Donald Barthelme books in order
American writer, editor, and professor
- Lived
- 1931–1989
- Country
- United States
- Books
- 19
Donald Barthelme published 9 novels, 2 novellas, 5 short story collections, 1 non-fiction book and 2 other books, beginning with Forty Stories (1981).
Updated September 2026
Where to start with Donald Barthelme
Start here
Forty Stories
Donald Barthelme's most-read book.
Standalone novels in order
Snow White (1967)
Unspeakable Practices, Unnatural Acts (1968)
The Slightly Irregular Fire Engine (1971)
Sadness (1972)
The Dead Father (1975)
Amateurs (1976)
Great Days (1979)
Paradise (1986)
The King (1990)
Novellas in order
Come Back, Dr. Caligari (1965)
Some of Us Had Been Threatening Our Friend Colby (2011)
Short story collections in order
Forty Stories (1981)
Overnight to Many Distant Cities (1983)
The Teachings of Don B (1992)
Sixty Stories (Penguin Twentieth Century Classics) (2005)
Flying to America (2007)
Non-fiction in order
Not-Knowing (1997)
Other books in order
City Life (1976)
Sam's Bar (1987)
About Donald Barthelme
Donald Barthelme Jr. was an American short story writer and novelist known for his playful, postmodernist style of short fiction. Barthelme also worked as a newspaper reporter for the Houston Post, was managing editor of Location magazine, director of the Contemporary Arts Museum in Houston (1961–1962), co-founder of Fiction, and a professor at various universities. He also was one of the original founders of the University of Houston Creative Writing Program.
Biography from Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0. Photo via Wikimedia Commons.
Donald Barthelme FAQ
- How many books has Donald Barthelme written?
- Donald Barthelme published 9 novels, 2 novellas, 5 short story collections, 1 non-fiction book and 2 other books that we list, as of September 2026.
- What order should I read Donald Barthelme's books in?
- Publication order is a safe choice; the full list is above. Most readers start with Forty Stories.
- What is Donald Barthelme's last book?
- The King (1990).
- What is Donald Barthelme's most famous book?
- Forty Stories (1981) is Donald Barthelme's most widely read book.
Authors like Donald Barthelme
Sources: book lists and dates from Wikidata and Open Library, ratings from Open Library readers. Last updated September 2026.