Alejo Carpentier books in order
Cuban-French writer and musicologist
- Lived
- 1904–1980
- Country
- Cuba
- Books
- 9
Alejo Carpentier published 6 novels, 2 novellas and 1 non-fiction book, beginning with The Kingdom of This World (1949).
Updated September 2026
Where to start with Alejo Carpentier
Start here
The Kingdom of This World
Alejo Carpentier's most-read book.
Standalone novels in order
The Lost Steps (1953)
Le Partage Des Eaux (1956)
Explosion in a Cathedral (1962)
Reasons of State (1976)
La Consagracion De La Primavera (1978)
The Harp and the Shadow (1978)
Novellas in order
The Kingdom of This World (1949)
The Chase (1989)
Non-fiction in order
Music in Cuba (2001)
Film and TV adaptations
- El siglo de las luces (1993)TV · from Explosion in a Cathedral
About Alejo Carpentier
Alejo Carpentier y Valmont was a Cuban novelist, essayist, and musicologist who greatly influenced Latin American literature during its famous "boom" period. Born in Lausanne, Switzerland, of French and Russian parentage, Carpentier grew up in Havana, Cuba, and despite his European birthplace, he strongly identified as Cuban throughout his life. He traveled extensively, particularly in France, and to South America and Mexico, where he met prominent members of the Latin American cultural and artistic community. Carpentier took a keen interest in Latin American politics and often aligned himself with revolutionary movements, such as Fidel Castro's Communist Revolution in Cuba in the mid-20th century. Carpentier was jailed and exiled for his leftist political philosophies.
Biography from Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0. Photo via Wikimedia Commons.
Alejo Carpentier FAQ
- How many books has Alejo Carpentier written?
- Alejo Carpentier published 6 novels, 2 novellas and 1 non-fiction book that we list, as of September 2026.
- What order should I read Alejo Carpentier's books in?
- Publication order is a safe choice; the full list is above. Most readers start with The Kingdom of This World.
- What is Alejo Carpentier's last book?
- The Harp and the Shadow (1978).
- What is Alejo Carpentier's most famous book?
- The Kingdom of This World (1949) is Alejo Carpentier's most widely read book.
- Which Alejo Carpentier books have been adapted?
- 1 book has been adapted for film or TV, including Explosion in a Cathedral (as El siglo de las luces, TV, 1993).
Sources: book lists and dates from Wikidata and Open Library, ratings from Open Library readers. Last updated September 2026.