Titles
The biggest books on NYT Hardcover Fiction that entered the chart in the 1940s, ranked by Top-ten weeks. Click a column to re-sort.
Book Power is the book's own figure: each week on the list is worth its position as a share of a full list — a #1 week is 14.5, a #6 week is 7.3, a #16 week is 1.8 — added up over the run. No credit split and no discount for what else the author had charting. What a book earned each author is on the author pages.
Ranked by Top-ten weeks, part of the ChartReign Power model — not a list published by anyone else. How it works →
| # | Title | Book Power | Weeks at #1 | Top-ten weeks | Weeks on list | Peak | On list |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | The RobeLloyd C. Douglas | 1,107.3 | 33 | 88 | 111 | #1Dec 1942 | Nov 1942 → Mar 1954 |
| 2 | The Big FishermanLloyd C. Douglas | 590.1 | 16 | 54 | 62 | #1Dec 1948 | Nov 1948 → Feb 1950 |
| 3 | The Naked and the DeadNorman Mailer | 603.6 | 19 | 53 | 62 | #1Jun 1948 | May 1948 → Jul 1949 |
| 4 | The Miracle of the BellsRussell Janney | 471.6 | 0 | 52 | 54 | #2Nov 1946 | Oct 1946 → Oct 1947 |
| 5 | A Tree Grows in BrooklynBetty Smith | 655.2 | 28 | 51 | 51 | #1Sep 1943 | Aug 1943 → Sep 1944 |
| 6 | The EgyptianMika Waltari | 575.7 | 16 | 50 | 59 | #1Oct 1949 | Sep 1949 → Oct 1954 |
| 7 | The Valley of DecisionMarcia Davenport | 561.5 | 6 | 49 | 49 | #1Nov 1942 | Nov 1942 → Oct 1943 |
| 8 | Forever AmberKathleen Winsor | 480.7 | 9 | 43 | 58 | #1Nov 1944 | Nov 1944 → May 1946 |
| 9 | The Song of BernadetteFranz Werfel | 477.1 | 14 | 39 | 39 | #1Jul 1942 | May 1942 → Feb 1943 |
| 10 | This Side of InnocenceTaylor Caldwell | 450.8 | 9 | 38 | 41 | #1May 1946 | Apr 1946 → Feb 1947 |
| 11 | The Black RoseThomas B. Costain | 449.5 | 17 | 38 | 39 | #1Oct 1945 | Sep 1945 → Jun 1946 |
| 12 | Captain from CastilleSamuel Shellaburger | 374.0 | 4 | 38 | 43 | #1Jun 1945 | Feb 1945 → Jan 1946 |
| 13 | How Green Was My ValleyRichard Llewellyn | 444.9 | 13 | 35 | 35 | #1Mar 1940 | Feb 1940 → Oct 1940 |
| 14 | House DividedBen Ames Williams | 429.5 | 15 | 34 | 40 | #1Nov 1947 | Sep 1947 → Aug 1948 |
| 15 | Strange FruitLillian Smith | 429.4 | 22 | 32 | 32 | #1Apr 1944 | Mar 1944 → Oct 1944 |
| 16 | Point of No ReturnJohn P. Marquand | 400.5 | 22 | 32 | 34 | #1Apr 1949 | Mar 1949 → Nov 1949 |
| 17 | Gentleman's AgreementLaura Z. Hobson | 392.8 | 14 | 32 | 36 | #1Apr 1947 | Mar 1947 → Dec 1947 |
| 18 | The Keys of the KingdomA. J. Cronin | 410.3 | 18 | 31 | 31 | #1Aug 1941 | Jul 1941 → Mar 1942 |
| 19 | The Razor's EdgeSomerset Maugham | 379.0 | 3 | 31 | 31 | #1Aug 1944 | May 1944 → Dec 1944 |
