Denis Diderot books in order
French Enlightenment philosopher writer and encyclopædist
- Lived
- 1713–1784
- Country
- France
- Books
- 18
Denis Diderot published 15 novels, 1 short story collection and 2 plays, beginning with Philosophical Thoughts (1746). The best-known is The Indiscreet Jewels (1748).
Updated September 2026
Where to start with Denis Diderot
Start here
The Indiscreet Jewels
Denis Diderot's most-read book.
Standalone novels in order
Philosophical Thoughts (1746)
La Promenade Du Sceptique (1747)
Bijoux Indiscrets (1748)
Correspondance Littéraire, Philosophique Et Critique (1748), with Friedrich Melchior, Baron von Grimm and Guillaume Thomas François Raynal
The Indiscreet Jewels (1748)
Lettre Sur Les Aveugles À L'usage De Ceux Qui Voient (1749)
Encyclopédie (1751), with Jean-Jacques Rousseau and Baron d'Holbach
Lettre Adressée À Un Magistrat Sur Le Commerce De La Librairie (1763)
Refutation of Helvetius (1773)
Jacques the Fatalist (1796)
La Religieuse (1796)
Rameau's Nephew (1821)
Le Rêve De D'Alembert (1830)
Paradox of the Actor (1830)
Mystification (1951)
Short story collections in order
This Is Not a Story (1798)
Plays in order
Le Fils Naturel (1757)
Le Père De Famille (1758)
Film and TV adaptations
- Le Sexe qui parle (1975)Film · from The Indiscreet Jewels
- Les Dames du Bois de Boulogne (1945)Film · from Jacques the Fatalist
- The Fatalist (2005)Film · from Jacques the Fatalist
- Lady J (2018)Film · from Jacques the Fatalist
- The Nun (1966)Film · from La Religieuse
- Images in a Convent (1979)Film · from La Religieuse
- Convent of Sinners (1986)Film · from La Religieuse
- The Nun (2013)Film · from La Religieuse
Free to read
All free classics
About Denis Diderot
Denis Diderot was a French philosopher, art critic, and writer, best known for serving as co-founder, chief editor, and contributor to the Encyclopédie along with Jean le Rond d'Alembert. He was a prominent figure during the Age of Enlightenment.
Biography from Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0. Photo via Wikimedia Commons.
Denis Diderot FAQ
- How many books has Denis Diderot written?
- Denis Diderot published 15 novels, 1 short story collection and 2 plays that we list, as of September 2026.
- What order should I read Denis Diderot's books in?
- Publication order is a safe choice; the full list is above. Most readers start with The Indiscreet Jewels.
- What is Denis Diderot's last book?
- Refutation of Helvetius (1773).
- What is Denis Diderot's most famous book?
- The Indiscreet Jewels (1748) is Denis Diderot's most widely read book.
- Which Denis Diderot books have been adapted?
- 3 books have been adapted for film or TV, including The Indiscreet Jewels (as Le Sexe qui parle, film, 1975), Jacques the Fatalist (as Les Dames du Bois de Boulogne, film, 1945) and La Religieuse (as The Nun, film, 1966).
- Can I read Denis Diderot's books for free?
- Yes. 2 books by Denis Diderot are in the public domain in the US and free to read online or download here.
Authors like Denis Diderot
Voltaire
Also wrote philosophy and literary fiction
Laurence Sterne
Also wrote literary fiction and humour
Henry Fielding
Also wrote literary fiction and humour
Tobias Smollett
Also wrote literary fiction and humour
Mary Wollstonecraft
Also wrote philosophy and literary fiction
Jean-Jacques Rousseau
Also wrote philosophy
Sources: book lists and dates from Wikidata and Open Library, ratings from Open Library readers, free texts from Project Gutenberg. Last updated September 2026.