Ian McEwan Reading Order
7 series · 39 books · Born 21 June 1948
Ian McEwan is a distinguished British novelist known for his psychological depth and exquisite prose. With a prolific output of 39 books across 7 series, including The Compass of the Moon and Stars, as well as standalone novels, short stories, and plays, he has made a significant impact on contemporary literature. Active from 1975 to 2025, his most acclaimed work, Amsterdam, showcases his ability to blend intricate narratives with complex character explorations.
Anthologies Series
Complete7 books (1981–2014)
Start with The 22nd Pan Book of Horror Stories, the first of 7 books in the Anthologies series.
| # | Title |
|---|---|
| 1 |  The 22nd Pan Book of Horror Stories 1981Buy 🇺🇸 |
| 2 |  Best of Young British Novelists 1983Buy 🇺🇸 |
| 3 |  The Penguin Book of Modern British Short Stories 1987Buy 🇺🇸 |
| 4 |  The Believer Book of Writers Talking to Writers 2005Buy 🇺🇸 |
| 5 |  Burning Ice: Art & Climate Change 2006Buy 🇺🇸 |
| 6 |  Berlin 2010Buy 🇺🇸 |
| 7 | That Glimpse of Truth 2014Buy 🇺🇸 |
Non-Fiction Series
Complete1 book (2010–2010)
| # | Title |
|---|---|
| 1 |  Conversations with Ian McEwan 2010Buy 🇺🇸 |
Short Stories/Novellas Series
Complete3 books (2016–2019)
Start with My Purple Scented Novel and read in order.
Short Story Collections Series
Complete6 books (1975–1995)
Start with First Love, Last Rites, the first of 6 books in the Short Story Collections series.
Standalone Novels Series
Ongoing19 books (1978–2025)
Start with The Cement Garden, the first of 19 books in the Standalone Novels series.
| # | Title |
|---|---|
| 1 |  The Cement Garden 1978Buy 🇺🇸 |
| 2 |  The Comfort of Strangers 1981Buy 🇺🇸 |
| 3 |  The Child in Time 1987Buy 🇺🇸 |
| 4 |  The Innocent 1990Buy 🇺🇸 |
| 5 |  Black Dogs 1992Buy 🇺🇸 |
| 6 |  The Daydreamer 1994Buy 🇺🇸 |
| 7 |  Enduring Love 1997Buy 🇺🇸 |
| 8 |  Amsterdam 1998Buy 🇺🇸 |
| 9 |  Atonement 2001Buy 🇺🇸 |
| 10 |  Saturday 2005Buy 🇺🇸 |
| 11 |  On Chesil Beach 2007Buy 🇺🇸 |
| 12 |  For You 2008Buy 🇺🇸 |
| 13 |  Solar 2010Buy 🇺🇸 |
| 14 |  Sweet Tooth 2012Buy 🇺🇸 |
| 15 |  The Children Act 2014Buy 🇺🇸 |
| 16 |  Nutshell 2016Buy 🇺🇸 |
| 17 |  Machines Like Me 2019Buy 🇺🇸 |
| 18 |  Lessons 2022Buy 🇺🇸 |
| 19 |  What We Can Know 2025Buy 🇺🇸 |
Standalone Plays Series
Complete2 books (1985–1989)
Start with The Ploughman's Lunch and read in order.
The Compass of the Moon and Stars Series
Complete1 book (2024–2024)
| # | Title |
|---|---|
| 1 | The Compass of the Moon and Stars 2024Buy 🇺🇸 |
Frequently Asked Questions
- How many books has Ian McEwan written?
- Ian McEwan has written 39 books across 7 series. Their published works span from 1975 to 2025.
- What is the first book in each Ian McEwan series?
- Here are the first books in Ian McEwan's series: Anthologies: The 22nd Pan Book of Horror Stories; Short Stories/Novellas: My Purple Scented Novel; Short Story Collections: First Love, Last Rites; Standalone Plays: The Ploughman's Lunch.
- What order should I read Ian McEwan's books?
- We recommend reading Ian McEwan's series in publication order. Each series can be read independently.
- Is Ian McEwan still writing new books?
- Yes, Ian McEwan has 1 ongoing series: Standalone Novels.