August Wilson published 12 plays, beginning with Fences (1986).
Updated September 2026
Where to start with August Wilson
Start here
Fences
August Wilson's most-read book.
Plays in order
Fences (1986)
Joe Turner's Come and Gone (1988)
The Piano Lesson (1990)
Three Plays (1991)
Seven Guitars (1996)
Jitney (2001)
Ma Rainey's Black Bottom (2001)
Two Trains Running (2004)
King Hedley II (2005)
Gem of the Ocean (2006)
Radio Golf (2007)
How I Learned What I Learned (2018)
Film and TV adaptations
- The Piano Lesson (1995)TV · from The Piano Lesson
- The Piano Lesson (2024)Film · from The Piano Lesson
- Ma Rainey's Black Bottom (2020)Film · from Ma Rainey's Black Bottom
About August Wilson
August Wilson was an American playwright. He has been referred to as the "theater's poet of Black America". He is best known for a series of 10 plays, collectively called The Pittsburgh Cycle , which chronicle the experiences and heritage of the African-American community in the 20th century. Plays in the series include Fences (1987) and The Piano Lesson (1990), each of which won Wilson the Pulitzer Prize for Drama, as well as Ma Rainey's Black Bottom (1984) and Joe Turner's Come and Gone (1988). In 2006, Wilson was inducted into the American Theater Hall of Fame.
Biography from Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0.
August Wilson FAQ
- How many books has August Wilson written?
- August Wilson published 12 plays that we list, as of September 2026.
- What order should I read August Wilson's books in?
- Publication order is a safe choice; the full list is above. Most readers start with Fences.
- What is August Wilson's last book?
- Radio Golf (2007).
- What is August Wilson's most famous book?
- Fences (1986) is August Wilson's most widely read book.
- Which August Wilson books have been adapted?
- 2 books have been adapted for film or TV, including The Piano Lesson (TV, 1995) and Ma Rainey's Black Bottom (film, 2020).
Authors like August Wilson
Sources: book lists and dates from Wikidata and Open Library, ratings from Open Library readers. Last updated September 2026.