Romain Gary books in order
French writer and diplomat
- Lived
- 1914–1980
- Country
- Second Polish Republic
- Books
- 23
- Also writes as
- Émile Ajar, Fosco Sinibaldi, Lucien Brulard, René Deville
Romain Gary published 20 novels, 2 short story collections and 1 non-fiction book, beginning with Promise at Dawn (1960). The best-known is The Life Before Us (1975).
Updated September 2026
Where to start with Romain Gary
Start here
The Life Before Us
Romain Gary's most-read book.
Standalone novels in order
Forest of Anger (1945)
The Roots of Heaven (Oct 1956)
A European Education (1960)
Nothing Important Ever Dies (1960)
The Talent Scout (1961)
Lady L (1963)
The Ski Bum (1965)
Pour Sganarelle (Oct 1965)
The Dance of Genghis Cohn (1967)
White Dog (1970)
Europa (Apr 1972)
The Gasp (1973)
Les Enchanteurs (May 1973)
The Life Before Us (1975)
Hocus Bogus (1976)
Your Ticket Is No Longer Valid (1977)
Clair De Femme (Feb 1977)
L'Angoisse Du Roi Salomon (Feb 1979)
The Kites (1980)
King Solomon (1983)
Short story collections in order
Gloire À Nos Illustres Pionniers (1962)
Hissing Tales (1964)
Non-fiction in order
Promise at Dawn (1960)
Film and TV adaptations
- Promise at Dawn (1970)Film · from Promise at Dawn
- Promise at Dawn (2017)Film · from Promise at Dawn
- White Dog (1982)Film · from White Dog
- White Dog (2022)Film · from White Dog
- Madame Rosa (1977)Film · from The Life Before Us
About Romain Gary
Romain Gary, also known by the pen name Émile Ajar, was a Lithuanian-born French novelist, diplomat, film director, and military aviator. He is the only author to have won the Prix Goncourt twice. He is considered a major writer of French literature of the second half of the 20th century.
Biography from Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0.
Romain Gary FAQ
- How many books has Romain Gary written?
- Romain Gary published 20 novels, 2 short story collections and 1 non-fiction book that we list, as of September 2026.
- What order should I read Romain Gary's books in?
- Publication order is a safe choice; the full list is above. Most readers start with The Life Before Us.
- What is Romain Gary's last book?
- The Kites (1980).
- What is Romain Gary's most famous book?
- The Life Before Us (1975) is Romain Gary's most widely read book.
- Does Romain Gary write under a pen name?
- Yes: Romain Gary has also published as Émile Ajar, Fosco Sinibaldi, Lucien Brulard and René Deville.
- Which Romain Gary books have been adapted?
- 3 books have been adapted for film or TV, including Promise at Dawn (film, 1970), White Dog (film, 1982) and The Life Before Us (as Madame Rosa, film, 1977).
Authors like Romain Gary
Sources: book lists and dates from Wikidata and Open Library, ratings from Open Library readers. Last updated September 2026.