Arno Schmidt books in order
German poet
- Lived
- 1914–1979
- Country
- Germany
- Books
- 10
Arno Schmidt published 8 novels, 1 short story collection and 1 non-fiction book, beginning with Leviathan (1949). The best-known is Bottom's Dream (1970).
Updated September 2026
Where to start with Arno Schmidt
Start here
Bottom's Dream
Arno Schmidt's most-read book.
Standalone novels in order
Leviathan (1949)
Scenes from the Life of a Faun (1954)
Das Steinerne Herz (1956)
The Stony Heart (1956)
The Egghead Republic (1957)
Bottom's Dream (1970)
The School for Atheists (1972)
Nobodaddy's Children (1995)
Short story collections in order
Collected Early Fiction, 1949-1964 (1994)
Non-fiction in order
Radio Dialogs Ii (2003)
About Arno Schmidt
Arno Schmidt was a German author and translator. He is little known outside of German-speaking areas, in part because his works present a formidable challenge to translators. Although not among Germany's most popular authors, critics and writers often consider him to be one of the most important German-language writers of the 20th century.
Biography from Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0. Photo via Wikimedia Commons.
Arno Schmidt FAQ
- How many books has Arno Schmidt written?
- Arno Schmidt published 8 novels, 1 short story collection and 1 non-fiction book that we list, as of September 2026.
- What order should I read Arno Schmidt's books in?
- Publication order is a safe choice; the full list is above. Most readers start with Bottom's Dream.
- What is Arno Schmidt's last book?
- The School for Atheists (1972).
- What is Arno Schmidt's most famous book?
- Bottom's Dream (1970) is Arno Schmidt's most widely read book.
Sources: book lists and dates from Wikidata and Open Library, ratings from Open Library readers. Last updated September 2026.