<P> Some writers have had prolific careers with hundreds of their works being published . While some best - selling authors have written a small number of books that have sold millions of copies , others have had lengthy careers and maintained a high level of output year after year . Dame Agatha Christie , the most - published novelist in history , is estimated to have sold 4 billion books , having written 69 novels and 19 plays . Her works were published between 1920 and 1976 , equating to around three publications every two years . Dame Barbara Cartland has also sold millions of copies of her books but wrote many more than Christie . She spent 80 years as a novelist with 722 books published , averaging one book released every 40 days of her career . While Cartland wrote a significant number of full - length novels , other authors have been published many more times but have specialised in short stories . Spanish author Corín Tellado wrote over 4,000 novellas , selling 400 million copies of her books . </P>
<P> Some writers have had prolific careers with hundreds of their works being published . While some best - selling authors have written a small number of books that have sold millions of copies , others have had lengthy careers and maintained a high level of output year after year . Dame Agatha Christie , the most - published novelist in history , is estimated to have sold 4 billion books , having written 69 novels and 19 plays . Her works were published between 1920 and 1976 , equating to around three publications every two years . Dame Barbara Cartland has also sold millions of copies of her books but wrote many more than Christie . She spent 80 years as a novelist with 722 books published , averaging one book released every 40 days of her career . While Cartland wrote a significant number of full - length novels , other authors have been published many more times but have specialised in short stories . Spanish author Corín Tellado wrote over 4,000 novellas , selling 400 million copies of her books . </P>
who has written the most books in the world
who has written the most books in the world
. Dame Agatha Christie
. Dame Agatha Christie