Portrait of Giovanni Papini

Giovanni Papini books in order

Italian writer

Lived
1881–1956
Country
Italy
Books
7
Also writes as
Cartouche, Climaco, Gentiluomo (Il) Malato, Gianfalco

Giovanni Papini published 5 novels and 2 non-fiction books, beginning with A Man (1913).

Updated September 2026

Where to start with Giovanni Papini

Standalone novels in order

  1. A Man (1913)

    303 pages

  2. Gog (1931)

    240 pages

  3. Dante Vivo (1933)

    340 pages

  4. Il Libro Nero (1951)

  5. The Devil (1954)

    203 pages

Non-fiction in order

  1. The Story of Christ (1921)

    519 pages

  2. Life of Christ (1923)

    416 pages

About Giovanni Papini

Giovanni Papini was an Italian journalist, essayist, novelist, short story writer, poet, literary critic, and philosopher. A controversial literary figure of the early and mid-twentieth century, he was the earliest and most enthusiastic representative and promoter of Italian pragmatism. Papini was admired for his writing style and engaged in heated polemics. Involved with avant-garde movements such as futurism and post-decadentism, he moved from one political and philosophical position to another, always dissatisfied and uneasy: he converted from anti-clericalism and atheism to Catholicism, and went from convinced interventionism – before 1915 – to an aversion to war. In the 1930s, after moving from individualism to conservatism, he finally became a fascist, while maintaining an aversion to Nazism.

Biography from Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0. Photo via Wikimedia Commons.

Giovanni Papini FAQ

How many books has Giovanni Papini written?
Giovanni Papini published 5 novels and 2 non-fiction books that we list, as of September 2026.
What order should I read Giovanni Papini's books in?
Publication order is a safe choice; the full list is above. Most readers start with A Man.
What is Giovanni Papini's last book?
The Devil (1954).
What is Giovanni Papini's most famous book?
A Man (1913) is Giovanni Papini's most widely read book.
Does Giovanni Papini write under a pen name?
Yes: Giovanni Papini has also published as Cartouche, Climaco, Gentiluomo (Il) Malato and Gianfalco.
Can I read Giovanni Papini's books for free?
Yes. 1 book by Giovanni Papini is in the public domain in the US and free to read online or download here.

Authors like Giovanni Papini

Sources: book lists and dates from Wikidata and Open Library, ratings from Open Library readers, free texts from Project Gutenberg. Last updated September 2026.