Theodor Fontane books in order
German novelist and poet
- Lived
- 1819–1898
- Country
- Germany
- Books
- 12
Theodor Fontane published 10 novels and 2 novellas, beginning with Effi Briest (1894).
Updated September 2026
Where to start with Theodor Fontane
Start here
Effi Briest
Theodor Fontane's most-read book.
Standalone novels in order
Ramblings Through Brandenburg (1862)
Before the Storm (1878)
Schach Von Wuthenow (1882)
Trials and Tribulations (1887)
Herr Von Ribbeck Auf Ribbeck Im Havelland (1889)
Irretrievable (1891)
Frau Jenny Treibel (1892)
Effi Briest (1894)
Irrungen, Wirrungen (1896)
Der Stechlin (1898)
Novellas in order
Grete Minde (1879)
Unterm Birnbaum (1885)
Film and TV adaptations
- Grete Minde (1977)Film · from Grete Minde
- The Silent Guest (1945)Film · from Unterm Birnbaum
- Ball im Metropol (1937)Film · from Trials and Tribulations
- Corinna Schmidt (1951)Film · from Frau Jenny Treibel
- The False Step (1939)Film · from Effi Briest
- Roses in Autumn (1955)Film · from Effi Briest
- Effi Briest (1974)Film · from Effi Briest
- Effi Briest (2009)Film · from Effi Briest
Free to read
All free classics
About Theodor Fontane
Theodor Fontane was a German novelist and poet. He has been called “the greatest German realist novelist” and “clearly the greatest German novelist before Thomas Mann.”
He published the first of his novels, for which he is best known today, only at age 58 after a career as a journalist. Many of his novels delve into topics that were more or less taboo for discussion in the polite society of Fontane's day, including marital infidelity, class differences, urban vs. rural differences, abandonment of children, and suicide. His novels sold well during his lifetime and several have been adapted for film or audio works.
Biography from Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0. Photo via Wikimedia Commons.
Theodor Fontane FAQ
- How many books has Theodor Fontane written?
- Theodor Fontane published 10 novels and 2 novellas that we list, as of September 2026.
- What order should I read Theodor Fontane's books in?
- Publication order is a safe choice; the full list is above. Most readers start with Effi Briest.
- What is Theodor Fontane's last book?
- Der Stechlin (1898).
- What is Theodor Fontane's most famous book?
- Effi Briest (1894) is Theodor Fontane's most widely read book.
- Which Theodor Fontane books have been adapted?
- 5 books have been adapted for film or TV, including Grete Minde (film, 1977), Unterm Birnbaum (as The Silent Guest, film, 1945), Trials and Tribulations (as Ball im Metropol, film, 1937) and Frau Jenny Treibel (as Corinna Schmidt, film, 1951).
- Can I read Theodor Fontane's books for free?
- Yes. 1 book by Theodor Fontane is in the public domain in the US and free to read online or download here.
Authors like Theodor Fontane
Sources: book lists and dates from Wikidata and Open Library, ratings from Open Library readers, free texts from Project Gutenberg. Last updated September 2026.