Jean Genet books in order
French novelist, playwright, poet and political activist
- Lived
- 1910–1986
- Country
- France
- Books
- 17
Jean Genet published 5 novels, 1 novella, 2 non-fiction books, 1 poetry collection, 6 plays and 2 other books, beginning with Our Lady of the Flowers (1943).
Updated September 2026
Where to start with Jean Genet
Start here
Our Lady of the Flowers
Jean Genet's most-read book.
Standalone novels in order
Our Lady of the Flowers (1943)
The Miracle of the Rose (1946)
Querelle of Brest (1947)
Funeral Rites (1948)
The Selected Writings of Jean Genet (1993)
Novellas in order
The Menace of Privilege (1954)
Non-fiction in order
Prisoner of Love (book) (1986)
Fragments of the Artwork (2003)
Poetry in order
Treasures of the Night (1981)
Plays in order
The Maids (1947)
Deathwatch (1949)
The Balcony (1956)
The Blacks (Jan 1958)
The Screens (1962)
Splendid's (1993)
Other books in order
The Maids, a Play (1956)
Reflections on the Theatre, and Other Writings (1972)
Film and TV adaptations
- Querelle (1982)Film · from Querelle of Brest
- The Maids (1974)Film · from The Maids
- The Balcony (1963)Film · from The Balcony
About Jean Genet
Jean Genet was a French novelist, playwright, poet, essayist, and political activist. In his early life he was a vagabond and petty criminal, but he later became a writer and playwright. His major works include the novels The Thief's Journal and Our Lady of the Flowers and the plays The Balcony, The Maids and The Screens.
Biography from Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0. Photo via Wikimedia Commons.
Jean Genet FAQ
- How many books has Jean Genet written?
- Jean Genet published 5 novels, 1 novella, 2 non-fiction books, 1 poetry collection, 6 plays and 2 other books that we list, as of September 2026.
- What order should I read Jean Genet's books in?
- Publication order is a safe choice; the full list is above. Most readers start with Our Lady of the Flowers.
- What is Jean Genet's last book?
- Prisoner of Love (book) (1986).
- What is Jean Genet's most famous book?
- Our Lady of the Flowers (1943) is Jean Genet's most widely read book.
- Which Jean Genet books have been adapted?
- 3 books have been adapted for film or TV, including Querelle of Brest (as Querelle, film, 1982), The Maids (film, 1974) and The Balcony (film, 1963).
Sources: book lists and dates from Wikidata and Open Library, ratings from Open Library readers. Last updated September 2026.