Debuting at #2 on the German fiction list in February was The Washington Decree by Jussi Adler-Olsen, a Danish writer who has found success in countries around the world. In the U.S., Penguin has published a number of his novels, including The Absent One in fall 2012 and, coming in May 2013, A Conspiracy of Faith.
Another international bestselling author, Ildefonso Falcones, landed at #1 on Spain’s fiction chart last month with his newest novel, The Barefoot Queen. Only one of Falconess’s books has been published stateside: in 2008, Penguin released Cathedral of the Sea, which PW called a “fascinating” and “rich portrait of medieval society” in its review (Mar. 24, 2008). On the nonfiction side in Spain, Antonio Muñoz Molina’s All That Was Solid debuted at #2 in his native country. The book is a call to revolt against the current economic and social downturn. Two of his books have been published in the U.S.: In Her Absence came out from Other Press in 2007 and A Manuscript of Ashes was released by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt in 2008.
The French nonfiction list was topped entirely by new titles, with Johnny Hallyday’s autobiography, In My Eyes, taking the #1 spot. Hallyday is a French singer but remains largely unknown outside of France and Quebec, thus earning the nickname “the biggest rock star you’ve never heard of.”
International Bestsellers: Germany
| Fiction | Nonfiction | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Er ist wieder da He’s Back Timur Vermes Eichborn | Ego. Das Spiel des Lebens Ego: The Game of Life Frank Schirrmacher Blessing |
| 2 | Das Washington Dekret The Washington Decree Jussi Adler-Olsen DTV | 1913 1913 Florian Illies S. Fischer |
| 3 | Unterholz Undergrowth Jörg Maurer Fischer Scherz | Die Kunst des klaren Denkens The Art of Thinking Clearly Rolf Dobelli Hanser |
Spain
| Fiction | Nonfiction | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | La reina descalza The Barefoot Queen Ildefonso Falcones Grijalbo | La infancia de Jesús Jesus of Nazareth: The Infancy Narratives Pope Benedict XVI Planeta |
| 2 | El maestro del Prado The Master of the Prado Javier Sierra Planeta | Todo lo que era sólido All That Was Solid Antonio Muñoz Molina Seix Barral |
| 3 | Cincuenta sombras de Grey Fifty Shades of Grey E.L. James Grijalbo | No sé dónde está el límite I Don’t Know Where the Limit is, But I Know Where It Isn’t Josef Ajram Alienta |
France
| Fiction | Nonfiction | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Un sentiment plus fort que la peur Stronger Than Fear Marc Levy Robert Laffont | Dans mes yeux In My Eyes Johnny Hallyday, Amanda Sthers Plon |
| 2 | Fifty shades, vol. 3: Cinquante nuances plus claires Fifty Shades Freed E.L. James Lattès | Jours de pouvoir Days of Power Bruno Le Maire Gallimard |
| 3 | Fifty shades, vol. 1: Cinquante nuances de Grey Fifty Shades of Grey E.L. James Lattès | La vérité sur le cholesterol The Truth About Cholesterol Philippe Even Le Cherche Midi |
