Ngũgĩ wa Thiong'o books in order
Kenyan writer
- Lived
- 1938–2025
- Country
- Kenya
- Books
- 35
Ngũgĩ wa Thiong'o published 11 novels, 5 novellas, 2 short story collections, 11 non-fiction books, 1 children's book, 3 plays and 2 other books, beginning with Weep Not, Child (1964). The best-known is The River Between (1965).
Updated September 2026
Where to start with Ngũgĩ wa Thiong'o
Start here
The River Between
Ngũgĩ wa Thiong'o's most-read book.
Shortest way in
Weep Not, Child
One of the most-read, at about 154 pages.
Standalone novels in order
Weep Not, Child (1964)
The River Between (1965)
A Grain of Wheat (1967)
Petals of Blood (1977)
Devil on the Cross (1980)
Njamba Nene's Pistol (1984)
Matigari (1986)
Matigari Ma Njiruungi (1986)
Decolonising the Mind: The Politics of Language in African Literature (Jun 1986)
Wizard of the Crow (2006)
Dreams in a Time of War (2010)
Novellas in order
Secret Lives and Other Stories (Jan 1975)
Barrel of a Pen (Jan 1983)
To Stir the Heart (Jun 2007), with Bessie Emery Head
The Upright Revolution: Or Why Humans Walk Upright (2016)
Perfect Nine (2018)
Short story collections in order
The Black Hermit (1968)
Minutes of Glory (2019)
Non-fiction in order
Homecoming (1972)
Writers in Politics (1981)
Decolonising the Mind (1986)
Moving the Centre (1992)
Penpoints, Gunpoints, and Dreams (1998)
Globalectics (2012)
In the House of the Interpreter (2012)
In the Name of the Mother (2013)
Birth of a Dream Weaver (2016)
Secure the Base (2016)
Wrestling with the Devil (2018)
Children's books in order
Njamba Nene and the Flying Bus (1982)
Plays in order
This Time Tomorrow (1970)
Trial of Dedan Kimathi (1976)
I Will Marry When I Want (Jan 1982)
Other books in order
Something Torn and New (2008)
Re-membering Africa (2009)
About Ngũgĩ wa Thiong'o
Ngũgĩ wa Thiong'o was a Kenyan author and academic, who has been described as East Africa's leading novelist and an important figure in modern African literature.
Biography from Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0. Photo via Wikimedia Commons.
Ngũgĩ wa Thiong'o FAQ
- How many books has Ngũgĩ wa Thiong'o written?
- Ngũgĩ wa Thiong'o published 11 novels, 5 novellas, 2 short story collections, 11 non-fiction books, 1 children's book, 3 plays and 2 other books that we list, as of September 2026.
- What order should I read Ngũgĩ wa Thiong'o's books in?
- Publication order is a safe choice; the full list is above. Most readers start with The River Between.
- What is Ngũgĩ wa Thiong'o's last book?
- Minutes of Glory (2019).
- What is Ngũgĩ wa Thiong'o's most famous book?
- The River Between (1965) is Ngũgĩ wa Thiong'o's most widely read book.
Authors like Ngũgĩ wa Thiong'o
Sources: book lists and dates from Wikidata and Open Library, ratings from Open Library readers. Last updated September 2026.