Ralph Ellison books in order
American novelist, literary critic, scholar and writer
- Lived
- 1914–1994
- Country
- United States
- Books
- 10
Ralph Ellison published 7 novels, 1 short story collection and 2 non-fiction books, beginning with Invisible Man (1952).
Updated September 2026
Where to start with Ralph Ellison
Start here
Invisible Man
Ralph Ellison's most-read book.
Standalone novels in order
Invisible Man (Apr 1952)
Going to the Territory (1986)
Conversations with Ralph Ellison (1995)
The Collected Essays of Ralph Ellison (1995)
Juneteenth (1999)
Three Days Before the Shooting (Jan 2010)
The Selected Letters of Ralph Ellison (2019)
Short story collections in order
Flying Home and Other Stories (1996)
Non-fiction in order
Shadow and Act (1964)
Living with Music (2001)
About Ralph Ellison
Ralph Waldo Ellison was an American writer, literary critic, and scholar best known for his novel Invisible Man, which won the National Book Award in 1953.
Biography from Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0. Photo via Wikimedia Commons.
Ralph Ellison FAQ
- How many books has Ralph Ellison written?
- Ralph Ellison published 7 novels, 1 short story collection and 2 non-fiction books that we list, as of September 2026.
- What order should I read Ralph Ellison's books in?
- Publication order is a safe choice; the full list is above. Most readers start with Invisible Man.
- What is Ralph Ellison's last book?
- Flying Home and Other Stories (1996).
- What is Ralph Ellison's most famous book?
- Invisible Man (1952) is Ralph Ellison's most widely read book.
Authors like Ralph Ellison
Sources: book lists and dates from Wikidata and Open Library, ratings from Open Library readers. Last updated September 2026.