Explore the Most Translated Books in the World

Wide translation is a hallmark of a book and an author’s success and influence, indicating high readership and a place in the world’s cultural consciousness. The team at Preply shows us which novels have earned that honor with a map showing the most translated book from every country in the world (based on the author’s origin). This map offers a fascinating look into a vast world of literature, featuring timeless classics and some books with unexpected popularity.

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It’s likely no surprise to readers that the Bible is the most translated book, available in over 700 languages. After the Bible, the world’s most translated work is a charming children’s book from France. The Little Prince is an illustrated novel for young readers by Antoine de Saint-Exupéry, available in hundreds of languages. The book’s themes of friendship, loss, loyalty, responsibility, and love resonate with children and adults alike all over the world.

North American favorites include Canada’s coming-of-age tale, Anne of Green Gables. The author L.M. Montgomery overcame a sexist literary world to prove her worth, with 36 translations of her novel, which has been widely popular since its release and has had staying power over many of her contemporary male peers. As for the United States, it may be surprising to learn that the most translated book is a 1980 self-help title, The Way to Happiness, written by L. Ron Hubbard, a sci-fi author and founder of the niche religion Scientology.

Moving on to South America, it’s not surprising that we find some beloved works of magical realism. This subgenre originated in South America, and some of its most translated works represent magical realism’s enduring legacy, including The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho and One Hundred Years of Solitude by Gabriel Garcia Marquez.

As for Europe, home to many literary giants besides France’s Saint-Exupéry, we see a lot of representation of children’s novels. Italy’s Carlo Collodi penned The Adventures of Pinocchio. The world-famous wooden puppet who dreamed of being a real boy has a tale that’s been translated into over 300 languages. England’s most translated book is not a play by Shakespeare, but Lewis Carroll’s bizarre and imaginative tale, Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland. And, of course, Europe is the origin of world-famous fairy tales, penned by some of the most widely translated authors, including Jacob Grimm of Germany and Hans Christian Andersen of Denmark.

Africa is a massive continent packed with unique cultures, but the most translated African title is from Kenyan author Nagugi wa Thiong’o with The Upright Revolution: Or Why Humans Walk Upright, a fable that explains why humans walk on two legs and what connects humans worldwide. While often associated with France, Albert Camus was born in Algeria and claims its most translated book, The Stranger. The same is true of Oxford professor and author J.R.R. Tolkien, the father of modern fantasy. He was born in South Africa and claims to have written their most translated title, The Hobbit.

Asia has its own diverse and ancient literary traditions, but its most translated novel was a more recent title from 1998. Turkey’s Orhan Pamuk wrote a novel called My Name is Red, translated into more than 60 languages. Meanwhile, contemporary Japanese author Haruki Murakami takes the number two spot with his novel, Norwegian Wood.

Lastly, the map zooms in on Oceania, where we find Australia’s most translated novel, The Thorn Birds by Colleen McCullough, and New Zealand’s The Whale Rider, which was adapted into a critically-acclaimed film about the Māori community.