J.M. Coetzee Reading Order
6 series · 41 books
J.M. Coetzee is a renowned novelist, essayist, and translator known for his profound exploration of complex themes in literature. With a career spanning from 1976 to 2025, he has authored 41 books across six series, including the acclaimed Jesus Trilogy and a variety of standalone novels and short story collections. Celebrated for his literary prowess, Coetzee received the Nobel Prize in Literature in 2003, solidifying his status as one of the most influential voices in contemporary fiction.
Anthologies Series
Complete9 books (1997–2018)
Start with Granta 58: Ambition, the first of 9 books in the Anthologies series.
| # | Title |
|---|---|
| 1 |  Granta 58: Ambition 1997Buy 🇺🇸 |
| 2 |  The Best Australian Stories 2002 2002Buy 🇺🇸 |
| 3 | Gods and Soldiers 2009Buy 🇺🇸 |
| 4 |  Cape Town Calling 2010Buy 🇺🇸 |
| 5 |  The Best Australian Essays: A Ten-Year Collection 2011Buy 🇺🇸 |
| 6 | The Best Australian Essays 2014 2014Buy 🇺🇸 |
| 7 |  Afflict the Comfortable 2015Buy 🇺🇸 |
| 8 |  Where There's Smoke: Outstanding Short Stories by Australian Men 2015Buy 🇺🇸 |
| 9 | Writers: Their Lives and Works 2018Buy 🇺🇸 |
Jesus Trilogy Series
Complete3 books (2013–2019)
Start with The Childhood of Jesus and read in order.
Non-Fiction Series
Ongoing11 books (1988–2025)
Start with White Writing, the first of 11 books in the Non-Fiction series.
| # | Title |
|---|---|
| 1 |  White Writing 1988Buy 🇺🇸 |
| 2 |  Doubling the Point 1992Buy 🇺🇸 |
| 3 |  Giving Offense 1996Buy 🇺🇸 |
| 4 | Stranger Shores 2001Buy 🇺🇸 |
| 5 |  The Nobel Lecture in Literature, 2003 2003Buy 🇺🇸 |
| 6 |  Inner Workings 2007Buy 🇺🇸 |
| 7 |  Here and Now(With: Paul Auster) 2012Buy 🇺🇸 |
| 8 |  The Good Story 2015Buy 🇺🇸 |
| 9 |  Late Essays 2017Buy 🇺🇸 |
| 10 | J.M. Coetzee - Photographs from Boyhood 2020Buy 🇺🇸 |
| 11 | Speaking in Tongues(With: Mariana Dimópulos) 2025Buy 🇺🇸 |
Scenes from Provincial Life Series
Complete4 books (1997–2011)
Start with Boyhood, the first of 4 books in the Scenes from Provincial Life series.
Short Story Collections Series
Complete2 books (1985–2014)
Start with Dusklands and read in order.
Standalone Novels Series
Likely Complete12 books (1976–2023)
Start with In the Heart of the Country, the first of 12 books in the Standalone Novels series.
| # | Title |
|---|---|
| 1 |  In the Heart of the Country 1976Buy 🇺🇸 |
| 2 | The Lives of Animals(With: Peter Singer) 1977Buy 🇺🇸 |
| 3 |  Waiting for the Barbarians 1980Buy 🇺🇸 |
| 4 | Life and Times of Michael K 1983Buy 🇺🇸 |
| 5 |  Foe 1986Buy 🇺🇸 |
| 6 |  Age Of Iron 1990Buy 🇺🇸 |
| 7 |  The Master of Petersburg 1994Buy 🇺🇸 |
| 8 |  Disgrace 1999Buy 🇺🇸 |
| 9 |  Elizabeth Costello 2001Buy 🇺🇸 |
| 10 |  Slow Man 2005Buy 🇺🇸 |
| 11 |  Diary of a Bad Year 2007Buy 🇺🇸 |
| 12 |  The Pole 2023Buy 🇺🇸 |
Frequently Asked Questions
- How many books has J.M. Coetzee written?
- J.M. Coetzee has written 41 books across 6 series. Their published works span from 1976 to 2025.
- What is the first book in each J.M. Coetzee series?
- Here are the first books in J.M. Coetzee's series: Anthologies: Granta 58: Ambition; Jesus Trilogy: The Childhood of Jesus; Non-Fiction: White Writing; Scenes from Provincial Life: Boyhood; Short Story Collections: Dusklands.
- What order should I read J.M. Coetzee's books?
- We recommend reading J.M. Coetzee's series in publication order. Each series can be read independently.
- Is J.M. Coetzee still writing new books?
- Yes, J.M. Coetzee has 1 ongoing series: Non-Fiction.