Reading Order List — Book Series Reading Order Guide
Robert Van Gulik

Robert Van Gulik Reading Order

5 series · 33 books · Born 1910

Historical FictionLiterary FictionMystery & ThrillerNon-Fiction

Robert van Gulik was a Dutch diplomat and sinologist whose literary career combined his scholarly expertise in Asian history with sophisticated crime fiction. He is best known for the Judge Dee Mysteries, a series of detective novels set in ancient China that blend historical authenticity with intricate plotting. Beyond fiction, van Gulik also produced respected non-fiction works examining Chinese culture and history, establishing himself as both a serious academic voice and a master of the historical mystery genre.

Anthologies Series

Complete

2 books (1993–2000)

Start with Historical Whodunits and read in order.

Start this series with Historical Whodunits

Buy Book 1 🇺🇸🎧 Listen free on Audible
#Title
1
Cover of Historical Whodunits
Historical Whodunits
1993Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
2
Cover of The Oxford Book of Detective Stories
The Oxford Book of Detective Stories
2000Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible

Chicago Shorts Series

Complete

5 books (2012–2014)

Start with What Every Novelist Needs to Know about Narrators(By: Wayne C. Booth), the first of 5 books in the Chicago Shorts series.

Start this series with What Every Novelist Needs to Know about Narrators(By: Wayne C. Booth)

Buy Book 1 🇺🇸🎧 Listen free on Audible
#Title
1
What Every Novelist Needs to Know about Narrators(By: Wayne C. Booth)
2012Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
2
Hagfish Slime and Lobster Rolls(By: Ellen Prager)
2013Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
3
Murder in Ancient China
2013Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
4
We All Feel(By: Barbara J. King)
2013Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
5
The 2012 Campaign and the Timeline of Presidential Elections(By: Robert S. Erikson)
2014Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible

Judge Dee Mysteries Series

Complete

17 books (1949–1968)

Start with Celebrated Cases of Judge Dee / Dee Goong An, the first of 17 books in the Judge Dee Mysteries series.

Start this series with Celebrated Cases of Judge Dee / Dee Goong An

Buy Book 1 🇺🇸🎧 Listen free on Audible
#Title
1
Cover of Celebrated Cases of Judge Dee / Dee Goong An
Celebrated Cases of Judge Dee / Dee Goong An
1949Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
2
Cover of The Chinese Bell Murders
The Chinese Bell Murders
1958Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
3
Cover of The Chinese Gold Murders
The Chinese Gold Murders
1959Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
4
Cover of The Chinese Lake Murders
The Chinese Lake Murders
1960Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
5
Cover of The Chinese Nail Murders
The Chinese Nail Murders
1961Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
6
Cover of The Haunted Monastery
The Haunted Monastery
1961Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
7
Cover of The Red Pavilion
The Red Pavilion
1961Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
8
Cover of The Chinese Maze Murders
The Chinese Maze Murders
1962Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
9
Cover of The Lacquer Screen
The Lacquer Screen
1962Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
10
Cover of The Emperor's Pearl
The Emperor's Pearl
1963Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
11
Cover of The Monkey and The Tiger
The Monkey and The Tiger
1965Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
12
Cover of The Phantom of the Temple
The Phantom of the Temple
1965Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
13
Cover of The Willow Pattern
The Willow Pattern
1965Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
14
Cover of Murder in Canton
Murder in Canton
1966Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
15
Cover of Judge Dee at Work
Judge Dee at Work
1967Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
16
Cover of Necklace and Calabash
Necklace and Calabash
1967Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
17
Cover of Poets and Murder / The Fox-Magic Murders
Poets and Murder / The Fox-Magic Murders
1968Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible

Non-Fiction Series

Complete

8 books (1961–2006)

Start with Sexual Life in Ancient China, the first of 8 books in the Non-Fiction series.

Start this series with Sexual Life in Ancient China

Buy Book 1 🇺🇸🎧 Listen free on Audible
#Title
1
Cover of Sexual Life in Ancient China
Sexual Life in Ancient China
1961Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
2
Cover of The Lore of the Chinese Lute: An Essay on the Ideology of the Ch'in
The Lore of the Chinese Lute: An Essay on the Ideology of the Ch'in
1969Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
3
Cover of Crime and Punishment in Ancient China
Crime and Punishment in Ancient China
1979Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
4
Cover of Chinese Pictorial Art
Chinese Pictorial Art
1981Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
5
Cover of Erotic Colour Prints of the Ming Period
Erotic Colour Prints of the Ming Period
1989Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
6
Cover of John Searle and his Critics(With: Ernest Lepore)
John Searle and his Critics(With: Ernest Lepore)
1991Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
7
Cover of Siddham
8
Cover of Scrapbook for Chinese Collectors
Scrapbook for Chinese Collectors
2006Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible

Standalone Novels Series

Complete

1 book (1986–1986)

#Title
1
The Given Day
1986Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible

Frequently Asked Questions

How many books has Robert Van Gulik written?
Robert Van Gulik has written 33 books across 5 series. Their published works span from 1949 to 2014.
What is the first book in each Robert Van Gulik series?
Here are the first books in Robert Van Gulik's series: Anthologies: Historical Whodunits; Chicago Shorts: What Every Novelist Needs to Know about Narrators(By: Wayne C. Booth); Judge Dee Mysteries: Celebrated Cases of Judge Dee / Dee Goong An; Non-Fiction: Sexual Life in Ancient China.
What order should I read Robert Van Gulik's books?
We recommend reading Robert Van Gulik's series in publication order. Each series can be read independently.
Are Robert Van Gulik's series complete?
Robert Van Gulik has 5 completed series.

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