Joseph Kessel books in order
French journalist and novelist
- Lived
- 1898–1979
- Country
- France
- Books
- 12
Joseph Kessel published 11 novels and 1 non-fiction book, beginning with The Lion (1958).
Updated September 2026
Where to start with Joseph Kessel
Start here
The Lion
Joseph Kessel's most-read book.
Standalone novels in order
The Crew (1923)
Nights of Princes (1927)
Nuits De Princes (1927)
Belle De Jour (1928)
La Passante Du Sans-Souci (1936)
Army of Shadows (1944)
Le Coup De Gra Ce (1951)
The Lion (1958)
Les Mains Du Miracle (1960)
Mogok, the Valley of Rubies (1960)
The Horsemen (1967)
Non-fiction in order
The Man With the Miraculous Hands (2004)
Film and TV adaptations
- L'équipage (1935)Film · from The Crew
- Nights of Princes (1930)Film · from Nights of Princes
- The Passerby (1982)Film · from La Passante Du Sans-Souci
- The Horsemen (1971)Film · from The Horsemen
About Joseph Kessel
Joseph Kessel, also known as "Jef", was a French journalist and novelist. He was a member of the Académie française and Grand Officer of the Legion of Honour.
Biography from Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0. Photo via Wikimedia Commons.
Joseph Kessel FAQ
- How many books has Joseph Kessel written?
- Joseph Kessel published 11 novels and 1 non-fiction book that we list, as of September 2026.
- What order should I read Joseph Kessel's books in?
- Publication order is a safe choice; the full list is above. Most readers start with The Lion.
- What is Joseph Kessel's last book?
- The Horsemen (1967).
- What is Joseph Kessel's most famous book?
- The Lion (1958) is Joseph Kessel's most widely read book.
- Which Joseph Kessel books have been adapted?
- 4 books have been adapted for film or TV, including The Crew (as L'équipage, film, 1935), Nights of Princes (film, 1930), La Passante Du Sans-Souci (as The Passerby, film, 1982) and The Horsemen (film, 1971).
Sources: book lists and dates from Wikidata and Open Library, ratings from Open Library readers. Last updated September 2026.