Eugène Ionesco books in order
Romanian-French playwright
- Lived
- 1909–1994
- Country
- Romania
- Books
- 23
Eugène Ionesco published 1 novel, 2 non-fiction books, 13 plays and 7 other books, beginning with The Bald Soprano (1950). The best-known is The Colonel's Photograph (1967).
Updated September 2026
Where to start with Eugène Ionesco
Start here
The Colonel's Photograph
Eugène Ionesco's most-read book.
Standalone novels in order
The Hermit (1973)
Non-fiction in order
Present Past, Past Present (1968)
The True Gen (1987)
Plays in order
The Bald Soprano (Sep 1950)
The Lesson (1951)
The Chairs (1953)
Amédée, or How to Get Rid of It (1954)
Jack, or The Submission (1954)
Four Plays (1958)
The Killer (1958)
Rhinoceros (1959)
Exit the King (1963)
Notes and Counter Notes (1964)
A Stroll in the Air (1968)
Hunger and Thirst (1969)
Macbett (1972)
Other books in order
LA Cantatrice Chauve (1954)
The a Tre (1954)
The Colonel's Photograph (1967)
Story Number 2 (1970)
LesChaises L'Impromptu De L'Alma (1973)
A Hell of a Mess (1975)
Killing Game (1989)
About Eugène Ionesco
Eugène Ionesco was a Romanian-French playwright who wrote mostly in French, and was one of the foremost figures of the French avant-garde theatre in the 20th century. Ionesco instigated a revolution in ideas and techniques of drama, beginning with his "anti play", The Bald Soprano, which contributed to the beginnings of what is known as the Theatre of the Absurd. He wrote a number of plays that, following the ideas of the philosopher Albert Camus, explore concepts of absurdism and surrealism. He was made a member of the Académie française in 1970, and was awarded the 1970 Austrian State Prize for European Literature, and the 1973 Jerusalem Prize.
Biography from Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0. Photo via Wikimedia Commons.
Eugène Ionesco FAQ
- How many books has Eugène Ionesco written?
- Eugène Ionesco published 1 novel, 2 non-fiction books, 13 plays and 7 other books that we list, as of September 2026.
- What order should I read Eugène Ionesco's books in?
- Publication order is a safe choice; the full list is above. Most readers start with The Colonel's Photograph.
- What is Eugène Ionesco's last book?
- The True Gen (1987).
- What is Eugène Ionesco's most famous book?
- The Colonel's Photograph (1967) is Eugène Ionesco's most widely read book.
Sources: book lists and dates from Wikidata and Open Library, ratings from Open Library readers. Last updated September 2026.