The Word Count of 120 Famous Novels Unveiled

Word Count of Harry Potter Series

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1. Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone by J.K. Rowling – 77,500 words
2. Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets by J.K. Rowling – 84,799 words
3. Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban by J.K. Rowling – 106,821 words
4. Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire by J.K. Rowling – 190,858 words
5. Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix by J.K. Rowling – 257,045 words
6. Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince by J.K. Rowling – 168,923 words
7. Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows by J.K. Rowling – 198,227 words

Word Count of Game of Thrones Series

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1. A Game of Thrones by George R.R. Martin – 298,000 words
2. A Clash of Kings by George R.R. Martin – 326,000 words
3. A Storm of Swords by George R.R. Martin – 424,000 words
4. A Feast for Crows by George R.R. Martin – 300,000 words
5. A Dance with Dragons by George R.R. Martin – 422,000 words

Word Count of The Lord of the Rings Series

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1. The Fellowship of the Ring by J.R.R. Tolkien – 187,790 words
2. The Two Towers by J.R.R. Tolkien – 156,198 words
3. The Return of the King by J.R.R. Tolkien – 137,115 words

Word Count of Stephen King’s Books

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1. It – 444,414 words
2. The Stand – 472,960 words
3. The Shining – 157,224 words
4. Carrie – 60,718 words

Word Count of His Dark Materials Series

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1. Northern Lights (The Golden Compass in the US) by Philip Pullman – 112,815 words
2. The Subtle Knife by Philip Pullman – 134,424 words
3. The Amber Spyglass by Philip Pullman – 172,454 words

Word Count of Earthsea Series

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1. A Wizard of Earthsea by Ursula K. Le Guin – 46,000 words
2. The Tombs of Atuan by Ursula K. Le Guin – 39,000 words
3. The Farthest Shore by Ursula K. Le Guin – 56,000 words
4. Tehanu by Ursula K. Le Guin – 50,000 words
5. The Other Wind by Ursula K. Le Guin – 70,000 words

Word Count of The Chronicles of Narnia Series

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1. The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe by C.S. Lewis – 38,000 words
2. Prince Caspian by C.S. Lewis – 46,000 words
3. The Horse and His Boy by C.S. Lewis – 40,000 words
4. The Silver Chair by C.S. Lewis – 45,000 words
5. The Voyage of the Dawn Treader by C.S. Lewis – 53,000 words
6. The Last Battle by C.S. Lewis – 50,000 words

Word Count of Twilight Series

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1. Twilight by Stephenie Meyer – 118,975 words
2. New Moon by Stephenie Meyer – 132,807 words
3. Eclipse by Stephenie Meyer – 147,930 words
4. Breaking Dawn by Stephenie Meyer – 192,196 words

Classic Literature

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The word counts in classic literature reflect the era’s conventions and expectations. Whether lengthy or brief, these works have each secured a lasting place in the literary canon, demonstrating that impact isn’t solely dictated by length.

1. War and Peace by Leo Tolstoy – 587,287 words
2. Moby-Dick by Herman Melville – 206,052 words
3. Great Expectations by Charles Dickens – 183,349 words
4. Anna Karenina by Leo Tolstoy – 349,736 words
5. Les Misérables by Victor Hugo – 530,982 words
6. David Copperfield by Charles Dickens – 357,489 words
7. Crime and Punishment by Fyodor Dostoevsky – 211,591 words
8. Wuthering Heights by Emily Brontë – 107,945 words
9. Madame Bovary by Gustave Flaubert – 117,963 words
10. The Odyssey attributed to Homer – 118,000 words (varies by translation)

Contemporary Bestsellers

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The word counts in contemporary bestsellers offer an intriguing glimpse into modern reading habits and market preferences. From the hefty tomes like Donna Tartt’s “The Goldfinch” to the relatively shorter, yet impactful, “The Fault in Our Stars” by John Green, the length varies significantly. Regardless of word count, these titles have managed to capture public attention and dominate the literary marketplace.

1. The Da Vinci Code by Dan Brown – 138,931 words
2. The Goldfinch by Donna Tartt – 305,000 words
3. A Man Called Ove by Fredrik Backman – 81,572 words
4. Fifty Shades of Grey by E.L. James – 155,488 words
5. The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern – 130,000 words
6. The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins – 99,750 words
7. Educated by Tara Westover – 156,000 words
8. Gone Girl by Gillian Flynn – 145,719 words
9. Where the Crawdads Sing by Delia Owens – 116,378 words
10. Becoming by Michelle Obama – 145,000 words
11. The Subtle Art of Not Giving a Fck* by Mark Manson – 60,000 words
12. The Help by Kathryn Stockett – Approximately 138,000 words

Science Fiction/Fantasy

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In the realm of science fiction and fantasy, word counts can often reach epic proportions, reflecting the complex worlds and intricate plots that are hallmarks of these genres. However, shorter works have also made significant impacts.

