What order should I read Irvine Welsh's books in?

Read each series in its own order: start Mark Renton with Trainspotting. The other books stand alone and can be read in any order.

What is Irvine Welsh's most famous book?

Trainspotting (1993) is Irvine Welsh's most widely read book.

Are Irvine Welsh's books connected?

5 books belong to 1 series (Mark Renton); the other 20 books stand alone.

Which Irvine Welsh books have been adapted?

5 books have been adapted for film or TV, including Trainspotting (film, 1996), The Acid House (as Acid House, film, 1998), Filth (film, 2013) and Porno (as T2 Trainspotting, film, 2017).

Irvine Welsh books in order

Scottish writer

Born: 1958
Country: United Kingdom
Books: 25
Series: 1

Literary fiction

Irvine Welsh has published 15 novels, 4 novellas, 3 short story collections, 1 non-fiction book, 1 play and 1 other book, beginning with Trainspotting (1993). The series is Mark Renton (5 books, starting with Trainspotting). The latest is Men in Love (2025).

Updated September 2026

Mark Renton books in order (5)Series page

Reading order: 1 Trainspotting (1993) · 2 Porno (2002) · 3 Skagboys (2012) · 4 The Blade Artist (2016) · 5 Dead Men's Trousers (2018)

1.
Trainspotting (1993)
352 pages★ 4.1 (25 ratings)Adapted for film
Buy
2.
Porno (Aug 2002)
490 pages★ 3.0 (5 ratings)Adapted for film
Buy
3.
Skagboys (Sep 2012)
593 pages
Buy
4.
The Blade Artist (2016)
288 pages
Buy
5.
Dead Men's Trousers (2018)
384 pages
Buy

Where to start with Irvine Welsh

Start here
Trainspotting
Irvine Welsh's most-read book and the first of the 5 Mark Renton books.
Shortest way in
Marabou Stork Nightmares
One of the most-read, at about 264 pages.
Newest
Men in Love
Published 2025.

Standalone novels in order

Marabou Stork Nightmares (1995)
264 pages★ 4.4 (7 ratings)
Buy
Filth (1998)
396 pages★ 3.6 (7 ratings)Adapted for film
Buy
Glue (2001)
469 pages
Buy
Open City #3 (Open City) (2001)
247 pages
Buy
The Bedroom Secrets of the Master Chefs (2006)
400 pages
Buy
Crime (2008)
344 pagesAdapted for TV
Buy
The Sex Lives of Siamese Twins (2014)
474 pages
Buy
A Decent Ride (Apr 2015)
496 pages
Buy
T2 Trainspotting (2017)
496 pages
Buy
Men in Love (2025)
608 pages
Buy

Novellas in order

Ecstasy (May 1996)
276 pages
Buy
You'll Have Had Your Hole (1998)
70 pages
Buy
Babylon Heights (2006)
112 pages
Buy
Rave (2018)
128 pages
Buy

Short story collections in order

The Acid House (1994)
256 pages★ 3.8 (6 ratings)Adapted for film
Buy
If You Liked School, You'll Love Work (2007)
356 pages
Buy
Reheated Cabbage (2009)
273 pages
Buy

Non-fiction in order

Days Like This (2009)
212 pages
Buy

Plays in order

4 Play (2001)
238 pages
Buy

Other books in order

Long Knives (2022)
Buy

Film and TV adaptations

Trainspotting (1996)Film · from Trainspotting
T2 Trainspotting (2017)Film · from Trainspotting
Acid House (1998)Film · from The Acid House
Filth (2013)Film · from Filth
T2 Trainspotting (2017)Film · from Porno
CrimeTV · from Crime

About Irvine Welsh

Irvine Welsh is a Scottish novelist, short story writer, screenwriter and filmmaker. His novels and short stories, which almost always take place in his native Scotland, are known for their gritty depictions of working-class life and its intricacies; particularly drug addiction, social alienation, lack of opportunity and boredom, amongst others.

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

Irvine Welsh FAQ

How many books has Irvine Welsh written?: Irvine Welsh has published 15 novels, 4 novellas, 3 short story collections, 1 non-fiction book, 1 play and 1 other book that we list, as of September 2026.
What order should I read Irvine Welsh's books in?: Read each series in its own order: start Mark Renton with Trainspotting. The other books stand alone and can be read in any order.
What is Irvine Welsh's latest book?: Men in Love (2025).
What is Irvine Welsh's most famous book?: Trainspotting (1993) is Irvine Welsh's most widely read book.
Are Irvine Welsh's books connected?: 5 books belong to 1 series (Mark Renton); the other 20 books stand alone.
Which Irvine Welsh books have been adapted?: 5 books have been adapted for film or TV, including Trainspotting (film, 1996), The Acid House (as Acid House, film, 1998), Filth (film, 2013) and Porno (as T2 Trainspotting, film, 2017).