John Hersey books in order
American journalist, novelist, professor
- Lived
- 1914–1993
- Country
- United States
- Books
- 22
John Hersey published 14 novels, 1 short story collection, 5 non-fiction books, 1 children's book and 1 other book, beginning with Into the Valley (1943). The best-known is Hiroshima (1946).
Updated September 2026
Where to start with John Hersey
Start here
Hiroshima
John Hersey's most-read book.
Standalone novels in order
A Bell for Adano (1944)
The Wall (1950)
The Marmot Drive (1953)
The War Lover (1959)
The Child Buyer (1960)
A Single Pebble (1964)
White Lotus (1965)
Too Far to Walk (1966)
The Conspiracy (1972)
My Petition for More Space (1974)
The Writer's Craft (1974)
The Walnut Door (1977)
The Call (1985)
Antonietta (1991)
Short story collections in order
Key West Tales (1993)
Non-fiction in order
Into the Valley (1943)
Hiroshima (Aug 1946)
The Algiers Motel Incident (1968)
Ralph Ellison (1974)
Reporting World War II (2001)
Children's books in order
Of Men and War (1991)
Other books in order
Hiroshim (2010)
About John Hersey
John Richard Hersey was an American writer and journalist. He is considered one of the earliest practitioners of the so-called New Journalism, in which storytelling techniques of fiction are adapted to non-fiction reportage. In 1999, Hiroshima, Hersey's account of the aftermath of the atomic bomb dropped on Hiroshima, Japan, was adjudged the finest work of American journalism of the 20th century by a 36-member panel associated with New York University's journalism department.
Biography from Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0. Photo via Wikimedia Commons.
John Hersey FAQ
- How many books has John Hersey written?
- John Hersey published 14 novels, 1 short story collection, 5 non-fiction books, 1 children's book and 1 other book that we list, as of September 2026.
- What order should I read John Hersey's books in?
- Publication order is a safe choice; the full list is above. Most readers start with Hiroshima.
- What is John Hersey's last book?
- Key West Tales (1993).
- What is John Hersey's most famous book?
- Hiroshima (1946) is John Hersey's most widely read book.
Authors like John Hersey
Sources: book lists and dates from Wikidata and Open Library, ratings from Open Library readers. Last updated September 2026.