Pier Paolo Pasolini books in order
Italian writer, filmmaker, poet, and intellectual
- Lived
- 1922–1975
- Country
- Italy
- Books
- 16
Pier Paolo Pasolini published 5 novels, 2 short story collections, 4 non-fiction books, 3 poetry collections, 1 play and 1 other book, beginning with Ragazzi Di Vita (1955).
Updated September 2026
Where to start with Pier Paolo Pasolini
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Ragazzi Di Vita
Pier Paolo Pasolini's most-read book.
Standalone novels in order
Ragazzi Di Vita (1955)
A Violent Life (1959)
Una Vita Violenta (1959)
Petrolio (1997)
The Street Kids (2016)
Short story collections in order
Amado Mio (1982)
Roman Nights and Other Stories (Quartet Encounters) (1994)
Non-fiction in order
Teorema (1968)
Heretical Empiricism (1972)
The Scent of India (1984)
The Passion of Pier Paolo Pasolini (1995)
Poetry in order
Poems (1975)
Roman Poems (1986)
The Selected Poetry of Pier Paolo Pasolini (2014)
Plays in order
Oedipus Rex (1967)
Other books in order
Boys Alive (2023)
About Pier Paolo Pasolini
Pier Paolo Pasolini was an Italian poet, revolutionary, writer, film director, actor and playwright. He is considered one of the defining public intellectuals in 20th-century Italian history, influential both as an artist and a political figure. He is known for directing The Gospel According to St. Matthew, Teorema, the films from Trilogy of Life and Salò, or the 120 Days of Sodom.
Biography from Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0. Photo via Wikimedia Commons.
Pier Paolo Pasolini FAQ
- How many books has Pier Paolo Pasolini written?
- Pier Paolo Pasolini published 5 novels, 2 short story collections, 4 non-fiction books, 3 poetry collections, 1 play and 1 other book that we list, as of September 2026.
- What order should I read Pier Paolo Pasolini's books in?
- Publication order is a safe choice; the full list is above. Most readers start with Ragazzi Di Vita.
- What is Pier Paolo Pasolini's last book?
- Heretical Empiricism (1972).
- What is Pier Paolo Pasolini's most famous book?
- Ragazzi Di Vita (1955) is Pier Paolo Pasolini's most widely read book.
Sources: book lists and dates from Wikidata and Open Library, ratings from Open Library readers. Last updated September 2026.