Reading Order List โ€” Book Series Reading Order Guide

Emile Zola Reading Order

9 series ยท 70 books

Emile Zola was a prominent French author renowned for his contributions to naturalism in literature. With a prolific catalog of 70 works spanning 9 series, including notable titles within Four Social Romances and the Rougon-Macquart collection, he left a significant impact on the literary landscape. Zola's career, which flourished from 1865 to 2025, continues to resonate through his vivid storytelling and keen social observation.

Anthologies Series

Complete

5 books (1984โ€“2018)

Start with The Penguin Book of Ghost Stories, the first of 5 books in the Anthologies series.

#Title
1
The Penguin Book of Ghost Stories
2
Cover of Erotic Tales of the Victorian Age
Erotic Tales of the Victorian Age
3
Erotic Classics I: Kama Sutra, The Memoirs of Fanny Hill and Others
4
The Dover Anthology of Cat Stories
5
Writers: Their Lives and Works

Collections Series

Complete

7 books (1877โ€“2018)

Start with Dead Men Tell No Tales, the first of 7 books in the Collections series.

#Title
1
Cover of Dead Men Tell No Tales
Dead Men Tell No Tales
2
Cover of Collected Works of Emile Zola
Collected Works of Emile Zola
3
Cover of The Best Known Works of Emile Zola
The Best Known Works of Emile Zola
4
Four Short Stories By Emile Zola
5
Cover of Stories for Ninon
Stories for Ninon
6
Four Short Stories
7
Cover of Attack on the Mill and Other Stories
Attack on the Mill and Other Stories

Four Social Romances Series

Complete

3 books (1899โ€“1903)

Start with Fruitfulness and read in order.

Non-Fiction Series

Complete

5 books (1880โ€“2013)

Start with The Experimental Novel and Other Essays, the first of 5 books in the Non-Fiction series.

#Title
1
Cover of The Experimental Novel and Other Essays
The Experimental Novel and Other Essays
2
3
Cover of The Dreyfus Affair
The Dreyfus Affair
4
Notes from Exile
5
Cover of Looking at Manet
Looking at Manet

Rougon-Macquart Series

Complete

20 books (1870โ€“1893)

Start with The Fortune of the Rougons, the first of 20 books in the Rougon-Macquart series.

#Title
1
Cover of The Fortune of the Rougons
The Fortune of the Rougons
2
Cover of The Kill / The Rush for the Spoil
The Kill / The Rush for the Spoil
3
The Belly of Paris / The Fat and the Thin
4
Cover of The Conquest of Plassans
The Conquest of Plassans
5
The Sin of Father Mouret / The Sinful Priest / Abbe Mouret's Transgression
6
Cover of His Excellency Eugene Rougon
His Excellency Eugene Rougon
7
Cover of A Love Episode / A Page of Love / A Love Story
A Love Episode / A Page of Love / A Love Story
8
The Drinking Den / The Dram Shop / L'Assommoir / The Gin Palace
9
10
Cover of Restless House
Restless House
11
Cover of The Bright Side of Life / How Jolly Life Is / Zest for Life
The Bright Side of Life / How Jolly Life Is / Zest for Life
12
Cover of The Ladies' Paradise
The Ladies' Paradise
13
14
The Masterpiece / His Masterpiece
15
Cover of The Soil / Earth
The Soil / Earth
16
17
Cover of The Beast in Man / The Beast Within
The Beast in Man / The Beast Within
18
19
Cover of The Downfall / The Debacle
The Downfall / The Debacle
20
Cover of Doctor Pascal
Doctor Pascal

Short Stories/Novellas Series

Ongoing

4 books (1880โ€“2025)

Start with The Flood, the first of 4 books in the Short Stories/Novellas series.

#Title
1
2
The Death Of Olivier Becaille
3
Cover of Three Short Stories
Three Short Stories
4
For a Night of Love

Standalone Novels Series

Complete

11 books (1865โ€“2018)

Start with Claude's Confession, the first of 11 books in the Standalone Novels series.

#Title
1
Cover of Claude's Confession
Claude's Confession
2
Cover of The Mysteries of Marseilles
The Mysteries of Marseilles
3
Therese Raquin
4
Cover of Madeleine Ferat
Madeleine Ferat
5
Cover of The Miller's Daughter
The Miller's Daughter
6
Cover of The Heirs of Rabourdin
The Heirs of Rabourdin
7
Cover of Travail: Labor
Travail: Labor
8
Cover of The Fรชte at Coqueville
The Fรชte at Coqueville
9
10
11
Cover of A Dead Woman's Wish
A Dead Woman's Wish

The Year of the Cat Series

Likely Complete

12 books (2020โ€“2021)

Start with A Cat of Cozy Situations(By: Kristine Kathryn Rusch,Ed Gorman,Carole Nelson Douglas,Dean Wesley Smith,W.W. Jacobs,Mary A. Turzillo,Dory Crowe), the first of 12 books in the The Year of the Cat series.

