azepoi 3 days ago

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_literary_works_by_numb...

This is the second most translated book after the Bible

  • graemep 2 days ago

    That is a really interesting list.

    The number for the Bible is a bit misleading because it is "at least one book translated". I think the number for the most translated "book" would be preferable. Its a bit inconsistent with how it treats series too.

    There are quite a few things that surprised me in the list (either a lot more or far fewer translations than I expected, especially relative to other works in the list)

    • madcaptenor 2 days ago

      Wikipedia gives 2191 for "at least New Testament", which I assume means all the books of the New Testament, and 698 for the Old and New Testaments. So it's still #1, since #2 (Le Petit Prince) is at 610.

      It wouldn't surprise me if the number for the four Gospels is higher than the full New Testament number.

      • graemep 2 days ago

        > Wikipedia gives 2191 for "at least New Testament", which I assume means all the books of the New Testament

        Yes, and that number is too low because some single books you be translated mroe times.

        > So it's still #1, since #2 (Le Petit Prince) is at 610.

        I am not disputing that. The Bible is far ahead of anything else.

        > It wouldn't surprise me if the number for the four Gospels is higher than the full New Testament number.

        As there are separate translations of the gospels (e.g. the Lindisfarne Gospels) that must be true. I would be interested in know things such as whether any particular gospel has more translations.

  • dkga 3 days ago

    And the Bible had quite a head start!

froh 3 days ago

> I've never heard of Little Prince before.

interesting. may I ask which region of the world you live in?

> I don't think it's as popular as the article claims.

that may be telling more about the region you live or yourself.

I suggest go to it's Wikipedia article and check the books impact.

ps: and to get a physical copy and to read it...

  • charcircuit 3 days ago

    America, could this be a European thing?

    • gonzus 3 days ago

      I am also American (born and raised in Chile). The Little Prince is extremely well-known over there. I am personally very fond of it.

    • rkomorn 3 days ago

      I lived in America (NJ and CA) for 25 years and plenty of people knew about The Little Prince.

      I've even seen people wearing shirts with the drawing of the snake that ate the elephant.

    • QuesnayJr 3 days ago

      It's not that obscure, even in the US. Anyone who takes French in US high school has probably read it in French (it's very easy to read), and even in English it's one of the most common classic children's books.

    • astrod 3 days ago

      Apparently James Dean loved the book from an early age, so guessing it must have had some popularity in the USA.

    • froh 3 days ago

      I think it's rather a kind-of- schooling-and-education thing.

      for schools in a "humanistic" tradition I dare to bet it's canon.

      it's a very beautiful read and when you have time, go and grab a sweet illustrated full text paper copy in your language of choice, it has been translated in all languages of the world, and there are wonderful editions of the book. I treasure a large pop up one.

      At first glance it looks and feels like a childrens book, but really, is it? Antoine de Saint-Exupéry offers a very unique and poetic look at humankind and a truly timeless masterpiece, touching not so children topic's like different types of vanity, several perspectives on the rat race, addiction, love of course, both "caritas" and "amor" and at an idealistic level also "eros", responsibility for nature, it even touches on assisted suicide, but all of these little essays which are woven into a story arc are told with deep love and tenderness and clarity.

      fine dining, if you wish, a gourmet story, really.

      you can tell I like it :-D

    • jvdvegt 3 days ago

      I live in the Netherlands for almost 50 years and never heard of it either.

    • myko 2 days ago

      Ohio, extremely popular. My son's playroom is all Le Petit Prince and a neighbor teaches it at school