity. Bible is the holy book only for christian community but this thirukural can be kept as holy book for all the relegions and for all the communities in the world. Most translated books best, greatest of everything. William caxton, who introduced the printing press to england, printed the recuyell of the historyes of troye in 1473, which he had translated from the french original of raoul lefevre. The 20 most translated texts in history the content in this article is compiled from data and does not reflect ingco internationals opinions or views. In fact, the very first book printed in english was a translation. Paulo coelho wrote the bestselling novel, the alchemist, which sold 35 million copies and is the most translated book in the world by a living author. The worlds most widely distributed book watchtower online. Ancient wisdom from the second most translated book in the.
This is a list of literary works including novels, plays, series, collections of poems or short. Yes, the bible is undoubtedly the most translated book. At least one of its sixtysix books have been translated into over 3000 languages, the new testament into over 0 languages, and the entire work into more than 550 languages. The most translated works of all time one hour translation. Even from childhood, we wouldnt have had access to some of the books we read. The most popular literary works in the world are often translated into various languages to ensure that bookstores all over the world have copies of it and that people all of all cultures and languages are afforded the same opportunity to own a copy in their own language. Generally speaking, the most famous translations are also the most influential, having triggered visible changes in the workings and perception of the world. List of most translated individual authors wikipedia. May 08, 2002 don quixote is the worlds best book say the worlds top authors. For those of you who arent familiar with the tao te ching, this is the second most translated book in the world after the bible and it was written more than 2500 years ago by this wise chinese man called lao tzu. Writing and literature are thought to have been first developed between the 7th and 4th millenium bc. The most translated books in human history quicksilver. This religious text was first published in the united states in 1830 and is used by followers of the latter day saint movement, better known as mormons. Don quixote is the worlds best book say the worlds top authors.
Here is a list of famous books on islamic history and a little intro of the book to help you decide the book you may want to read. Jun 23, 2015 the most popular literary works in the world are often translated into various languages to ensure that bookstores all over the world have copies of it and that people all of all cultures and languages are afforded the same opportunity to own a copy in their own language. A global history, between 1966 and 1970 printing quotations used 650,000 tons of paper, around the same amount as all publications produced in. Top ten translated books of all time lintelligence artificielle. We can just look at the sales numbers and rank them. Don quixote is the worlds best book say the worlds top. This book is the sixth instalment from dar assunnah of the illustrious imam, abulfaraj ibn jawzi. Unsurprisingly, childrens books and fairy tales dominate the list of the most translated books throughout history. Best translated novels score a books total score is based on multiple factors, including the number of people who have voted for it and how highly those voters ranked the book.
This book has been translated into about ninetysix languages. The worlds most widely distributed book the bible is the most widely read book in history. This is a list of literary works including novels, plays, series, collections of poems or short stories, and essays and other forms of literary nonfiction sorted by the number of languages they have been translated into. It was written in the 1920s in french, and this was one of the most popular comics to come out of europe.
Thankfully, we can easily find some of the worlds most popular books translated into numerous languages around the world. Pilgrims progresswas first translated into dutch but has since been translated into more than 100 languages. It is the oldest religious text in known existence. Its a very famous book in urdu but only recently got translated into english. The worlds ten most translated authors translation excellence. With 469 translations, its easily the most translated text in human history. Why the king james bible of 1611 remains the most popular translation in history. Sometimes the history, importance or popularity of a book demands that it be translated into other languages. Instead, he pointed to the christian allegory pilgrims progress by john bunyan, first published in 1678, as the title holder of both the most printed and most translated english book, according to abc news on monday. The united bible societies announced that as of 31 december 2007 21 the complete bible was available in 438 languages, 123 of which included the deuterocanonical material as well as the tanakh and new testament.
Without doubt, the bible is the most translated book ever. For example, if you consider the book both old and new testaments as a whole, the complete bible has been translated into 670 languages. The imitation of christ is regarded as the most important devotional work in catholic christianity, and is the most widely read devotional work next to the bible. Ok gos song this too shall pass is the most translated among the pop songs. The first novel in the series, harry potter and the philosophers stone, has sold in excess of 120 million copies, making it one of the bestselling books of all time. List of literary works by number of translations wikipedia. But it helps us appreciate the influence and impact translation and translators have had on the world at large. Aside from the bible, with 475 translations for the whole bible and 112 translations for the quran, the most translated literary works are the wellknown classics, old and new. Oct 19, 2015 in fact, the very first book printed in english was a translation. The bible is easily one of the bestselling books of all time, but exact sales numbers are hard to nail down. In todays blog we have listed eight of the most translated texts throughout history. Institute as he announced the results of historys most expansive authors.
The universal declaration of human rights has set a new world record of being the most translated text. Jun 15, 2015 strangely, noone so far has mentioned the unescos index translationum. Today, the worlds most translated book is the bible. More copies have been distributed of the bible than of any other book. Im pretty sure many fictional writers are out translated. Translated works and authors database at the unesco website 50 of the worlds most translated books, infographic prepared by the translation company group full list of sources included the most translated authors in the world. The 21 bestselling books of all time howstuffworks. A perfect life is her most heartwarming and inspirational novel about a mother and daughter who face challenges and overcome tragedy while trying to maintain their appearance of having a perfect life.
But if these books are to be enjoyed all around the world they need to be translated into different languages first. The bible is a collection of ancient religious texts relating to judaism and christianity. Danielle steel has written a book for you, and you better bet its been translated, being the 4th bestselling author in the world. Apr 15, 2016 the most translated work in the history of the world is the christian bible.
At least one of its sixtysix books have been translated into over 3000 languages, the new testament into over 0 languages. A fable by the major kenyan author ngugi wa thiongo has been translated into over 30 languages, making it the single most translated short story in the history of african writing. The vegetarian by han kang, one hundred years of solitude by gabriel garcia marquez, konbini ningen by sayaka murat. With news this week of the discovery of what could be the earliest known siddur, a jewish prayer book dated at around 840 ad we have put together a list of 10 of the oldest known surviving books in the world today. Originally written in portuguese in 1988 by brazilian author paulo coelho, this book has been translated into 67 languages. Having sold more than 500 million copies worldwide, harry potter by j. So, the most authentic book translated into the most number of languages, is the thirukkurrall, making thiruvalluvar naayanaar the most translated author as well. Are you looking for a book written in your target language.
So good to know this through some of the books that have been translated throughout history. Scholars can debate endlessly over which book is the best of all time, but finding out which ones have enjoyed the most commercial success should be a more concrete endeavor. Books throughout history have been vehicles for knowledge and entertainment. The good thing is that most popular books are translated into other languages, to increase their readership and make more readers appreciate them across continents. Mar 05, 2015 originally written in portuguese in 1988 by brazilian author paulo coelho, this book has been translated into 67 languages. The bible is the most read and sold book in the history of the world, with an estimated sale amount of 100 million copies annually its not. The most translated books of all time we translate on time. They have influenced entire societies and politics from one. Dec 28, 2017 generally speaking, the most famous translations are also the most influential, having triggered visible changes in the workings and perception of the world. Who is the most translated woman author in history. The most translated work in the history of the world is the christian bible. The most important book in christianity, the bible is the most widely translated book in history. To celebrate world book day weve created an infographic that takes a look at 50 of the worlds most translated books, from the alchemist first. According to ingco international, a translation agency, the most translated book in the world is the bible.