Richard Wright books in order
American novelist and poet
- Lived
- 1908–1960
- Country
- United States
- Books
- 16
Richard Wright published 9 novels, 1 short story collection, 5 non-fiction books and 1 poetry collection, beginning with Uncle Tom's Children (1938). The best-known is Black Boy (1945).
Updated September 2026
Where to start with Richard Wright
Start here
Black Boy
Richard Wright's most-read book.
Standalone novels in order
Uncle Tom's Children (1938)
Native Son (Mar 1940)
Black Boy (1945)
The God That Failed (1949), with André Gide and Arthur Koestler
The Outsider (1953)
The Long Dream (1958)
Lawd Today (1963)
Rite of Passage (1994)
The Man Who Lived Underground (2003)
Short story collections in order
Eight Men (1961)
Non-fiction in order
12 Million Black Voices (1941)
Black Power (1954)
The Color Curtain (1956)
Pagan Spain (1957)
White Man, Listen! (1957)
Poetry in order
Haiku (1998)
Film and TV adaptations
- Native Son (1951)Film · from Native Son
- Native Son (1986)Film · from Native Son
- Native Son (2019)Film · from Native Son
About Richard Wright
Richard Nathaniel Wright was an American author of novels, short stories, poems, and non-fiction. Much of his literature concerns racial themes, especially related to the plight of African Americans during the late 19th to mid 20th centuries suffering discrimination and violence. His best known works include the novella collection Uncle Tom's Children (1938), the novel Native Son (1940), and the memoir Black Boy (1945). Literary critics believe his work helped change race relations in the United States in the mid-20th century.
Biography from Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0. Photo via Wikimedia Commons.
Richard Wright FAQ
- How many books has Richard Wright written?
- Richard Wright published 9 novels, 1 short story collection, 5 non-fiction books and 1 poetry collection that we list, as of September 2026.
- What order should I read Richard Wright's books in?
- Publication order is a safe choice; the full list is above. Most readers start with Black Boy.
- What is Richard Wright's last book?
- Eight Men (1961).
- What is Richard Wright's most famous book?
- Black Boy (1945) is Richard Wright's most widely read book.
- Which Richard Wright books have been adapted?
- 1 book has been adapted for film or TV, including Native Son (film, 1951).
Authors like Richard Wright
Sources: book lists and dates from Wikidata and Open Library, ratings from Open Library readers. Last updated September 2026.