Erich Auerbach published 5 non-fiction books, beginning with Mimesis: The Representation of Reality in Western Literature (1946).
Updated September 2026
Where to start with Erich Auerbach
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Mimesis: The Representation of Reality in Western Literature
Erich Auerbach's most-read book.
Non-fiction in order
Mimesis: The Representation of Reality in Western Literature (1946)
Literary Language & Its Public in Late Latin Antiquity and in the Middle Ages (1958)
Scenes from the Drama of European Literature (1959)
Introduction to Romance Languages and Literature (1961)
An Eye for Music (1971)
About Erich Auerbach
Erich Auerbach was a German philologist, comparative scholar and critic of literature. His best-known work is Mimesis: The Representation of Reality in Western Literature, a history of representation in Western literature from ancient to modern times frequently cited as a classic in the study of realism in literature. Along with Leo Spitzer, Auerbach is widely recognized as one of the foundational figures of comparative literature.
Biography from Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0. Photo via Wikimedia Commons.
Erich Auerbach FAQ
- How many books has Erich Auerbach written?
- Erich Auerbach published 5 non-fiction books that we list, as of September 2026.
- What order should I read Erich Auerbach's books in?
- Publication order is a safe choice; the full list is above. Most readers start with Mimesis: The Representation of Reality in Western Literature.
- What is Erich Auerbach's last book?
- Scenes from the Drama of European Literature (1959).
- What is Erich Auerbach's most famous book?
- Mimesis: The Representation of Reality in Western Literature (1946) is Erich Auerbach's most widely read book.
Authors like Erich Auerbach
Sources: book lists and dates from Wikidata and Open Library, ratings from Open Library readers. Last updated September 2026.