1. Dune by Frank Herbert – 187,240 words
2. Ender’s Game by Orson Scott Card – 100,609 words
3. Neuromancer by William Gibson – 78,629 words
4. Foundation by Isaac Asimov – 66,556 words
5. The Left Hand of Darkness by Ursula K. Le Guin – 98,983 words
6. Hyperion by Dan Simmons – 175,000 words
7. Snow Crash by Neal Stephenson – 129,000 words
8. American Gods by Neil Gaiman – 183,222 words
9. Brave New World by Aldous Huxley – 63,766 words
10. The Name of the Wind by Patrick Rothfuss – 252,789 words
11. Frankenstein by Mary Shelley – 71,373 words
12. The Martian by Andy Weir – 105,000 words
13. The Way of Kings by Brandon Sanderson – 387,000 words
14. The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy by Douglas Adams – 46,333 words
15. The Lies of Locke Lamora by Scott Lynch – 162,000 words

Romance

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In romance novels, the word count can be as varied as the love stories they depict, ranging from sweet novellas to multi-generational sagas.

1. Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen – 122,695 words
2. Outlander by Diana Gabaldon – 305,000 words
3. Brida by Paulo Coelho – 53,000 words
4. The Notebook by Nicholas Sparks – 52,000 words
5. Eat, Pray, Love by Elizabeth Gilbert – 130,000 words (part romance, part memoir)
6. Gone with the Wind by Margaret Mitchell – 418,053 words
7. To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before by Jenny Han – 83,160 words
8. Me Before You by Jojo Moyes – 130,000 words
9. The Bridges of Madison County by Robert James Waller – 35,135 words
10. Jane Eyre by Charlotte Brontë – 183,858 words
11. The Rosie Project by Graeme Simsion – 83,939 words
12. The Fault in Our Stars by John Green – 67,203 words
13. The Time Traveler’s Wife by Audrey Niffenegger – 155,155 words
14. The Wedding Date by Jasmine Guillory – Approximately 90,000 words
15. One Day by David Nicholls – Approximately 105,000 words

Mystery/Thriller

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The word count in mystery and thriller novels can vary widely, reflecting the pacing and complexity of the plot.

1. The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo by Stieg Larsson – 204,000 words
2. Gone Girl by Gillian Flynn – 145,719 words
3. Da Vinci Code by Dan Brown – 138,931 words
4. The Firm by John Grisham – 155,244 words
5. In the Woods by Tana French – 145,000 words
6. Killing Floor by Lee Child – 134,672 words
7. The Maltese Falcon by Dashiell Hammett – 63,570 words
8. Murder on the Orient Express by Agatha Christie – 66,557 words
9. The Silence of the Lambs by Thomas Harris – 96,608 words
10. The Big Sleep by Raymond Chandler – 88,564 words
11. The Silent Patient by Alex Michaelides – 97,000 words
12. The Reversal by Michael Connelly – 130,000 words
13. Before I Go to Sleep by S.J. Watson – 104,200 words
14. The Girl on the Train by Paula Hawkins – 104,960 words
15. The Cuckoo’s Calling by Robert Galbraith (J.K. Rowling) – 147,000 words

American Literature

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Word counts in American literature offer a lens into the storytelling methods and historical contexts that shaped them.

1. To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee – 100,388 words
2. The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald – 47,094 words
3. Moby-Dick by Herman Melville – 206,052 words
4. The Catcher in the Rye by J.D. Salinger – 73,404 words
5. Beloved by Toni Morrison – 60,000 words
6. On the Road by Jack Kerouac – 155,000 words
7. The Scarlet Letter by Nathaniel Hawthorne – 63,604 words
8. The Sound and the Fury by William Faulkner – 96,556 words
9. Invisible Man by Ralph Ellison – 136,000 words
10. The Grapes of Wrath by John Steinbeck – 169,481 words
11. The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn by Mark Twain – 109,571 words
12. Their Eyes Were Watching God by Zora Neale Hurston – 86,134 words
13. The Adventures of Tom Sawyer by Mark Twain – 70,570 words
14. The Joy Luck Club by Amy Tan – 81,000 words
15. Slaughterhouse-Five by Kurt Vonnegut – 49,459 words

Conclusion

Word counts in novels can vary dramatically, offering us a unique lens through which to view and appreciate the rich tapestry of literature. From the epics like “War and Peace” to the succinct beauty of “The Great Gatsby,” each word count has a tale to tell.