Audre Lorde books in order
American writer and feminist activist
- Lived
- 1934–1992
- Country
- United States
- Books
- 20
- Also writes as
- Gamba Adisa, Rey Domini
Audre Lorde published 3 novels, 1 novella, 5 non-fiction books, 8 poetry collections and 3 other books, beginning with The Black Unicorn (1978). The best-known is Sister Outsider (1984).
Updated September 2026
Where to start with Audre Lorde
Start here
Sister Outsider
Audre Lorde's most-read book.
Standalone novels in order
Cables to Rage (1970)
Zami: A New Spelling of My Name (1982)
Your Silence Will Not Protect You (2017)
Novellas in order
Coal (1976)
Non-fiction in order
Uses of the Erotic: The Erotic as Power (1978)
The Cancer Journals (1980)
Sister Outsider (1984)
Conversations with Audre Lorde (2004)
I Am Your Sister (2009)
Poetry in order
The Black Unicorn (1978)
Chosen Poems, Old and New (1982)
Our Dead Behind Us (1986)
Undersong (1992)
The Marvelous Arithmetics of Distance (1993)
Zami; Sister Outsider; Undersong (1993)
The Audre Lorde Compendium (1996)
The Collected Poems of Audre Lorde (1997)
Other books in order
Apartheid U.S.A (1985)
The Master's Tools Will Never Dismantle the Master's House (2018)
When I Dare to Be Powerful (2020)
About Audre Lorde
Audre Lorde was an American writer, professor, philosopher, intersectional feminist, poet, and civil rights activist. She was a self-described "Black, lesbian, feminist, socialist, mother, warrior, poet" who dedicated her life and talents to confronting all forms of injustice and oppression. She believed that there could be "no hierarchy of oppressions" among "those who share the goals of liberation and a workable future for our children".
Biography from Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0. Photo via Wikimedia Commons.
Audre Lorde FAQ
- How many books has Audre Lorde written?
- Audre Lorde published 3 novels, 1 novella, 5 non-fiction books, 8 poetry collections and 3 other books that we list, as of September 2026.
- What order should I read Audre Lorde's books in?
- Publication order is a safe choice; the full list is above. Most readers start with Sister Outsider.
- What is Audre Lorde's last book?
- Sister Outsider (1984).
- What is Audre Lorde's most famous book?
- Sister Outsider (1984) is Audre Lorde's most widely read book.
- Does Audre Lorde write under a pen name?
- Yes: Audre Lorde has also published as Gamba Adisa and Rey Domini.
Authors like Audre Lorde
Sources: book lists and dates from Wikidata and Open Library, ratings from Open Library readers. Last updated September 2026.