#Title
1
Cover of A Cat of Cozy Situations(By: Kristine Kathryn Rusch,Ed Gorman,Carole Nelson Douglas,Dean Wesley Smith,W.W. Jacobs,Mary A. Turzillo,Dory Crowe)
A Cat of Cozy Situations(By: Kristine Kathryn Rusch,Ed Gorman,Carole Nelson Douglas,Dean Wesley Smith,W.W. Jacobs,Mary A. Turzillo,Dory Crowe)
2
A Cat of Disdainful Looks(By: Kristine Kathryn Rusch,Rudyard Kipling,Stefon Mears,Dean Wesley Smith,Mark Twain,Ray Vukcevich,John Adams,Jodi Lyn Nye)
3
A Cat of Heroic Heart(By: Kristine Kathryn Rusch,Carole Nelson Douglas,E. Nesbit,Jamie Ferguson,Lisa Silverthorne,Stefon Mears,Dean Wesley Smith,Liz Pierce)
4
Cover of A Cat of Perfect Taste(By: Kristine Kathryn Rusch,Stefon Mears,Dean Wesley Smith,Saki,Charles Dudley Warner,Philip Gilbert Hamerton,Kari Kilgore)
A Cat of Perfect Taste(By: Kristine Kathryn Rusch,Stefon Mears,Dean Wesley Smith,Saki,Charles Dudley Warner,Philip Gilbert Hamerton,Kari Kilgore)
5
A Cat of Roving Nature(With: Kristine Kathryn Rusch,Annie Reed,Stefon Mears,Dory Crowe,C.J. Erick,Sylvia Warner)
6
A Cat of Space and Time(By: Kristine Kathryn Rusch,Andre Norton,Annie Reed,Lisa Silverthorne,Dean Wesley Smith,Cordwainer Smith,Geoffrey A. Landis,Mary Turzillo,Daemon Crowe)
7
A Cat of Strange Lands(By: Kristine Kathryn Rusch,E. Nesbit,Annie Reed,Stefon Mears,Dean Wesley Smith,Kent Patterson,Meyari McFarland,Leigh Saunders)
8
A Cat of a Different Color(By: Kristine Kathryn Rusch,Annie Reed,Louisa Swann,Lisa Silverthorne,Dean Wesley Smith,Ray Vukcevich,Dory Crowe)
9
A Cat of Artistic Sensibilities(By: Kristine Kathryn Rusch,Henry Slesar,Joan Aiken,Annie Reed,Stefon Mears,Dean Wesley Smith,Mary Turzillo)
10
A Cat of Fantastic Whims(By: Kristine Kathryn Rusch,E. Nesbit,Jamie Ferguson,Annie Reed,Lisa Silverthorne,Dean Wesley Smith,Geoffrey A. Landis,Liz Pierce)
11
A Cat of Feral Instincts(By: Kristine Kathryn Rusch,Arthur Conan Doyle,Edgar Allan Poe,Brigid Collins,Dean Wesley Smith,Pamela Sargent,Jamie McNabb,Mary Turzillo,N. Margaret Campbell)
12
A Cat of Romantic Soul(By: Kristine Kathryn Rusch,Anthea Sharp,Annie Reed,Lisa Silverthorne,Bonnie Elizabeth,Dean Wesley Smith,Kari Kilgore)

Three Cities Series

Complete

3 books (1896โ€“2014)

Start with Rome and read in order.

Frequently Asked Questions

How many books has Emile Zola written?
Emile Zola has written 70 books across 9 series. Their published works span from 1865 to 2025.
What is the first book in each Emile Zola series?
Here are the first books in Emile Zola's series: Anthologies: The Penguin Book of Ghost Stories; Collections: Dead Men Tell No Tales; Four Social Romances: Fruitfulness; Non-Fiction: The Experimental Novel and Other Essays; Rougon-Macquart: The Fortune of the Rougons.
What order should I read Emile Zola's books?
We recommend reading Emile Zola's series in publication order. Each series can be read independently.
Is Emile Zola still writing new books?
Yes, Emile Zola has 1 ongoing series: Short Stories/Novellas.

You might also like