Reading Order List — Book Series Reading Order Guide
Richard Russo

Richard Russo Reading Order

6 series · 29 books · Born 1949

Literary FictionNon-Fiction

Richard Russo is an American novelist and screenwriter best known for his unflinching portrayals of working-class life in small towns across the Northeast. His 2002 Pulitzer Prize-winning novel Empire Falls exemplifies his talent for capturing the struggles and interconnected relationships of ordinary people in economically challenged communities. A prolific author across novels, short stories, and essays, Russo has established himself as a master of literary fiction who transforms regional American settings into universal stories of resilience and human complexity.

Anthologies Series

Complete

8 books (1995–2020)

Start with The Book of Eros: Arts and Letters from Yellow Silk, the first of 8 books in the Anthologies series.

Start this series with The Book of Eros: Arts and Letters from Yellow Silk

Buy Book 1 🇺🇸🎧 Listen free on Audible
#Title
1
Cover of The Book of Eros: Arts and Letters from Yellow Silk
The Book of Eros: Arts and Letters from Yellow Silk
1995Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
2
Cover of The O. Henry Prize Stories 2005
The O. Henry Prize Stories 2005
2005Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
3
Cover of The Best American Short Stories 2007
The Best American Short Stories 2007
2007Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
4
Cover of A Healing Touch
A Healing Touch
2008Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
5
Cover of The Best American Short Stories 2010
The Best American Short Stories 2010
2010Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
6
Cover of Tales of Two Americas
Tales of Two Americas
2017Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
7
Long Walk Home: Reflections on Bruce Springsteen
2019Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
8
Freeman's. Amore
2020Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible

Nobody's Fool Series

Likely Complete

3 books (1993–2023)

Start with Nobody's Fool and read in order.

Start this series with Nobody's Fool

Buy Book 1 🇺🇸🎧 Listen free on Audible
#Title
1
Cover of Nobody's Fool
Nobody's Fool
1993Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
2
Cover of Everybody's Fool
Everybody's Fool
2016Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
3
Cover of Somebody's Fool
Somebody's Fool
2023Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible

Non-Fiction Series

Ongoing

5 books (2012–2025)

Start with Elsewhere / On Helwig Street, the first of 5 books in the Non-Fiction series.

Start this series with Elsewhere / On Helwig Street

Buy Book 1 🇺🇸🎧 Listen free on Audible
#Title
1
Cover of Elsewhere / On Helwig Street
Elsewhere / On Helwig Street
2012Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
2
Cover of The Destiny Thief
The Destiny Thief
2018Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
3
Cover of Marriage Story
Marriage Story
2021Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
4
Triage: On Reading, Writing, and the Interior Life
2022Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
5
Cover of Life and Art
Life and Art
2025Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible

Short Stories/Novellas Series

Complete

2 books (2016–2019)

Start with The Mysteries of Linwood Hart and read in order.

Start this series with The Mysteries of Linwood Hart

Buy Book 1 🇺🇸🎧 Listen free on Audible
#Title
1
The Mysteries of Linwood Hart
2016Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
2

Short Story Collections Series

Complete

3 books (2002–2017)

Start with The Whore's Child and Other Stories and read in order.

Start this series with The Whore's Child and Other Stories

Buy Book 1 🇺🇸🎧 Listen free on Audible
#Title
1
Cover of The Whore's Child and Other Stories
The Whore's Child and Other Stories
2002Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
2
Cover of Interventions
Interventions
2012Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
3
Cover of Trajectory

Standalone Novels Series

Ongoing

8 books (1986–2026)

Start with Mohawk, the first of 8 books in the Standalone Novels series.

Start this series with Mohawk

Buy Book 1 🇺🇸🎧 Listen free on Audible
#Title
1
Cover of Mohawk
2
Cover of The Risk Pool
The Risk Pool
1988Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
3
Cover of Straight Man
Straight Man
1997Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
4
Cover of Empire Falls
Empire Falls
2001Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
5
Cover of Bridge of Sighs
Bridge of Sighs
2007Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
6
Cover of That Old Cape Magic
That Old Cape Magic
2009Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
7
Cover of Chances Are...
Chances Are...
2019Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
8
Cover of Under the Falls
Under the Falls
2026Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible

Frequently Asked Questions

How many books has Richard Russo written?
Richard Russo has written 29 books across 6 series. Their published works span from 1986 to 2026.
What is the first book in each Richard Russo series?
Here are the first books in Richard Russo's series: Anthologies: The Book of Eros: Arts and Letters from Yellow Silk; Nobody's Fool: Nobody's Fool; Non-Fiction: Elsewhere / On Helwig Street; Short Stories/Novellas: The Mysteries of Linwood Hart; Short Story Collections: The Whore's Child and Other Stories.
What order should I read Richard Russo's books?
We recommend reading Richard Russo's series in publication order. Each series can be read independently.
Is Richard Russo still writing new books?
Yes, Richard Russo has 2 ongoing series: Non-Fiction, Standalone Novels.

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