Lee Smith Reading Order
6 series · 47 books · Born 1944
Lee Smith is a celebrated American author known for her rich narratives that draw heavily from her Southern heritage. With an impressive catalog of 47 books spanning 6 series, her notable works include both fiction and non-fiction, alongside a variety of standalone novels and short stories. Active from 1969 until 2023, her storytelling has earned her numerous accolades, solidifying her place in contemporary literature.
Anthologies Series
Complete7 books (1991–2014)
Start with Growing Up in the South, the first of 7 books in the Anthologies series.
| # | Title |
|---|---|
| 1 |  Growing Up in the South 1991Buy 🇺🇸 |
| 2 |  Downhome 1995Buy 🇺🇸 |
| 3 |  Out of the Mold 1997Buy 🇺🇸 |
| 4 |  Eudora Welty: Writers' Reflections Upon First Reading Welty 1999Buy 🇺🇸 |
| 5 | The Scribner Anthology of Contemporary Short Fiction 1999Buy 🇺🇸 |
| 6 |  A Very Southern Christmas: Holiday Stories from the South's Best Writers 2003Buy 🇺🇸 |
| 7 | The Casual Reader 2014Buy 🇺🇸 |
New Stories From The South Series
Complete20 books (1988–2010)
Start with New Stories from the South(By: Shannon Ravenel), the first of 20 books in the New Stories From The South series.
| # | Title |
|---|---|
| 1 |  New Stories from the South(By: Shannon Ravenel) 1988Buy 🇺🇸 |
| 2 |  New Stories from the South 1992(By: Shannon Ravenel) 1992Buy 🇺🇸 |
| 3 |  New Stories from the South 1993(By: Shannon Ravenel) 1993Buy 🇺🇸 |
| 4 |  New Stories from the South 1994(By: Shannon Ravenel) 1994Buy 🇺🇸 |
| 5 |  New Stories from the South 1995(By: Shannon Ravenel) 1995Buy 🇺🇸 |
| 6 |  New Stories from the South 1996(By: Shannon Ravenel) 1996Buy 🇺🇸 |
| 7 |  New Stories from the South 1997(By: Robert Olen Butler) 1997Buy 🇺🇸 |
| 8 |  New Stories from the South 1998(By: Padgett Powell) 1998Buy 🇺🇸 |
| 9 | New Stories from the South 1999(By: Tony Earley) 1999Buy 🇺🇸 |
| 10 | New Stories from the South 2000(By: Ellen Douglas) 2000Buy 🇺🇸 |
| 11 |  New Stories from the South 2001 2001Buy 🇺🇸 |
| 12 |  New Stories from the South 2003(By: Shannon Ravenel) 2003Buy 🇺🇸 |
| 13 |  New Stories from the South 2004(By: Allan Gurganus) 2004Buy 🇺🇸 |
| 14 |  Best of the South: From the Second Decade of New Stories from the South(By: Shannon Ravenel) 2005Buy 🇺🇸 |
| 15 |  New Stories from the South, 2005(By: Jill McCorkle) 2005Buy 🇺🇸 |
| 16 |  New Stories from the South 2006(By: Allan Gurganus,Kathy Pories) 2006Buy 🇺🇸 |
| 17 |  New Stories from the South 2007(By: Allan Gurganus) 2007Buy 🇺🇸 |
| 18 |  New Stories from the South 2008(By: Z.Z. Packer) 2008Buy 🇺🇸 |
| 19 |  New Stories from the South 2009(By: Madison Smartt Bell) 2009Buy 🇺🇸 |
| 20 |  New Stories from the South 2010(By: Amy Hempel) 2010Buy 🇺🇸 |
Non-Fiction Series
Complete2 books (2012–2016)
Start with Conversations with Lee Smith and read in order.
Short Stories/Novellas Series
Complete2 books (1996–2020)
Start with The Christmas Letters and read in order.
Short Story Collections Series
Complete4 books (1981–2010)
Start with Cakewalk, the first of 4 books in the Short Story Collections series.
Standalone Novels Series
Likely Complete12 books (1969–2023)
Start with Last Day the Dogbushes Bloomed, the first of 12 books in the Standalone Novels series.
| # | Title |
|---|---|
| 1 |  Last Day the Dogbushes Bloomed 1969Buy 🇺🇸 |
| 2 |  Fancy Strut 1973Buy 🇺🇸 |
| 3 |  Black Mountain Breakdown 1980Buy 🇺🇸 |
| 4 |  Oral History 1983Buy 🇺🇸 |
| 5 |  Family Linen 1985Buy 🇺🇸 |
| 6 |  Fair and Tender Ladies 1988Buy 🇺🇸 |
| 7 |  The Devil's Dream 1992Buy 🇺🇸 |
| 8 |  Saving Grace 1995Buy 🇺🇸 |
| 9 |  The Last Girls 2002Buy 🇺🇸 |
| 10 |  On Agate Hill 2006Buy 🇺🇸 |
| 11 | Guests on Earth 2013Buy 🇺🇸 |
| 12 |  Silver Alert 2023Buy 🇺🇸 |
Frequently Asked Questions
- How many books has Lee Smith written?
- Lee Smith has written 47 books across 6 series. Their published works span from 1969 to 2023.
- What is the first book in each Lee Smith series?
- Here are the first books in Lee Smith's series: Anthologies: Growing Up in the South; New Stories From The South: New Stories from the South(By: Shannon Ravenel); Non-Fiction: Conversations with Lee Smith; Short Stories/Novellas: The Christmas Letters; Short Story Collections: Cakewalk.
- What order should I read Lee Smith's books?
- We recommend reading Lee Smith's series in publication order. Each series can be read independently.
- Are Lee Smith's series complete?
- Lee Smith has 5 completed series.