You are very close BB. Hans Christian Anderson is at number 3 and the adventures of Pinnochio is at number 2 but there is one other non religious/non political book which has even more translations than these.
If it wasn't for your comment about BB being close, I was going to say the laws of football. However, sometimes it does seem like the biggest work of fiction around.
You have it on the second attempt Bodbo - it has been translated into 253 different languages. Over 300 if different dialects are involved. Over to you.
It is possible to take wickets off wides and no-balls, so are we looking at someone taking wickets off 3 successive illegal deliveries, or not bowling at all. That is assuming that the hat-trick was in a cricket match.
Great shout, but D C S Compton never got a hattrick for Arsenal (or anyone else - a 1 club man like his brother). In passing, some thought he was a better footballer than cricketer! However, I have suddenly realised that there may be more than the one answer I have. So, the question becomes.... Which English first class cricketer got an international hattrick without bowling a ball ?
Brilliant ! In spite of the fact it wasn't who I had in mind, but you are right and your answer is a better quality one! I'm happy to hand it over, but if you want me to persist - my man is post war (WW 2" that is) Otherwise, I 'll just tell you. Anyhow, BB, you are the master of this one. You choose.
On the off-chance that the hat trick sport is something other than football - was it Alan Old? Played cricket for Durham, Middlesex and Warwickshire - and was capped 16 times for England at Rugby Union (although I'm not sure he ever scored a hat trick of tries).
Yes - he played 1 (!) county game for Essex against Lancashire which makes him a first class cricketer. Ted Drake played both amateur and professionally for Hampshire over several seasons, which makes BB's shout the better quality one. I really should have said post -war in the orginal sposing, as it was more common for players to play both cricket and football pre war. There was about 4-6 I think during my childhood in the 50's to 60's. Anyway, well done to you for getting the theme (and Geoff Hurst) and BB for coming up with a correct answer first. It's over to BB, whilst I think of a question with only 1 answer.