| 20 | Earth and High HeavenGwenthalyn Graham | 334.2 | 1 | 31 | 31 | #1Apr 1945 | Nov 1944 → Jul 1945 |
| 21 | The Sun Is My UndoingMarguerite Steen | 328.9 | 0 | 31 | 31 | #2Sep 1941 | Aug 1941 → May 1942 |
| 22 | The MoneymanThomas B. Costain | 347.9 | 12 | 30 | 31 | #1Aug 1947 | Aug 1947 → Feb 1948 |
| 23 | Dinner at Antoine'sFrances Parkinson Keyes | 343.8 | 0 | 30 | 37 | #2Jan 1949 | Dec 1948 → Aug 1949 |
| 24 | A Rage to LiveJohn O'Hara | 323.7 | 6 | 30 | 33 | #1Sep 1949 | Sep 1949 → Apr 1950 |
| 25 | Random HarvestJames Hilton | 357.2 | 10 | 29 | 29 | #1Feb 1941 | Feb 1941 → Aug 1941 |
| 26 | Mrs. MiniverJan Struther | 327.1 | 6 | 29 | 29 | #1Aug 1940 | Aug 1940 → Feb 1941 |
| 27 | The Young LionsIrwin Shaw | 303.5 | 4 | 29 | 34 | #1Nov 1948 | Oct 1948 → Jun 1949 |
| 28 | The Green YearsA. J. Cronin | 375.4 | 18 | 28 | 28 | #1Dec 1944 | Dec 1944 → Jun 1945 |
| 29 | The HuckstersFrederic Wakeman | 368.8 | 19 | 28 | 32 | #1Jul 1946 | Jun 1946 → Jan 1947 |
| 30 | So Little TimeJohn P. Marquand | 343.2 | 4 | 28 | 28 | #1Sep 1943 | Aug 1943 → Mar 1944 |
| 31 | A Bell for AdanoJohn Hersey | 289.3 | 0 | 28 | 28 | #2Mar 1944 | Mar 1944 → Sep 1944 |
| 32 | This Above AllEric Knight | 345.4 | 14 | 27 | 27 | #1Apr 1941 | Apr 1941 → Oct 1941 |
| 33 | Raintree CountyRoss Lockridge | 301.2 | 4 | 27 | 29 | #1Apr 1948 | Jan 1948 → Aug 1948 |
| 34 | East RiverSholem Asch | 258.4 | 1 | 27 | 28 | #1Nov 1946 | Nov 1946 → May 1947 |
| 35 | East Side, West SideMarcia Davenport | 284.7 | 2 | 26 | 28 | #1Feb 1948 | Nov 1947 → May 1948 |
| 36 | Father of the BrideEdward Streeter | 254.2 | 0 | 26 | 30 | #2Jul 1949 | Jun 1949 → Jan 1950 |
| 37 | Knock on Any DoorWillard Motley | 221.4 | 0 | 26 | 41 | #5Jul 1947 | Jun 1947 → May 1948 |
| 38 | The Bishop's MantleAgnes Sligh Turnbull | 200.7 | 0 | 26 | 38 | #5Jan 1948 | Nov 1947 → Sep 1948 |
| 39 | A Lion Is in the StreetsAdria Locke Langley | 294.6 | 10 | 25 | 30 | #1Jul 1945 | Jun 1945 → Jan 1946 |
| 40 | Arch of TriumphErich Maria Remarque | 283.1 | 8 | 25 | 27 | #1Mar 1946 | Feb 1946 → Aug 1946 |
| 41 | MarySholem Asch | 257.8 | 0 | 25 | 30 | #2Nov 1949 | Oct 1949 → May 1950 |
| 42 | Lydia BaileyKenneth Roberts | 299.3 | 12 | 24 | 29 | #1Feb 1947 | Jan 1947 → Aug 1947 |
| 43 | The VixensFrank Yerby | 226.6 | 0 | 24 | 29 | #2May 1947 | May 1947 → Dec 1947 |
| 44 | Came a CavalierFrances Parkinson Keyes | 218.5 | 0 | 24 | 29 | #3Dec 1947 | Nov 1947 → Jun 1948 |
| 45 | For Whom the Bell TollsErnest Hemingway | 290.5 | 7 | 23 | 23 | #1Oct 1940 | Oct 1940 → Mar 1941 |
| 46 | The King's GeneralDaphne Du Maurier | 277.8 | 6 | 23 | 28 | #1Feb 1946 | Jan 1946 → Jul 1946 |
