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Eras · The 1970s

1970 in books

Who ruled 1970? Erich Segal was Author of the Year on the NYT Hardcover Fiction list. Every #1 bestseller of 1970, the biggest books and the top authors.

NYT Hardcover Fiction

Erich Segal portrait

Author of the Year 1970

Erich Segal

34 crowns · 40 weeks among the top five authors · Era Power 590

Top authors of 1970
#AuthorEra PowerCrownsTop-five weeks
1Erich Segal5903440
2John Fowles5301239
3Taylor Caldwell305023
4Mary Stewart287022
5Mario Puzo278618
6James Dickey233019
7Graham Greene186013
8Gwen Bristow18504
9Jimmy Breslin15904
10Daphne Du Maurier156011
Every #1 bestseller of 19703 books reached #1 on the NYT Hardcover Fiction list
First week at #1TitleAuthorWeeks at #1
Jan 4, 1970The GodfatherMario Puzo6
Feb 8, 1970The French Lieutenant's WomanJohn Fowles12
May 10, 1970Love StoryErich Segal34
Biggest books of 1970Titles that entered the list in 1970, by Book Power
#TitleAuthorPeakWeeksBook Power
1Love StoryErich Segal#162788.9
2QB VIILeon Uris#139434.4
3The Crystal CaveMary Stewart#235348.9
4Great Lion of GodTaylor Caldwell#234310.2
5Islands in the StreamErnest Hemingway#224260.1
6Rich Man, Poor ManIrwin Shaw#333251.5
7DeliveranceJames Dickey#326233.4
8Calico PalaceGwen Bristow#530189.0
9Travels with My AuntGraham Greene#222186.1
10Passenger to FrankfurtAgatha Christie#325185.8

Author of the Year and the rankings are the ChartReign Power model: the author with the most chart power over the year, not the most #1s. Crowns are weeks crowned Author of the Week. How it works