Ryūnosuke Akutagawa books in order
Japanese writer
- Lived
- 1892–1927
- Country
- Japan
- Books
- 7
- Also writes as
- 我鬼, 柳川 隆之助
Ryūnosuke Akutagawa published 3 novels, 1 novella, 2 short story collections and 1 other book, beginning with Kappa (1927).
Updated September 2026
Where to start with Ryūnosuke Akutagawa
Start here
Kappa
Ryūnosuke Akutagawa's most-read book.
Standalone novels in order
Japanese Short Stories (1961)
Exotic Japanese Stories (1964)
The Book of Fantasy (1977)
Novellas in order
Kappa (1927)
Short story collections in order
Rashomon (1952)
Hell Screen (2011)
Other books in order
A Fool's Life (1970)
Free to read
All free classics
About Ryūnosuke Akutagawa
Ryūnosuke Akutagawa , art name Chōkōdō Shujin (澄江堂主人), was a Japanese writer active in the Taishō period in Japan. He is regarded as the "father of the Japanese short story", and Japan's premier literary award, the Akutagawa Prize, is named after him. He took his own life at the age of 35 through an overdose of barbital.
Biography from Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0. Photo via Wikimedia Commons.
Ryūnosuke Akutagawa FAQ
- How many books has Ryūnosuke Akutagawa written?
- Ryūnosuke Akutagawa published 3 novels, 1 novella, 2 short story collections and 1 other book that we list, as of September 2026.
- What order should I read Ryūnosuke Akutagawa's books in?
- Publication order is a safe choice; the full list is above. Most readers start with Kappa.
- What is Ryūnosuke Akutagawa's last book?
- Kappa (1927).
- What is Ryūnosuke Akutagawa's most famous book?
- Kappa (1927) is Ryūnosuke Akutagawa's most widely read book.
- Does Ryūnosuke Akutagawa write under a pen name?
- Yes: Ryūnosuke Akutagawa has also published as 我鬼 and 柳川 隆之助.
- Can I read Ryūnosuke Akutagawa's books for free?
- Yes. 1 book by Ryūnosuke Akutagawa is in the public domain in the US and free to read online or download here.
Sources: book lists and dates from Wikidata and Open Library, ratings from Open Library readers, free texts from Project Gutenberg. Last updated September 2026.