Familiar page turners top Oxfam books list

Published on 02/07/2012 02:01

NOVELS by bestselling author Dan Brown are the most donated to Oxfam shops for the fourth year in a row.

Brown, who wrote the Da Vinci Code, came top of the charity’s “most donated” list, with Ian Rankin at number two and James Patterson, famous for his series about American psychologist Alex Cross, third.

Meanwhile, the annual survey found cult author Stieg Larsson, who wrote the Millennium series, at the top of its bestseller chart for the second year in a row.

Larsson is followed by JK Rowling, up from sixth place last year, and Norwegian author Jo Nesbo.

Although the survey illustrates the ongoing popularity of the best-known authors, it found that the most donated and sold genre overall is non-fiction.

The survey of Oxfam’s network of shops and bookshops was conducted to celebrate the launch of the charity’s annual literary festival, Bookfest, which begins today.

Andrew Horton, Oxfam’s director of trading, said: “Oxfam loves books and book sales have been helping Oxfam in its fight against poverty for more than 50 years.

“Oxfam shops are the perfect place to pick up anything from bestselling novels through to rare first editions. Every single book, whether it is donated or bought, helps to support Oxfam’s vital work.

“Bookfest is a great opportunity to celebrate this, and we really hope that the public will get involved by coming along to their local Oxfam shop or bookshop to enjoy the brilliant range of events and promotions taking place during the fortnight.”