| 47 | Oliver WiswellKenneth Roberts | 268.2 | 9 | 23 | 23 | #1Dec 1940 | Dec 1940 → May 1941 |
| 48 | The White TowerJames Ramsey Ullman | 244.5 | 0 | 23 | 26 | #2Dec 1945 | Sep 1945 → Mar 1946 |
| 49 | Prince of FoxesSamuel Shellanbarger | 224.3 | 0 | 22 | 26 | #2Aug 1947 | Aug 1947 → Jan 1948 |
| 50 | Eagle in the SkyF. Van Wyck Mason | 211.9 | 5 | 22 | 23 | #1Mar 1948 | Feb 1948 → Aug 1948 |
| 51 | B.F.'s DAUGHTERJohn P. Marquand | 257.8 | 9 | 21 | 24 | #1Dec 1946 | Nov 1946 → May 1947 |
| 52 | Pilgrim's InnElizabeth Goudge | 234.7 | 4 | 21 | 24 | #1May 1948 | Apr 1948 → Oct 1948 |
| 53 | So Well RememberedJames Hilton | 204.4 | 2 | 21 | 23 | #1Sep 1945 | Aug 1945 → Jan 1946 |
| 54 | Let Love Come LastTaylor Caldwell | 197.7 | 0 | 21 | 23 | #2Sep 1949 | Aug 1949 → Jan 1950 |
| 55 | The Foxes of HarrowFrank Yerby | 193.3 | 0 | 21 | 45 | #5Mar 1946 | Feb 1946 → Feb 1947 |
| 56 | Pride's CastleFrank Yerby | 160.3 | 0 | 21 | 22 | #3Jun 1949 | May 1949 → Oct 1949 |
| 57 | Brideshead RevisitedEvelyn Waugh | 157.7 | 0 | 21 | 24 | #3Jan 1946 | Jan 1946 → Jul 1946 |
| 58 | WindsweptMary Ellen Chase | 248.0 | 6 | 20 | 20 | #1Dec 1941 | Nov 1941 → Apr 1942 |
| 59 | The Prodigal WomenNancy Hale | 228.0 | 5 | 20 | 20 | #1Nov 1942 | Oct 1942 → Mar 1943 |
| 60 | Green Dolphin StreetElizabeth Goudge | 227.9 | 1 | 20 | 22 | #1Oct 1944 | Oct 1944 → Oct 1945 |
| 61 | Shannon's WayA. J. Cronin | 203.2 | 3 | 20 | 23 | #1Sep 1948 | Aug 1948 → Jan 1949 |
| 62 | The ApostleSholem Asch | 183.2 | 0 | 20 | 20 | #3Jan 1944 | Oct 1943 → Mar 1944 |
| 63 | Immortal WifeIrving Stone | 171.6 | 0 | 20 | 22 | #3Jan 1945 | Oct 1944 → Oct 1945 |
| 64 | The Peacock Sheds His TailAlice Tisdale Hobart | 152.2 | 0 | 20 | 21 | #4Nov 1945 | Oct 1945 → Feb 1946 |
| 65 | Mrs. MikeBenedict Freedman & Nancy Freedman | 142.9 | 0 | 20 | 25 | #5Apr 1947 | Mar 1947 → Sep 1947 |
| 66 | Dragon SeedPearl S. Buck | 239.0 | 5 | 19 | 19 | #1Feb 1942 | Feb 1942 → Jun 1942 |
| 67 | And Now TomorrowRachel Field | 233.3 | 6 | 19 | 19 | #1Jun 1942 | Jun 1942 → Oct 1942 |
| 68 | The Snake PitMary Jane Ward | 194.7 | 0 | 19 | 23 | #2May 1946 | Apr 1946 → Sep 1946 |
| 69 | The Golden HawkFrank Yerby | 179.7 | 0 | 19 | 24 | #2Jun 1948 | May 1948 → Oct 1948 |
| 70 | Remembrance RockCarl Sandburg | 165.3 | 0 | 19 | 21 | #3Nov 1948 | Oct 1948 → Mar 1949 |
| 71 | The Moon Is DownJohn Steinbeck | 233.6 | 12 | 18 | 18 | #1Mar 1942 | Mar 1942 → Jul 1942 |
| 72 | Kingsblood RoyalSinclair Lewis | 192.8 | 2 | 18 | 20 | #1Jul 1947 | Jun 1947 → Oct 1947 |
| 73 | The Salem FrigateJohn Jennings | 144.6 | 0 | 18 | 22 | #3Oct 1946 | Sep 1946 → Jan 1947 |
