The Most Unique Book Records You've Never Heard Of: 10 Lesser-Known Feats in Literature
When we think of book records, we usually think of the longest book, the best-selling book, or the most translated book. But there are many other book records out there that are just as fascinating, if not more so. Here are 10 lesser-known feats in literature that are sure to impress.
1. The Largest Book
Yes, we know that the largest book in the world is the Klencke Atlas, which measures 1.75 meters tall and 1.9 meters wide when open. But did you know that the largest book ever printed is "Bhutan: A Visual Odyssey Across the Last Himalayan Kingdom" by Michael Hawley? This massive book measures 1.5 meters tall and 2.13 meters wide when open, and weighs a whopping 133 pounds.
2. The Smallest Book
The world's smallest book is "Teeny Ted from Turnip Town" by Malcolm Douglas Chaplin. This book measures just 0.07 millimeters by 0.10 millimeters and can only be read with the help of an electron microscope.
3. The Longest Sentence
The longest sentence ever written in literature is found in "The Rotters' Club" by Jonathan Coe. This sentence spans over 13 pages and contains 13,955 words.
4. The Most Prolific Writer
L. Ron Hubbard, the author of "Dianetics" and the founder of the Church of Scientology, holds the Guinness World Record for the most published works by one author. He wrote over 1,000 books, which have sold over 230 million copies worldwide.
5. The Most Translated Author
Agatha Christie is the most translated author in history, with her works being translated into over 100 languages. Her book "And Then There Were None" is also the best-selling mystery novel of all time.
6. The Most Expensive Book
The most expensive book ever sold is a copy of Leonardo da Vinci's "Codex Leicester." It was purchased by Bill Gates in 1994 for $30.8 million.
7. The Most Banned Book
"The Bible" is the most banned book in history. It has been banned by numerous governments and religious groups throughout history, and is still banned in some countries today.
8. The First Book Printed
The first book ever printed using movable type was the Gutenberg Bible, which was printed by Johannes Gutenberg in 1455.
9. The First Book Written on a Typewriter
The first book ever written on a typewriter was "The Adventures of Tom Sawyer" by Mark Twain. Twain purchased his first typewriter in 1874 and wrote the entire manuscript on it.
10. The Most Printed Book
The most printed book in the world is "Don Quixote" by Miguel de Cervantes. It has been printed over 500 million times since its publication in 1605.
Conclusion
These 10 book records may not be as well-known as others, but they are just as impressive. From the largest book to the smallest book, from the most prolific writer to the most translated author, these feats in literature show the incredible diversity and creativity of the written word. So the next time you pick up a book, take a moment to appreciate the many records and accomplishments that have been achieved throughout literary history.