Have you been wondering about the longest book in the world? Well, three of the books on this list are over 10,000 pages long, which could take weeks to read in total. You’ll find something intriguing here, from scathing social commentary to biographical memoir.
We’ve left some well-known series off this list that have exceptional word length, as we covered them in another article on the longest book series. these include:
You are reading: Longest books ever written
- harry potter
- lord of the rings
- hunger games
- game of thrones
- wheel of time
- twilight
a dance to the music of the time by anthony powell
Number of words: 184,000Number of pages: 736
Anthony Powell received tons of critical acclaim after his release of A Dance to the Music of the Time. She published it in 12 separate volumes between 1951 and 1975. In essence, the book examines the movements and forms of English political life. Nicholas Jenkins serves as narrator for the entire story. Time magazine included the novel in a list of the 100 best novels in English from 1923 to 2005. The BBC also ranked it as the 36th greatest British novel of all time.
ulysses by james joyce
Number of words: 265,000Number of pages: 735
Irish writer James Joyce wrote Ulysses as a modernist novel and initially published it in serials. It first appeared in the little magazine between March 1918 and December 1920. However, it appeared in full on February 2, 1922. The book’s title is a Latinized version of the name Odysseus. joyce recounts leopold bloom’s dates and encounters during any given day. It takes place entirely within the city of Dublin, and the style of the book mimics many other authors. It has received both praise and criticism over the years. however, even carl jung recommended his unique style of stream of consciousness.
miss macintosh, my love for marguerite young
Number of words: 299,500Number of pages: 1,198
marguerite young began writing miss macintosh, my darling in 1947 and published it in 1965. it deals with illusions and hallucinations in people’s lives. the book focuses on an opium addict’s paradise as its central scene. Upon its release, it was one of the longest novels ever written and received praise from Kurt vonnegut. Her exploration of human-centric stories has earned her an imaginative reputation.
infinite joke by david foster wallace
Number of words: 483,994Number of pages: 1,079
This book’s unconventional narrative structure uses hundreds of footnotes and endnotes. In addition, Time magazine included the book in its list of the 100 best novels in English. it is also a literary fiction best-seller with over a million copies sold. its plot involves several interwoven narratives. the various narratives are connected through a fascinating film. in fact, this movie is so entertaining that its viewers become obsessed. therefore, they die after rewatching too many times.
atlas shrugged for ayn rand
Number of words: 561,996Number of pages: 1,168
atlas shrugged was the longest literary work since its publication. It represents Ayn Rand’s fourth work and his magnum opus. tells a story about the mind of man and his role in existence. In addition, it develops several philosophical themes, from capitalism to individualism. it ends with the strikers planning to build a new capitalist society. They base this plan on John Galt’s vision.
war & peace of leo tolstoy
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Number of words: 587,287Number of pages: 1,225
Leo Tolstoy first published War & peace in 1869 as a novel in Russian. Since then, it has won numerous accolades and countless critical acclaim. recounts the invasion of Russia by Napoleon and its impact on Tsarist society. throughout its course, the reader knows the stories of five aristocratic families. Tolstoy divided the book into five sections, many of which are not told in a traditional format. for example, large sections of the book are not conveyed as a narrative. instead, they read like philosophical discussions.
a proper boy by vikram seth
Number of words: 591,552Number of pages: 1,349
vikram seth published this novel in 1993 as a single volume novel. thereafter, it immediately became one of the longest novels ever published. A Proper Child takes place in post-partition india and follows four families. Over the course of 18 months, the reader learns of an arranged marriage between can and a “right guy.” the central focus of the novel is on can’s choice between three possible suitors. His satirical and serious take on Indian political issues earned him a commendation from the BBC.
jerusalem by alan moore
Number of words: 600,000Number of pages: 1,266
jerusalem is set in northampton, england, the hometown of alan moore. the author’s combination of historical and supernatural fictional elements drew on various styles. however, the book arc develops over the centuries and is mostly found in the districts. the guardian has characterized it as a magnificent and extensive epic. During the course of the plot, readers explore the development of the English language itself. The Washington Post also called it a great literary achievement for our time.