| 74 | The MudlarkTheodore Bonnet | 107.1 | 0 | 18 | 22 | #6Oct 1949 | Sep 1949 → Jan 1950 |
| 75 | Cutlass EmpireF. Van Wyck Mason | 153.4 | 0 | 17 | 22 | #4Apr 1949 | Mar 1949 → Aug 1949 |
| 76 | The Brave BullsTom Lea | 150.2 | 0 | 17 | 22 | #3Jun 1949 | May 1949 → Oct 1949 |
| 77 | The Way WestA.B. Guthrie Jr | 146.6 | 0 | 17 | 20 | #4Nov 1949 | Oct 1949 → Jun 1950 |
| 78 | The River RoadFrances Parkinson Keyes | 139.5 | 0 | 17 | 21 | #3Jan 1946 | Dec 1945 → May 1946 |
| 79 | Stars on the SeaF. Van Wyck Mason | 206.2 | 10 | 16 | 16 | #1Jun 1940 | Jun 1940 → Sep 1940 |
| 80 | Cass TimberlaneSinclair Lewis | 175.5 | 0 | 16 | 19 | #2Oct 1945 | Oct 1945 → Feb 1946 |
| 81 | The Loved OneEvelyn Waugh | 152.1 | 0 | 16 | 17 | #2Aug 1948 | Jul 1948 → Nov 1948 |
| 82 | High TowersThomas B. Costain | 145.5 | 0 | 16 | 18 | #3Feb 1949 | Jan 1949 → May 1949 |
| 83 | Mr. AdamPat Frank | 144.8 | 0 | 16 | 36 | #6Nov 1946 | Oct 1946 → Dec 1947 |
| 84 | The FamilyNina Fedorova | 143.6 | 0 | 16 | 16 | #3Oct 1940 | Sep 1940 → Jan 1941 |
| 85 | David the KingGladys Schmitt | 141.4 | 0 | 16 | 18 | #3Apr 1946 | Mar 1946 → Jul 1946 |
| 86 | The Running of the TideEsther Forbes | 125.9 | 0 | 16 | 22 | #4Nov 1948 | Oct 1948 → Mar 1949 |
| 87 | Hungry HillDaphne Du Maurier | 168.0 | 0 | 15 | 15 | #2Jul 1943 | Jun 1943 → Oct 1943 |
| 88 | Tomorrow Will Be BetterBetty Smith | 162.4 | 0 | 15 | 20 | #2Oct 1948 | Sep 1948 → Jan 1949 |
| 89 | The Wayward BusJohn Steinbeck | 162.0 | 0 | 15 | 18 | #2Mar 1947 | Mar 1947 → Jul 1947 |
| 90 | The Human ComedyWilliam Saroyan | 159.6 | 0 | 15 | 15 | #2Mar 1943 | Mar 1943 → Jun 1943 |
| 91 | The Ides of MarchThornton Wilder | 157.0 | 2 | 15 | 17 | #1Apr 1948 | Mar 1948 → Jun 1948 |
| 92 | Above SuspicionHelen McInnes | 150.7 | 0 | 15 | 15 | #3Jul 1941 | Jul 1941 → Oct 1941 |
| 93 | Nineteen Eighty-FourGeorge Orwell | 139.0 | 0 | 15 | 20 | #3Jul 1949 | Jul 1949 → Nov 1949 |
| 94 | MelissaTaylor Caldwell | 127.7 | 0 | 15 | 17 | #3Aug 1948 | Jul 1948 → Oct 1948 |
| 95 | The Big SkyA.B. Guthrie Jr | 117.2 | 0 | 15 | 21 | #4Jun 1947 | May 1947 → Jan 1948 |
| 96 | Thieves in the NightArthur Koestler | 94.0 | 0 | 15 | 16 | #5Dec 1946 | Nov 1946 → Mar 1947 |
| 97 | Saratoga TrunkEdna Ferber | 159.2 | 3 | 14 | 14 | #1Nov 1941 | Nov 1941 → Feb 1942 |
| 98 | Britannia MewsMargery Sharp | 152.2 | 0 | 14 | 17 | #2Aug 1946 | Jul 1946 → Nov 1946 |
| 99 | Mrs. ParkingtonLouis Bromfield | 143.5 | 0 | 14 | 14 | #2Feb 1943 | Jan 1943 → Apr 1943 |
| 100 | Dragon HarvestUpton Sinclair | 143.4 | 0 | 14 | 18 | #2Jul 1945 | Jul 1945 → Nov 1945 |