What order should I read Jean Rhys's books in?

Publication order is a safe choice; the full list is above. Most readers start with Wide Sargasso Sea.

What is Jean Rhys's most famous book?

Wide Sargasso Sea (1966) is Jean Rhys's most widely read book.

Which Jean Rhys books have been adapted?

1 book has been adapted for film or TV, including Wide Sargasso Sea (film, 1993).

Jean Rhys books in order

British novelist

Lived: 1890–1979
Country: Dominica
Books: 14

Short stories

Jean Rhys published 7 novels, 6 short story collections and 1 poetry collection, beginning with Quartet (Norton Paperback Fiction) (1928). The best-known is Wide Sargasso Sea (1966).

Updated September 2026

Where to start with Jean Rhys

Start here
Wide Sargasso Sea
Jean Rhys's most-read book.

Standalone novels in order

Quartet (Norton Paperback Fiction) (1928)
187 pages
Buy
Voyage in the Dark (1934)
188 pages
Buy
Good Morning, Midnight (1939)
190 pages
Buy
Wide Sargasso Sea (Oct 1966)
189 pages★ 4.0 (17 ratings)Adapted for film
Buy
After Leaving Mr. Mackenzie (1969)
191 pages
Buy
Smile Please (1979)
175 pages
Buy
The Letters of Jean Rhys (1984)
315 pages
Buy

Short story collections in order

The Left Bank & Other Stories (1927)
256 pages
Buy
Tigers Are Better-looking (1972)
224 pages
Buy
Sleep It Off Lady (Oct 1976)
176 pages
Buy
Jean Rhys (1985)
574 pages
Buy
The Collected Short Stories (1987)
403 pages
Buy
Let Them Call It Jazz and Other Stories (1995)
86 pages
Buy

Poetry in order

Prelude to Poetry (1971)
304 pages
Buy

Film and TV adaptations

Wide Sargasso Sea (1993)Film · from Wide Sargasso Sea
Wide Sargasso Sea (2006)TV · from Wide Sargasso Sea

About Jean Rhys

Jean Rhys was a British Creole novelist who was born and grew up in the Caribbean island of Dominica. From the age of 16, she resided mainly in England, where she was sent for her education. She is best known for her final novel, Wide Sargasso Sea (1966), written as a prequel to Charlotte Brontë's Jane Eyre.

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

Jean Rhys FAQ

How many books has Jean Rhys written?: Jean Rhys published 7 novels, 6 short story collections and 1 poetry collection that we list, as of September 2026.
What order should I read Jean Rhys's books in?: Publication order is a safe choice; the full list is above. Most readers start with Wide Sargasso Sea.
What is Jean Rhys's last book?: Smile Please (1979).
What is Jean Rhys's most famous book?: Wide Sargasso Sea (1966) is Jean Rhys's most widely read book.
Which Jean Rhys books have been adapted?: 1 book has been adapted for film or TV, including Wide Sargasso Sea (film, 1993).