Marie-Claire Blais books in order
Playwright working in Quebec
- Lived
- 1939–2021
- Country
- France
- Books
- 21
Marie-Claire Blais published 13 novels, 6 novellas, 1 poetry collection and 1 other book, beginning with Mad Shadows (1959). The best-known is A Season in the Life of Emmanuel (1965).
Updated September 2026
Where to start with Marie-Claire Blais
Start here
A Season in the Life of Emmanuel
Marie-Claire Blais's most-read book.
Standalone novels in order
The Day Is Dark (1962)
The Manuscripts of Pauline Archange (1968)
Durer's Angel (1970)
St. Lawrence Blues (1973)
A Literary Affair (1975)
Nights in the Underground (1978)
Deaf to the City (1979)
Anna's World (1982)
Pierre (1984)
These Festive Nights (1995)
Thunder and Light (2001)
Augustino and the Choir of Destruction (2005)
The Acacia Gardens (2014)
Novellas in order
Mad Shadows (1959)
Tête Blanche (1960)
A Season in the Life of Emmanuel (1965)
The Fugitive (1966)
The Execution (1968)
David Sterne (1973)
Poetry in order
Veiled Countries; Lives (1983)
Other books in order
The Island (1988)
About Marie-Claire Blais
Marie-Claire Blais was a Canadian writer, novelist, poet, and playwright from the province of Quebec. In a career spanning more than sixty years, she wrote novels, plays, collections of poetry and fiction, newspaper articles, radio dramas, and scripts for television. She was a four-time recipient of the Governor General’s literary prize for French-Canadian literature, and was also a recipient of the Guggenheim Fellowship for creative arts.
Biography from Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0. Photo via Wikimedia Commons.
Marie-Claire Blais FAQ
- How many books has Marie-Claire Blais written?
- Marie-Claire Blais published 13 novels, 6 novellas, 1 poetry collection and 1 other book that we list, as of September 2026.
- What order should I read Marie-Claire Blais's books in?
- Publication order is a safe choice; the full list is above. Most readers start with A Season in the Life of Emmanuel.
- What is Marie-Claire Blais's last book?
- The Acacia Gardens (2014).
- What is Marie-Claire Blais's most famous book?
- A Season in the Life of Emmanuel (1965) is Marie-Claire Blais's most widely read book.
Authors like Marie-Claire Blais
Sources: book lists and dates from Wikidata and Open Library, ratings from Open Library readers. Last updated September 2026.