James A. Michener books in order
American author
- Lived
- 1907–1997
- Country
- United States
- Books
- 59
James A. Michener published 36 novels, 3 novellas, 4 short story collections, 10 non-fiction books, 1 poetry collection and 5 other books, beginning with Tales of the South Pacific (1947). The best-known is The Source (1965).
Updated September 2026
Where to start with James A. Michener
Start here
The Source
James A. Michener's most-read book.
Shortest way in
Hawaii
One of the most-read, at about 937 pages.
Standalone novels in order
Tales of the South Pacific (Jan 1947)
The Voice of Asia (1951)
Sayonara (1953)
The Floating World (1954)
The Hokusai Sketchbooks (1958)
Japanese Prints (1959)
Hawaii (Nov 1959)
The Fires of Spring (1960)
Karawanen Der Nacht (1963)
Caravans (Aug 1963)
The Source (1965)
Kent State (1971)
The Drifters (1971)
The Drifters Part 1 of 2 (1971)
Centennial (1974)
Chesapeake (Jun 1978)
The Watermen (1979)
The Covenant (1980)
THE COVENANT----2 Volumes (1980)
Space (1982)
Poland (1983)
Texas (1985)
Legacy (1987)
Alaska (1988)
Caribbean (1989)
The Eagle and the Raven (Sep 1990)
The Novel (1991)
Mexico (1992)
My Lost Mexico (1992)
South Pacific (1992)
The World Is My Home (1992)
Writer's Handbook (1992)
Literary Reflections (1993)
Recessional (1994)
This Noble Land (1996)
Matecumbe (2007)
Novellas in order
The Bridges at Toko-Ri (1953)
Pilgrimage (1990)
Miracle in Seville (1995)
Short story collections in order
Return to Paradise (1951)
Rascals in Paradise (1957)
Firstfruits (1965)
Creatures of the Kingdom (1993)
Non-fiction in order
The Modern Japanese Print (1956)
The Bridge at Andau (1957)
Report of the County Chairman (1961)
Iberia Part 1 of 2 (1968)
Iberia; Spanish Travels and Reflections (1968)
Presidential Lottery (1969)
A Michener Miscellany: 1950-1970 (1973)
Sports in America (1981)
USA (1981)
Six Days in Havana (1989)
Poetry in order
A Century of Sonnets (1997)
Other books in order
Texas Part 1 of 3 (1965)
America Vs. America (1969)
The Quality of Life (1970)
The Covenant Part 1 of 3 (1980)
Space Part 1 of 2 (1982)
Film and TV adaptations
- South Pacific (1958)Film · from Tales of the South Pacific
- South Pacific (2001)TV · from Tales of the South Pacific
- Return to Paradise (1953)Film · from Return to Paradise
- Until They Sail (1957)Film · from Return to Paradise
- Sayonara (1957)Film · from Sayonara
- The Bridges at Toko-Ri (1954)Film · from The Bridges at Toko-Ri
- Hawaii (1966)Film · from Hawaii
- The Hawaiians (1970)Film · from Hawaii
- Caravans (1978)Film · from Caravans
- CentennialTV · from Centennial
About James A. Michener
James Albert Michener was an American writer. He wrote more than 40 books, most of which were long, fictional family sagas covering the lives of many generations, set in particular geographic locales and incorporating detailed history. Many of his works were bestsellers and were chosen by the Book of the Month Club. He was also known for the meticulous research that went into his books.
Biography from Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0. Photo via Wikimedia Commons.
James A. Michener FAQ
- How many books has James A. Michener written?
- James A. Michener published 36 novels, 3 novellas, 4 short story collections, 10 non-fiction books, 1 poetry collection and 5 other books that we list, as of September 2026.
- What order should I read James A. Michener's books in?
- Publication order is a safe choice; the full list is above. Most readers start with The Source.
- What is James A. Michener's last book?
- This Noble Land (1996).
- What is James A. Michener's most famous book?
- The Source (1965) is James A. Michener's most widely read book.
- Which James A. Michener books have been adapted?
- 7 books have been adapted for film or TV, including Tales of the South Pacific (as South Pacific, film, 1958), Return to Paradise (film, 1953), Sayonara (film, 1957) and The Bridges at Toko-Ri (film, 1954).
Authors like James A. Michener
Sources: book lists and dates from Wikidata and Open Library, ratings from Open Library readers. Last updated September 2026.