poor thing from my country by xavier herbert
Number of words: 850,000Number of pages: 1,463
Australian author Xavier Herbert published this award-winning novel in 1975. It is therefore one of the greatest books ever produced by an Australian. It also won the 1976 Miles Franklin Literary Award. The plot centers on three social outcasts: Prindy, Jeremy, and Rifkah. Everyone must face oppression when Australia goes to war. As a result, they struggle with important and constant questions about their place in the world.
clarissa by samuel richardson
Number of words: 970,000Number of pages: 1,534
clarissa or the story of a young woman by samuel richardson is an epistolary novel. it was originally published in 1748 and predates the American Revolution by nearly 30 years. Throughout the story, we learn about Clarissa Harlowe’s tragic story and her pursuit of virtue. however, her wealthy family’s concern for her social standing thwarts her attempts. The BBC ranked it as the fourteenth greatest British novel of all time. In addition, The Guardian also included it among the 100 best novels in English.
sironia, texas by madison cooper
Number of words: 1,100,000Number of pages: 840,000
madison cooper has written perhaps the longest book in the world. sironia, texas, has won the houghton mifflin literary prize. Most believe the book disguises the author’s hometown of Waco, Texas. Throughout the book, Cooper lampoons upper-class southerners with jokes. Tam Lipscomb is just a boy at the beginning of the novel. even so, he becomes the main character of the novel at the end.
zettel’s trauma by arno schmidt
Number of words: 1,100,000Number of pages: 1,334
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Zettel’s Traum is also known as Bottom’s Dream, and it came into circulation in 1970. It was initially a German book, but English translations hit the market in 2016. Arno Schmidt was inspired by James Joyce’s Finnegans Wake. In particular, Schmidt capitalized on Joyce’s use of columns from the previously published novel. Zettle’s Trauma follows a couple who are translating the works of Edgar Allan Poe. Despite being over 1,300 pages long, the story takes place over a 25-hour time frame. his unique style employs a Freudian understanding of language and distinct typographical features.
in search of lost time (a la recherche du temps perdu) by marcel proust
Number of words: 1,267,069Number of pages: 4,215
Marcel Proust wrote the world’s greatest book at the time of its publication. moreover, it is well known for its length and its theme of involuntary memory. the book’s narrator recounts memories of his upbringing in French high society and later experiences. simultaneously, he highlights the lost time and the meaninglessness of the world. the anonymous narrator details his experiences in the world as a child. in the end, he has told stories of falling in love and participation in society. This book has had a tremendous impact on the world of English literature.
artamenos by madeleine de scudéry
Number of words: 1,954,300Number of pages: 7,443
artamenes may be the longest book published in French, at over 7,000 pages. however, it is a never-ending epic about real-life historical figures layered with fiction. scudery references material as diverse as the histories of herodotus and xenophon’s cyropaedia. it evolves in ten parts and introduces new characters everywhere. however, many of these characters reappear at various points, creating some continuity.
in the realms of the unreal by john macgregor
Number of words: 3,786,250Number of pages: 15,145
This picture book took over a decade of research to produce. It is a comprehensive examination of the life and art of Henry Darger. furthermore, it may also be the greatest work of fiction ever created. This book tells the story of seven sisters called the Vivian Girls. over time, the reader learns of a conflict over child slavery on an alien planet.
the story of blah by nigel tomm
Number of words: 11,338,105Number of pages: 17,868
nigel tomm specifically wrote this to be the longest book in the world and published it in 21 volumes. his expressionistic style unleashes a creative storm and breaks with traditional rules. the first volume alone weighs more than 390,000 words. if you’re looking for a postmodern epic, this could be it. many of the book’s pages contain little more than the word blah.
marienbad my love for mark leach
number of words: 17,800,000number of pages: 10,710
mark leach wrote what may be considered the world’s longest book ever published. sets it in the 1960s, and the book follows a journalist. however, he turns away from journalism and becomes a filmmaker. the plot of this story invokes Christian themes and portrays everyday cinematic events. as a result, it’s fascinating to the millennial mind and is a chronicle of revenge. mark abundantly populated the book with cinematic illusions and delights in secret conspiracies.
the grand finale
If you’re looking for the longest book in the world, it’s on this list. an avid reader could spend months flipping through these novels and exploring the worlds of it.
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