Peter Matthiessen books in order
American novelist
- Lived
- 1927–2014
- Country
- United States
- Books
- 32
Peter Matthiessen published 13 novels, 1 short story collection, 14 non-fiction books and 4 other books, beginning with The Snow Leopard (1978).
Updated September 2026
Where to start with Peter Matthiessen
Start here
The Snow Leopard
Peter Matthiessen's most-read book.
Standalone novels in order
Race Rock (1954)
Partisans (1955)
Raditzer (1961)
At Play in the Fields of the Lord (1965)
Blue Meridian (1971)
Far Tortuga (1975)
The Snow Leopard (1978)
Killing Mister Watson (1990)
Killing Mr Watson (1990)
Lost Man's River (1997)
Bone by Bone (1999)
Shadow Country (2008)
In Paradise (2014)
Short story collections in order
On the River Styx and Other Stories (1989)
Non-fiction in order
Wildlife in America (1959)
Sal Si Puedes (1969)
The Tree Where Man Was Born (1972)
Sand Rivers (1980)
Indian Country (1984)
Nine-headed Dragon River (1986)
The Cloud Forest (1987)
Under the Mountain Wall (1987)
In the Spirit of Crazy Horse (1991)
Baikal Sacred Sea of Siberia (1992)
Shadows of Africa (1992)
East of Lo Monthang (1995)
North American Indians (1998)
End of the Earth (2003)
Other books in order
The Wind Birds (1973)
No Boundaries (1993)
Tigers in the Snow (2000)
The Birds of Heaven (2001)
Film and TV adaptations
- At Play in the Fields of the Lord (1991)Film · from At Play in the Fields of the Lord
About Peter Matthiessen
Peter Matthiessen was an American novelist, naturalist, wilderness writer, zen teacher, and onetime CIA agent. A co-founder of the literary magazine The Paris Review, he is the only writer to have won the National Book Award in both nonfiction and fiction. He was also a prominent environmental activist.
Biography from Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0. Photo via Wikimedia Commons.
Peter Matthiessen FAQ
- How many books has Peter Matthiessen written?
- Peter Matthiessen published 13 novels, 1 short story collection, 14 non-fiction books and 4 other books that we list, as of September 2026.
- What order should I read Peter Matthiessen's books in?
- Publication order is a safe choice; the full list is above. Most readers start with The Snow Leopard.
- What is Peter Matthiessen's last book?
- In Paradise (2014).
- What is Peter Matthiessen's most famous book?
- The Snow Leopard (1978) is Peter Matthiessen's most widely read book.
- Which Peter Matthiessen books have been adapted?
- 1 book has been adapted for film or TV, including At Play in the Fields of the Lord (film, 1991).
Sources: book lists and dates from Wikidata and Open Library, ratings from Open Library readers. Last updated September 2026.