Mary Stewart published 20 novels, 1 novella, 3 children's books and 1 poetry collection, beginning with Madam, Will You Talk? (1954). The series is The Arthurian Saga (5 books, starting with The Crystal Cave). The best-known is Nine Coaches Waiting (1958).
Updated September 2026
The Arthurian Saga books in order (5)Series page
Reading order: 1 The Crystal Cave (1970) · 2 The Hollow Hills (1973) · 3 The Last Enchantment (1979) · 4 The Wicked Day (1983) · 5 The Prince and the Pilgrim (1995)
- 1.
The Crystal Cave (1970)
- 2.
The Hollow Hills (1973)
- 3.
The Last Enchantment (1979)
- 4.
The Wicked Day (1983)
- 5.
The Prince and the Pilgrim (1995)
Where to start with Mary Stewart
Start here
Nine Coaches Waiting
Mary Stewart's most-read book.
Shortest way in
Madam, Will You Talk?
One of the most-read, at about 224 pages.
Standalone novels in order
Madam, Will You Talk? (1954)
Thunder on the Right (1957)
Nine Coaches Waiting (1958)
My Brother Michael (1960)
The Ivy Tree (1961)
Wildfire at Midnight (1961)
The Moonspinners (1962)
This Rough Magic (1964)
Airs Above the Ground (1965)
The Gabriel Hounds (1967)
The Spell of Mary Stewart (1968)
Touch Not the Cat (1976)
Thornyhold (1988)
Stormy Petrel (1991)
Rose Cottage (1994)
Novellas in order
The Wind Off the Small Isles (1968)
Children's books in order
Little Broomstick (1971)
Ludo and the Star Horse (1974)
A Walk in Wolf Wood (1980)
Poetry in order
Frost on the Window and Other Poems (1990)
Film and TV adaptations
- The Moon-Spinners (1964)Film · from The Moonspinners
About Mary Stewart
Mary, Lady Stewart was a British novelist who developed the romantic mystery genre, featuring smart, adventurous heroines who could hold their own in dangerous situations. She also wrote children's books and poetry, but may be best known for her Merlin series, which straddles the boundary between the historical novel and fantasy.
Biography from Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0.
Mary Stewart FAQ
- How many books has Mary Stewart written?
- Mary Stewart published 20 novels, 1 novella, 3 children's books and 1 poetry collection that we list, as of September 2026.
- What order should I read Mary Stewart's books in?
- Read each series in its own order: start The Arthurian Saga with The Crystal Cave. The other books stand alone and can be read in any order.
- What is Mary Stewart's last book?
- The Prince and the Pilgrim (1995).
- What is Mary Stewart's most famous book?
- Nine Coaches Waiting (1958) is Mary Stewart's most widely read book.
- Are Mary Stewart's books connected?
- 5 books belong to 1 series (The Arthurian Saga); the other 20 books stand alone.
- Which Mary Stewart books have been adapted?
- 1 book has been adapted for film or TV, including The Moonspinners (as The Moon-Spinners, film, 1964).
Authors like Mary Stewart
Sources: book lists and dates from Wikidata and Open Library, ratings from Open Library readers. Last updated September 2026.