Lillian Hellman books in order
American dramatist and screenwriter
- Lived
- 1905–1984
- Country
- United States
- Books
- 21
Lillian Hellman published 1 novel, 7 non-fiction books, 9 plays and 4 other books, beginning with The Children's Hour (1934). The best-known is The Little Foxes (1939).
Updated September 2026
Where to start with Lillian Hellman
Start here
The Little Foxes
Lillian Hellman's most-read book.
Standalone novels in order
Pentimento (1973)
Non-fiction in order
The Selected Letters of Anton Chekhov (1955)
Unfinished Woman (1969)
Scoundrel Time (1976)
Three (1979)
Maybe (1980)
Eating Together (1984)
Conversations with Lillian Hellman (1986)
Plays in order
The Children's Hour (1934)
Days to Come (1936)
The Little Foxes (1939)
Watch on the Rhine (1941)
Four Plays (1942)
The North Star (1943)
The Lark (1956)
The Collected Plays (1972)
Little Foxes and Another Part of the Forest (1973)
Other books in order
Another Part of the Forest (1947)
The Autumn Garden (1951)
Toys in the Attic, a New Play (1959)
Six Plays by Lillian Hellman (1978)
Film and TV adaptations
- These Three (1936)Film · from The Children's Hour
- The Children's Hour (1961)Film · from The Children's Hour
- Watch on the Rhine (1943)Film · from Watch on the Rhine
About Lillian Hellman
Lillian Florence Hellman was an American playwright, prose writer, memoirist, and screenwriter known for her success on Broadway as well as her communist views and political activism. She was blacklisted after her appearance before the House Committee on Un-American Activities (HUAC) at the height of the anti-communist campaigns of 1947–1952. Although she continued to work on Broadway in the 1950s, her blacklisting by the U.S. film industry caused a drop in her income. Many praised Hellman for refusing to answer HUAC's questions, but others believed, despite her denial, that she had belonged to the Communist Party.
Biography from Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0. Photo via Wikimedia Commons.
Lillian Hellman FAQ
- How many books has Lillian Hellman written?
- Lillian Hellman published 1 novel, 7 non-fiction books, 9 plays and 4 other books that we list, as of September 2026.
- What order should I read Lillian Hellman's books in?
- Publication order is a safe choice; the full list is above. Most readers start with The Little Foxes.
- What is Lillian Hellman's last book?
- Conversations with Lillian Hellman (1986).
- What is Lillian Hellman's most famous book?
- The Little Foxes (1939) is Lillian Hellman's most widely read book.
- Which Lillian Hellman books have been adapted?
- 2 books have been adapted for film or TV, including The Children's Hour (as These Three, film, 1936) and Watch on the Rhine (film, 1943).
Sources: book lists and dates from Wikidata and Open Library, ratings from Open Library readers. Last updated September 2026.