This is a list of the longest novels over 500,000 words published through a mainstream publisher. The longest novel is Artamène ou le Grand Cyrus, originally published (1649â€"54) in 10 parts, each part in three volumes. Artamène is generally attributed to Madeleine de Scudéry.
Composing a list of longest novels yields different results depending on whether pages, words or characters are counted. Length of a book is typically associated with its sizeâ€"specifically page countâ€"leading many to assume the largest and thickest book equates to its length. Word counts are a direct way to measure the length of a novel by a measure that is unaffected by variations of format and page size.
Comparison of methods
Three possible ways to determine length exist and each has its own method for determining length. Character counts are at best estimations of spaces, written characters and punctuation; Guinness World Records uses this criterion. Word counts is another method that counts each word and omits punctuation, but still considered an estimation for length. Using computer software to count words is the currently preferred method for academia and publications. An arbitrary way is to assume that a standard formatted page with 12 pt Courier font and double-spaced lines is 250 words. Due to formatting, page counts are subject to change from font, style, formatting or paper size of the published work and cannot be considered a measure of length despite it being the easiest physical indicator of length. For the purposes of this list, word counts are ideal. Page counts are a relative indicator of length; for proper comparison the page size will be included.
Definitions
What counts as a novel is another variable. For the purposes of the list, a "novel" is defined as a "single work" in print or electronic form that has been published through a mainstream publisher, one that has acquired publishing rights from authors. A "single work" includes works thought of as one novel by the author, but published in multiple volumes for reasons of convenience.
Excluded are self-published, printed-on-demand, vanity works, unpublished novels like Henry Darger's, series like Chronicles of Barsetshire, novel cycles such as Harry Potter, and record-grabbing stunts.
The Story of the Stone (1973â€"1980), by Cao Xueqin, translated from Chinese to English by David Hawkes and John Minford, consists of five volumes and 2,480 pages. A word count is not available.
See also
- Four Great Classical Novels, an overview of five very long Chinese classics
- Joseph and His Brothers, by Thomas Mann, is nearly 1500 pages long in English translation by John E. Wood. Originally published in four installments, the work does comprise a true, continuous novel rather than a serialization.
References
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