Alan Bennett books in order
English actor, author, playwright, and screenwriter
- Born
- 1934
- Country
- United Kingdom
- Books
- 32
Alan Bennett has published 1 novel, 7 novellas, 3 short story collections, 4 non-fiction books, 1 poetry collection, 9 plays and 7 other books, beginning with The History Boys (2004). The best-known is The Uncommon Reader (2007). The latest is The Shielding of Mrs Forbes (2019).
Updated September 2026
Where to start with Alan Bennett
Start here
The Uncommon Reader
Alan Bennett's most-read book.
Newest
The Shielding of Mrs Forbes
Published 2019.
Standalone novels in order
A Life Like Other People's (2009)
Novellas in order
The Wind in the Willows (1991)
The Madness of George Iii (1992)
The Clothes They Stood Up in (1997)
The Lady In The Van (1999)
Father! Father! Burning Bright (2000)
The Uncommon Reader (2007)
The Shielding of Mrs Forbes (2019)
Short story collections in order
The Laying on of Hands (2001)
Three Stories (2003)
Smut (2011)
Non-fiction in order
Writing Home (1994)
Telling Tales (2000)
Untold Stories (2005)
Keeping on Keeping on (2016)
Poetry in order
Poetry in Motion (1990)
Plays in order
Beyond the Fringe (1962), with Peter Cook and Jonathan Miller
Forty Years On (1969)
Kafka's Dick (1986)
Talking Heads (1988)
The Madness of King George (1995)
Me, I'm Afraid of Virginia Woolf (2003)
The History Boys (2004)
The Habit of Art (2009)
A Question of Attribution (2013)
Other books in order
Getting on (1972)
Habeas Corpus (1973)
The Old Country (1978)
Office Suite (1981)
Diaries, 1980-90 (bbc Radio Collection) (1994)
Talking Heads 2 (1998)
Winnie The Pooh (2016)
Film and TV adaptations
- The History Boys (2006)Film · from The History Boys
About Alan Bennett
Alan Bennett is an English playwright, author, actor and screenwriter. He has received numerous awards and honours including four BAFTA Awards, four Laurence Olivier Awards, and two Tony Awards. In 2005, he received the Society of London Theatre Special Award.
Biography from Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0. Photo via Wikimedia Commons.
Alan Bennett FAQ
- How many books has Alan Bennett written?
- Alan Bennett has published 1 novel, 7 novellas, 3 short story collections, 4 non-fiction books, 1 poetry collection, 9 plays and 7 other books that we list, as of September 2026.
- What order should I read Alan Bennett's books in?
- Publication order is a safe choice; the full list is above. Most readers start with The Uncommon Reader.
- What is Alan Bennett's latest book?
- The Shielding of Mrs Forbes (2019).
- What is Alan Bennett's most famous book?
- The Uncommon Reader (2007) is Alan Bennett's most widely read book.
- Which Alan Bennett books have been adapted?
- 1 book has been adapted for film or TV, including The History Boys (film, 2006).
Sources: book lists and dates from Wikidata and Open Library, ratings from Open Library readers. Last updated September 2026.