Jean Renoir books in order
French film director and screenwriter
- Lived
- 1894–1979
- Country
- France
- Books
- 6
Jean Renoir published 2 non-fiction books, 2 plays and 2 other books, beginning with Mein Vater, Auguste Renoir (1962). The best-known is The Rules of the Game (1970).
Updated September 2026
Where to start with Jean Renoir
Start here
The Rules of the Game
Jean Renoir's most-read book.
Non-fiction in order
Renoir, My Father (1962)
Renoir on Renoir (1989)
Plays in order
La Grande Illusion (1968)
The Rules of the Game (1970)
Other books in order
Mein Vater, Auguste Renoir (1962)
Renoir, My Father, Tr. by Randolph and Dorothy Weaver. -- (1962)
About Jean Renoir
Jean Renoir was a French filmmaker, actor, producer and author. His La Grande Illusion (1937) and The Rules of the Game (1939) are often cited by critics as among the greatest films ever made. In 2002, he was ranked fourth on the BFI's Sight & Sound poll of the greatest directors. Among numerous honours accrued during his lifetime, he received a Lifetime Achievement Academy Award in 1975. Renoir was the son of the painter Pierre-Auguste Renoir and the uncle of the cinematographer Claude Renoir. With Claude, he made The River (1951), the first color film shot in India. A lifelong lover of theater, Renoir turned to the stage for The Golden Coach (1952) and French Cancan (1955). He was one of the first filmmakers to be known as an auteur; the critic Penelope Gilliatt said a Renoir shot could be identified "in a thousand miles of film."
Biography from Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0. Photo via Wikimedia Commons.
Jean Renoir FAQ
- How many books has Jean Renoir written?
- Jean Renoir published 2 non-fiction books, 2 plays and 2 other books that we list, as of September 2026.
- What order should I read Jean Renoir's books in?
- Publication order is a safe choice; the full list is above. Most readers start with The Rules of the Game.
- What is Jean Renoir's last book?
- Renoir, My Father (1962).
- What is Jean Renoir's most famous book?
- The Rules of the Game (1970) is Jean Renoir's most widely read book.
Sources: book lists and dates from Wikidata and Open Library, ratings from Open Library readers. Last updated September 2026.