Mary Oliver published 2 novels, 1 short story collection, 1 non-fiction book, 1 children's book, 28 poetry collections and 2 other books, beginning with Dream Work (1986). The best-known is A Poetry Handbook (1994).
Updated September 2026
Where to start with Mary Oliver
Start here
A Poetry Handbook
Mary Oliver's most-read book.
Standalone novels in order
The Truro Bear and Other Adventures (2008)
Upstream (2016)
Short story collections in order
Blue Pastures (1995)
Non-fiction in order
All We Can Save (Sep 2020), with Alice Walker and Naomi Klein
Children's books in order
The Legend of Santa Claus (1985)
Poetry in order
No Voyage, and Other Poems (1965)
The River Styx, Ohio, and Other Poems (1972)
Twelve Moons (1979)
American Primitive (1983)
Dream Work (1986)
House of Light (1990)
New and Selected Poems (1992)
A Poetry Handbook (1994)
White Pine (1994)
West Wind (1997)
Rules for the Dance (1998)
Winter Hours (1999)
The Leaf and the Cloud (2000)
What Do We Know (2002)
Owls and Other Fantasies (2003)
Blue Iris (2004)
Long Life (2004)
Why I Wake Early (2004)
Thirst (2006)
Red Bird (2008)
Evidence (2009)
Swan (2010)
A Thousand Mornings (2012)
Dog Songs (2013)
Blue Horses (2014)
Devotions (2017)
Felicity (2017)
Mary Oliver Collection (2020)
Other books in order
Wild Geese (2004)
Our World (2018)
About Mary Oliver
Mary Jane Oliver was an American poet who won the Pulitzer Prize in 1984 and the National Book Award in 1992. She found inspiration for her work in nature and had a lifelong habit of solitary walks in the wild. Her poetry is characterized by wonderment at the natural environment, vivid imagery, spirituality, and unadorned language. Oliver is one of the best-selling poets in American history.
Biography from Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0.
Mary Oliver FAQ
- How many books has Mary Oliver written?
- Mary Oliver published 2 novels, 1 short story collection, 1 non-fiction book, 1 children's book, 28 poetry collections and 2 other books that we list, as of September 2026.
- What order should I read Mary Oliver's books in?
- Publication order is a safe choice; the full list is above. Most readers start with A Poetry Handbook.
- What is Mary Oliver's last book?
- All We Can Save (2020).
- What is Mary Oliver's most famous book?
- A Poetry Handbook (1994) is Mary Oliver's most widely read book.
Authors like Mary Oliver
Sources: book lists and dates from Wikidata and Open Library, ratings from Open Library readers. Last updated September 2026.