Zora Neale Hurston published 10 novels, 2 short story collections, 4 non-fiction books, 1 play and 2 other books, beginning with Mules and Men (1935). The best-known is Their Eyes Were Watching God (1937).
Updated September 2026
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Their Eyes Were Watching God
Zora Neale Hurston's most-read book, rated by 50 Open Library readers.
Standalone novels in order
Jonah's Gourd Vine (1934)
Mules and Men (1935)
Their Eyes Were Watching God (Sep 1937)
Tell My Horse (1938)
Moses, Man of the Mountain (1939)
Dust Tracks on a Road (1942)
Seraph on the Suwanee (1948)
Folklore, Memoirs, and Other Writings (1995)
Sweat (1997)
Go Gator and Muddy the Water (1999)
Short story collections in order
Spunk (1985)
The Skull Talks Back and Other Haunting Tales (2004)
Non-fiction in order
Voodoo Gods (1939)
The Sanctified Church (1981)
Every Tongue Got to Confess (2001)
Barracoon: The Story of the Last "Black Cargo" (May 2018)
Plays in order
The Prize Plays and Other One-Acts Published in Periodicals (African-American Women Writers, 1910-1940) (1996)
Other books in order
The Gilded Six-Bits (Perfect Presents Story-Gifts) (1986)
Film and TV adaptations
- Their Eyes Were Watching God (2005)TV · from Their Eyes Were Watching God
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About Zora Neale Hurston
Zora Neale Hurston was an American writer, anthropologist, folklorist, and documentary filmmaker. She portrayed racial struggles in the early-20th-century American South and published research on Hoodoo and Caribbean Vodou. The most popular of her four novels is Their Eyes Were Watching God, published in 1937. She also wrote more than 50 short stories, plays, an autobiography, ethnographies, and many essays. Some of her work, namely Tell My Horse (1937), explored ethnomusicological methods of study long before there were formal boundaries for the discipline, especially not boundaries that included the respectful study of communities of color. Hurston's unique background and exceptional approach to anthropology laid key foundations for the growth of ethnography, literature, and Africana Studies.
Biography from Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0. Photo via Wikimedia Commons.
Zora Neale Hurston FAQ
- How many books has Zora Neale Hurston written?
- Zora Neale Hurston published 10 novels, 2 short story collections, 4 non-fiction books, 1 play and 2 other books that we list, as of September 2026.
- What order should I read Zora Neale Hurston's books in?
- Publication order is a safe choice; the full list is above. Most readers start with Their Eyes Were Watching God.
- What is Zora Neale Hurston's last book?
- Seraph on the Suwanee (1948).
- What is Zora Neale Hurston's most famous book?
- Their Eyes Were Watching God (1937) is Zora Neale Hurston's most widely read book.
- Which Zora Neale Hurston books have been adapted?
- 1 book has been adapted for film or TV, including Their Eyes Were Watching God (TV, 2005).
- Can I read Zora Neale Hurston's books for free?
- Yes. 8 books by Zora Neale Hurston are in the public domain in the US and free to read online or download here.
Authors like Zora Neale Hurston
Sources: book lists and dates from Wikidata and Open Library, ratings from Open Library readers, free texts from Project Gutenberg. Last updated September 2026.