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.
Fiction 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.Adult New York Times Best Seller Lists for 1942Bear, 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.
DateBookAuthor 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 The following list ranks the number-one best-selling nonfiction books. DateBookAuthor 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 Publishers Weekly list of bestselling novels in the United States in the 1940s
References