Irvine Welsh Reading Order
9 series · 38 books · Born 27 September 1958
Irvine Welsh is a prolific Scottish author known for his gritty narratives and distinctive characters, primarily within the realms of crime and friendship. With a diverse portfolio of 38 books spanning 9 series, including titles influenced by the themes of Trainspotting and featuring Mark Renton and Terry Lawson, he captivates readers with raw realism and dark humor. Active from 1993 until 2025, Welsh's most notable work remains his iconic debut, Trainspotting, which has left a lasting impact on contemporary literature.
Anthologies Series
Likely Complete15 books (1994–2022)
Start with A Tongue in Yer Heid, the first of 15 books in the Anthologies series.
| # | Title |
|---|---|
| 1 |  A Tongue in Yer Heid 1994Buy 🇺🇸 |
| 2 |  Acid Plaid: New Scottish Writing 1997Buy 🇺🇸 |
| 3 |  Ahead of its Time 1997Buy 🇺🇸 |
| 4 | Children of Albion Rovers 1997Buy 🇺🇸 |
| 5 |  Open City #5: Change or Die 1997Buy 🇺🇸 |
| 6 | Intoxication 1998Buy 🇺🇸 |
| 7 |  Le Foot: The Legends of French Football 2000Buy 🇺🇸 |
| 8 |  Speaking With the Angel 2000Buy 🇺🇸 |
| 9 |  The Weekenders: Travels in the Heart of Africa 2001Buy 🇺🇸 |
| 10 |  The Weekenders: Adventures in Calcutta 2004Buy 🇺🇸 |
| 11 |  One City 2005Buy 🇺🇸 |
| 12 |  Rotten English 2007Buy 🇺🇸 |
| 13 |  Because I am a Girl 2010Buy 🇺🇸 |
| 14 |  One for the Trouble: Book Slam Volume 1 2011Buy 🇺🇸 |
| 15 | The People's City: One City Trust 2022Buy 🇺🇸 |
Crime Series
Likely Complete2 books (2008–2022)
Start with Crime and read in order.
Friendship Series
Complete1 book (2024–2024)
| # | Title |
|---|---|
| 1 | Silly Furry Cat 2024Buy 🇺🇸 |
Non-Fiction Series
Complete1 book (2009–2009)
| # | Title |
|---|---|
| 1 |  Days Like This 2009Buy 🇺🇸 |
Short Stories/Novellas Series
Complete1 book (2018–2018)
| # | Title |
|---|---|
| 1 |  Rave 2018Buy 🇺🇸 |
Short Story Collections Series
Complete4 books (1994–2009)
Start with The Acid House, the first of 4 books in the Short Story Collections series.
Standalone Novels Series
Complete6 books (1995–2014)
Start with Marabou Stork Nightmares, the first of 6 books in the Standalone Novels series.
Terry Lawson Series
Complete2 books (2001–2015)
Start with Glue and read in order.
Trainspotting / Mark Renton Series
Ongoing6 books (1993–2025)
Start with Trainspotting, the first of 6 books in the Trainspotting / Mark Renton series.
Frequently Asked Questions
- How many books has Irvine Welsh written?
- Irvine Welsh has written 38 books across 9 series. Their published works span from 1993 to 2025.
- What is the first book in each Irvine Welsh series?
- Here are the first books in Irvine Welsh's series: Anthologies: A Tongue in Yer Heid; Crime: Crime; Short Story Collections: The Acid House; Terry Lawson: Glue; Trainspotting / Mark Renton: Trainspotting.
- What order should I read Irvine Welsh's books?
- We recommend reading Irvine Welsh's series in publication order. Each series can be read independently.
- Is Irvine Welsh still writing new books?
- Yes, Irvine Welsh has 1 ongoing series: Trainspotting / Mark Renton.