Robert Van Gulik Reading Order
5 series · 33 books · Born 1910
Robert Van Gulik was a Dutch orientalist and diplomat known for his captivating blend of historical fiction and mystery. His prolific career spanned from 1949 to 2014, during which he penned 33 books across five series, including the acclaimed Judge Dee Mysteries and a variety of standalone novels and non-fiction works. His unique storytelling style combines rich cultural insights with compelling narratives, making him a distinguished figure in the literary world.
Anthologies Series
Complete2 books (1993–2000)
Start with Historical Whodunits and read in order.
Chicago Shorts Series
Complete5 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.
| # | Title |
|---|---|
| 1 | What Every Novelist Needs to Know about Narrators(By: Wayne C. Booth) 2012Buy 🇺🇸 |
| 2 | Hagfish Slime and Lobster Rolls(By: Ellen Prager) 2013Buy 🇺🇸 |
| 3 | Murder in Ancient China 2013Buy 🇺🇸 |
| 4 | We All Feel(By: Barbara J. King) 2013Buy 🇺🇸 |
| 5 | The 2012 Campaign and the Timeline of Presidential Elections(By: Robert S. Erikson) 2014Buy 🇺🇸 |
Judge Dee Mysteries Series
Complete17 books (1949–1968)
Start with Celebrated Cases of Judge Dee / Dee Goong An, the first of 17 books in the Judge Dee Mysteries series.
| # | Title |
|---|---|
| 1 |  Celebrated Cases of Judge Dee / Dee Goong An 1949Buy 🇺🇸 |
| 2 |  The Chinese Bell Murders 1958Buy 🇺🇸 |
| 3 |  The Chinese Gold Murders 1959Buy 🇺🇸 |
| 4 |  The Chinese Lake Murders 1960Buy 🇺🇸 |
| 5 |  The Chinese Nail Murders 1961Buy 🇺🇸 |
| 6 |  The Haunted Monastery 1961Buy 🇺🇸 |
| 7 |  The Red Pavilion 1961Buy 🇺🇸 |
| 8 |  The Chinese Maze Murders 1962Buy 🇺🇸 |
| 9 |  The Lacquer Screen 1962Buy 🇺🇸 |
| 10 |  The Emperor's Pearl 1963Buy 🇺🇸 |
| 11 |  The Monkey and The Tiger 1965Buy 🇺🇸 |
| 12 |  The Phantom of the Temple 1965Buy 🇺🇸 |
| 13 |  The Willow Pattern 1965Buy 🇺🇸 |
| 14 |  Murder in Canton 1966Buy 🇺🇸 |
| 15 |  Judge Dee at Work 1967Buy 🇺🇸 |
| 16 |  Necklace and Calabash 1967Buy 🇺🇸 |
| 17 |  Poets and Murder / The Fox-Magic Murders 1968Buy 🇺🇸 |
Non-Fiction Series
Complete8 books (1961–2006)
Start with Sexual Life in Ancient China, the first of 8 books in the Non-Fiction series.
| # | Title |
|---|---|
| 1 |  Sexual Life in Ancient China 1961Buy 🇺🇸 |
| 2 |  The Lore of the Chinese Lute: An Essay on the Ideology of the Ch'in 1969Buy 🇺🇸 |
| 3 |  Crime and Punishment in Ancient China 1979Buy 🇺🇸 |
| 4 |  Chinese Pictorial Art 1981Buy 🇺🇸 |
| 5 |  Erotic Colour Prints of the Ming Period 1989Buy 🇺🇸 |
| 6 |  John Searle and his Critics(With: Ernest Lepore) 1991Buy 🇺🇸 |
| 7 |  Siddham 2001Buy 🇺🇸 |
| 8 |  Scrapbook for Chinese Collectors 2006Buy 🇺🇸 |
Standalone Novels Series
Complete1 book (1986–1986)
| # | Title |
|---|---|
| 1 | The Given Day 1986Buy 🇺🇸 |
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.