John Osborne books in order
English playwright
- Lived
- 1929–1994
- Country
- United Kingdom
- Books
- 24
John Osborne published 2 non-fiction books, 11 plays and 11 other books, beginning with Look Back in Anger (1956).
Updated September 2026
Where to start with John Osborne
Start here
Look Back in Anger
John Osborne's most-read book.
Non-fiction in order
A Better Class of Person (1981)
Almost a Gentleman (1991)
Plays in order
Look Back in Anger (1956)
The Entertainer (1957)
A Subject of Scandal and Concern (1961)
Luther (1961)
Tom Jones (1964)
A Patriot for Me (1965)
Inadmissible Evidence (1965)
A Place Calling Itself Rome (1973)
Watch It Come Down (1975)
Déjàvu (1991)
Before Anger (2009)
Other books in order
Epitaph for George Dillon (1958)
The World of Paul Slickey (1959)
Plays for England (1963)
Under Plain Cover (1963)
Epitaph for George Dillon, And, the Kitchen, by Arnold Wesker, And, the Hamlet of Stepney Green. by Bernard Kops (1964)
A Bond Honoured (1966)
West of Suez (1971)
Time Present (1972)
A Sense of Detachment (1973)
The End of Me Old Cigar (1975)
Plays One (1996)
Film and TV adaptations
- Luther (1973)Film · from Luther
About John Osborne
John James Osborne was an English playwright, screenwriter, actor, and entrepreneur, who is regarded as one of the most influential figures in post-war theatre. Born in London, he briefly worked as a journalist before starting out in theatre as a stage manager and actor. He lived in poverty for several years before his third produced play, Look Back in Anger (1956), brought him national fame.
Biography from Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0. Photo via Wikimedia Commons.
John Osborne FAQ
- How many books has John Osborne written?
- John Osborne published 2 non-fiction books, 11 plays and 11 other books that we list, as of September 2026.
- What order should I read John Osborne's books in?
- Publication order is a safe choice; the full list is above. Most readers start with Look Back in Anger.
- What is John Osborne's last book?
- Almost a Gentleman (1991).
- What is John Osborne's most famous book?
- Look Back in Anger (1956) is John Osborne's most widely read book.
- Which John Osborne books have been adapted?
- 1 book has been adapted for film or TV, including Luther (film, 1973).
Sources: book lists and dates from Wikidata and Open Library, ratings from Open Library readers. Last updated September 2026.