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The Bestselling Books of the Last One Hundred Years: 1931

We started at 1918, bringing you the bestselling books of the last one hundred years. We’re moving along now, covering each year at a time and we’re into the 1930s. Today we’re documenting the ten bestselling books of 1931, and what you were reading instead.

Already we can see some hot authors and trends appearing now and as the years tick on it’s likely that you’ll start recognising some contemporary authors and others who have been publishing through the decades.

But today, we have the ten top selling books of 1931 and the heady days before World War II. We’re also featuring some well known books that didn’t make the cut!

The Good Earth – Pearl S. Buck

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Shadows on the Rock – Willa Cather

Buy

A White Bird Flying – Bess Streeter Aldrich

Buy

Grand Hotel – Vicki Baum

Buy

Years of Grace – Margaret Ayer Barnes

Buy

The Road Back – Erich Maria Remarque

Buy

Bridge of Desire – Warwick Deeping

Buy

Back Street – Fannie Hurst

Buy

Finch’s Fortune – Mazo de la Roche

Buy

Maid in Waiting – John Galsworthy

Buy

1931 is the first year covered where the number 1 book has stood the test of time. However, 1931 also saw the release of Virginia Woolf’s,  The Waves.

We’ll continue this series right through to 2018, keep an eye out for 1932, coming soon!

If you’d like to see all the lists so far, try this search 



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