Kōbō Abe books in order
Japanese writer, playwright, photographer and inventor
- Lived
- 1924–1993
- Country
- Japan
- Books
- 12
Kōbō Abe published 9 novels, 1 non-fiction book and 2 plays, beginning with The Woman in the Dunes (1962).
Updated September 2026
Where to start with Kōbō Abe
Start here
The Woman in the Dunes
Kōbō Abe's most-read book.
Shortest way in
The Box Man
One of the most-read, at about 185 pages.
Standalone novels in order
Inter Ice Age 4 (Jul 1959)
The Woman in the Dunes (Jun 1962)
The Face of Another (1964)
The Ruined Map (Sep 1967)
The Box Man (Mar 1973)
Secret Rendezvous (Dec 1977)
The Ark Sakura (1984)
Beyond the Curve (1991)
Kangaroo Notebook (Apr 1996)
Non-fiction in order
The Frontier Within (2013)
Plays in order
Friends; [play] (1969)
The Man Who Turned into a Stick (1975)
Film and TV adaptations
- The Woman in the Dunes (1964)Film · from The Woman in the Dunes
- The Face of Another (1966)Film · from The Face of Another
- The Man Without a Map (1968)Film · from The Ruined Map
- The Box Man (2024)Film · from The Box Man
About Kōbō Abe
Kimifusa Abe , known by his pen name Kōbō Abe , was a Japanese writer, playwright and director. His 1962 novel The Woman in the Dunes was made into an award-winning film by Hiroshi Teshigahara in 1964. Abe has often been compared to Franz Kafka for his modernist sensibilities and his surreal, often nightmarish explorations of individuals in contemporary society. He died aged 68 of heart failure in Tokyo after a brief illness.
Biography from Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0. Photo via Wikimedia Commons.
Kōbō Abe FAQ
- How many books has Kōbō Abe written?
- Kōbō Abe published 9 novels, 1 non-fiction book and 2 plays that we list, as of September 2026.
- What order should I read Kōbō Abe's books in?
- Publication order is a safe choice; the full list is above. Most readers start with The Woman in the Dunes.
- What is Kōbō Abe's last book?
- Beyond the Curve (1991).
- What is Kōbō Abe's most famous book?
- The Woman in the Dunes (1962) is Kōbō Abe's most widely read book.
- Which Kōbō Abe books have been adapted?
- 4 books have been adapted for film or TV, including The Woman in the Dunes (film, 1964), The Face of Another (film, 1966), The Ruined Map (as The Man Without a Map, film, 1968) and The Box Man (film, 2024).
Sources: book lists and dates from Wikidata and Open Library, ratings from Open Library readers. Last updated September 2026.