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List of The New York Times number-one books of 1942

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This is a list of books that topped The New York Times best-seller list in 1942.

Though the bestseller list first began in 1931, it only became a national survey on August 9, 1942; previously the list only reflected sales from the New York metropolitan area.[1]

Fiction

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The following list ranks the number-one best-selling fiction books.

The two most popular books that year were The Song of Bernadette, by Franz Werfel, which made the list for fourteen weeks; and The Robe, by Lloyd Douglas, which would reach number one for the final two weeks of 1942 and 34 weeks in 1943.[2][3]

Date Book Author
January 5 The Keys of the Kingdom A. J. Cronin
January 12 Windswept Mary Ellen Chase
January 19
January 26
February 2
February 9 Dragon Seed Pearl S. Buck
February 16 Frenchman's Creek Daphne du Maurier
February 23 Dragon Seed Pearl S. Buck
March 2
March 9
March 16
March 23 The Moon Is Down John Steinbeck
March 30
April 6
April 13
April 20
April 27
May 4
May 11
May 18
May 25
June 1
June 8
June 15 And Now Tomorrow Rachel Field
June 22
June 29
July 6
July 13
July 20 The Song of Bernadette Franz Werfel
July 27
August 3 And Now Tomorrow Rachel Field
August 10 The Song of Bernadette Franz Werfel
August 17
August 24
August 31
September 7
September 14
September 21
September 28
October 5
October 12
October 19
October 26
November 2 The Prodigal Women Nancy Hale
November 9
November 16
November 23 The Valley of Decision Marcia Davenport
November 30
December 7 The Prodigal Women Nancy Hale
December 14
December 21 The Robe Lloyd Douglas
December 28

Nonfiction

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The following list ranks the number-one best-selling nonfiction books.[2]

Date Book Author
January 5 Berlin Diary William L. Shirer
January 12 Mission to Moscow Joseph E. Davies
January 19
January 26
February 2
February 9
February 16
February 23
March 2
March 9
March 16 Flight to Arras Antoine de Saint-Exupéry
March 23 The Japanese Enemy Hugh Byas
March 30 Flight to Arras Antoine de Saint-Exupéry
April 6
April 13 Past Imperfect Ilka Chase
April 20 Flight to Arras Antoine de Saint-Exupéry
April 27
May 4 Cross Creek Marjorie Kinnan Rawlings
May 11 The Last Time I Saw Paris Elliot Paul
May 18
May 25
June 1
June 8
June 15
June 22
June 29
July 6
July 13
July 20
July 27
August 3
August 10 Washington Is Like That W. M. Kiplinger
August 17 The Last Time I Saw Paris Elliot Paul
August 24 Victory Through Air Power Alexander de Seversky
August 31 See Here, Private Hargrove Marion Hargrove
September 7 The Last Time I Saw Paris Elliot Paul
September 14 Victory Through Air Power Alexander de Seversky
September 21 The Coming Battle of Germany William B. Ziff
September 28 They Were Expendable William Lindsay White
October 5
October 12
October 19 See Here, Private Hargrove Marion Hargrove
October 26
November 2
November 9
November 16
November 23
November 30
December 7
December 14
December 21
December 28 Our Hearts Were Young and Gay Cornelia Otis Skinner and Emily Kimbrough

See also

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References

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  1. ^ Miller, Laura J. (2000). "The Best-Seller List as Marketing Tool and Historical Fiction". In Ezra Greenspan (ed.). Book History. Vol. Three. Penn State University Press. pp. 286–304. ISBN 0271020504.
  2. ^ a b Adult New York Times Best Seller Lists for 1942
  3. ^ Bear, John (1992). The #1 New York Times Best Seller: Intriguing Facts About the 484 Books That Have Been #1 New York Times Bestsellers Since the First List, 50 Years Ago. Berkeley: Ten Speed Press. pp. 3-5.