Shūsaku Endō published 11 novels, 1 novella, 2 short story collections, 1 non-fiction book and 1 play, beginning with Silence (1966).
Updated September 2026
Where to start with Shūsaku Endō
Start here
Silence
Shūsaku Endō's most-read book.
Standalone novels in order
The Sea and Poison (1957)
Silence (1966)
Wonderful Fool (1974)
Volcano (1976)
When I Whistle (1979)
The Samurai (1980)
Stained Glass Elegies (1984)
Scandal (1986)
Foreign Studies (1989)
Deep River (1993)
The Girl I Left Behind (1994)
Novellas in order
White Man/Yellow Man (2014)
Short story collections in order
The Final Martyrs (1994)
Five by Endo (2000)
Non-fiction in order
A Life of Jesus (1973)
Plays in order
Golden Country (1989)
Film and TV adaptations
- The Sea and Poison (1986)Film · from The Sea and Poison
- Silence (1971)Film · from Silence
- Silence (2016)Film · from Silence
About Shūsaku Endō
Shūsaku Endō was a Japanese writer who wrote from the perspective of a Japanese Catholic. Internationally, he is known for his 1966 historical fiction novel Silence, adapted into a 2016 film by Martin Scorsese. He was the laureate of several prestigious literary accolades, including the Akutagawa Prize and the Order of Culture, and was inducted into the Roman Catholic Order of St. Sylvester by Pope Paul VI.
Biography from Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0. Photo via Wikimedia Commons.
Shūsaku Endō FAQ
- How many books has Shūsaku Endō written?
- Shūsaku Endō published 11 novels, 1 novella, 2 short story collections, 1 non-fiction book and 1 play that we list, as of September 2026.
- What order should I read Shūsaku Endō's books in?
- Publication order is a safe choice; the full list is above. Most readers start with Silence.
- What is Shūsaku Endō's last book?
- The Girl I Left Behind (1994).
- What is Shūsaku Endō's most famous book?
- Silence (1966) is Shūsaku Endō's most widely read book.
- Which Shūsaku Endō books have been adapted?
- 2 books have been adapted for film or TV, including The Sea and Poison (film, 1986) and Silence (film, 1971).
Authors like Shūsaku Endō
Sources: book lists and dates from Wikidata and Open Library, ratings from Open Library readers. Last updated September 2026.