Ruth First published 7 non-fiction books, 1 children's book and 1 other book, beginning with South West Africa (1963). The best-known is 117 Days (1965).
Updated September 2026
Where to start with Ruth First
Start here
117 Days
Ruth First's most-read book.
Non-fiction in order
South West Africa (1963)
No Easy Walk to Freedom (1965)
The Barrel of a Gun (1970)
Libya (1974)
Olive Schreiner (1980)
Black Gold (1983)
Ruth First (1997)
Children's books in order
117 Days (1965)
Other books in order
The South African Connection (1972)
About Ruth First
Heloise Ruth First OLG was a South African anti-apartheid activist and scholar. She was assassinated in Mozambique, where she was working in exile, by a parcel bomb built by South African police.
Biography from Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0. Photo via Wikimedia Commons.
Ruth First FAQ
- How many books has Ruth First written?
- Ruth First published 7 non-fiction books, 1 children's book and 1 other book that we list, as of September 2026.
- What order should I read Ruth First's books in?
- Publication order is a safe choice; the full list is above. Most readers start with 117 Days.
- What is Ruth First's last book?
- Black Gold (1983).
- What is Ruth First's most famous book?
- 117 Days (1965) is Ruth First's most widely read book.
Authors like Ruth First
Sources: book lists and dates from Wikidata and Open Library, ratings from Open Library readers. Last updated September 2026.