Russell Banks Reading Order
5 series · 53 books · Born 1940
Russell Banks is a prolific American author celebrated for his compelling fiction and poetry, which often delve into the complexities of domestic life and the experiences of marginalized individuals. With an impressive portfolio that includes 53 books across five series, as well as standalone novels, collections, non-fiction works, and anthologies, his storytelling is both impactful and evocative. Among his most recognized achievements is "The Sweet Hereafter," a poignant exploration of tragedy and community that showcases his distinctive narrative style. Active from 1852 to 2024, Banks remains a significant voice in contemporary literature.
Anthologies Series
Complete10 books (1989–2015)
Start with Brushes With Greatness: An Anthology of Chance Encounters With Greatness, the first of 10 books in the Anthologies series.
| # | Title |
|---|---|
| 1 |  Brushes With Greatness: An Anthology of Chance Encounters With Greatness 1989Buy 🇺🇸 |
| 2 | Ploughshares Winter 1993-94 1993Buy 🇺🇸 |
| 3 | The Scribner Anthology of Contemporary Short Fiction 1999Buy 🇺🇸 |
| 4 |  Prize Stories 2000: The O. Henry Awards 2000Buy 🇺🇸 |
| 5 |  The Best American Mystery Stories 2001 2001Buy 🇺🇸 |
| 6 |  Unholy Ghost: Writers on Depression 2001Buy 🇺🇸 |
| 7 |  Writers on Writing 2001Buy 🇺🇸 |
| 8 |  Brick: A Literary Journal, 70 2002Buy 🇺🇸 |
| 9 |  The Best American Mystery Stories 2014 2014Buy 🇺🇸 |
| 10 |  Afflict the Comfortable 2015Buy 🇺🇸 |
Art of the Story Series
Likely Complete19 books (1852–2022)
Start with A Sportsman's Notebook(By: Ivan Turgenev), the first of 19 books in the Art of the Story series.
| # | Title |
|---|---|
| 1 |  A Sportsman's Notebook(By: Ivan Turgenev) 1852Buy 🇺🇸 |
| 2 |  The General Zapped an Angel(By: Howard Fast) 1970Buy 🇺🇸 |
| 3 | In the Garden of the North American Martyrs(By: Tobias Wolff) 1981Buy 🇺🇸 |
| 4 |  The Essential Tales of Chekhov(By: Anton Chekhov) 1998Buy 🇺🇸 |
| 5 | The Garden Party and Other Stories(By: Katherine Mansfield) 2004Buy 🇺🇸 |
| 6 | Continent(By: Jim Crace) 2008Buy 🇺🇸 |
| 7 |  Wild Nights!(By: Joyce Carol Oates) 2008Buy 🇺🇸 |
| 8 |  Tunneling to the Center of the Earth(By: Kevin Wilson) 2009Buy 🇺🇸 |
| 9 |  Monstress(By: Lysley Tenorio) 2012Buy 🇺🇸 |
| 10 |  Mr. and Mrs. Baby(By: Mark Strand) 2015Buy 🇺🇸 |
| 11 |  The Essential Tales Of Chekhov Deluxe Edition(By: Anton Chekhov) 2015Buy 🇺🇸 |
| 12 | The Vanishing Princess(By: Jenny Diski) 2017Buy 🇺🇸 |
| 13 | Catastrophe and Other Stories(By: Dino Buzzati) 2018Buy 🇺🇸 |
| 14 | Unclean Jobs for Women and Girls(By: Alissa Nutting) 2018Buy 🇺🇸 |
| 15 | We Are Taking Only What We Need(By: Stephanie Powell Watts) 2018Buy 🇺🇸 |
| 16 | Here's Your Hat What's Your Hurry(By: Elizabeth McCracken) 2019Buy 🇺🇸 |
| 17 | Hue and Cry(By: Edward P. Jones,James McPherson) 2019Buy 🇺🇸 |
| 18 | The Hurly Burly and Other Stories(With: A.E. Coppard) 2021Buy 🇺🇸 |
| 19 | Loss of Memory Is Only Temporary(By: Francine Prose,Johanna Kaplan) 2022Buy 🇺🇸 |
Collections Series
Complete5 books (1975–2013)
Start with Searching for Survivors, the first of 5 books in the Collections series.
Non-Fiction Series
Complete2 books (2008–2016)
Start with Dreaming Up America and read in order.
Standalone Novels Series
Ongoing17 books (1974–2024)
Start with Snow, the first of 17 books in the Standalone Novels series.
| # | Title |
|---|---|
| 1 |  Snow 1974Buy 🇺🇸 |
| 2 | Trailerpark 1981Buy 🇺🇸 |
| 3 |  Relation of My Imprisonment 1983Buy 🇺🇸 |
| 4 |  Continental Drift 1985Buy 🇺🇸 |
| 5 |  Family Life 1985Buy 🇺🇸 |
| 6 |  Hamilton Stark 1986Buy 🇺🇸 |
| 7 |  The Book of Jamaica 1986Buy 🇺🇸 |
| 8 |  Affliction 1989Buy 🇺🇸 |
| 9 |  The Sweet Hereafter 1991Buy 🇺🇸 |
| 10 |  Rule of the Bone 1995Buy 🇺🇸 |
| 11 |  Cloudsplitter 1998Buy 🇺🇸 |
| 12 |  The Darling 2004Buy 🇺🇸 |
| 13 |  The Reserve 2008Buy 🇺🇸 |
| 14 |  Lost Memory of Skin 2011Buy 🇺🇸 |
| 15 |  Foregone 2021Buy 🇺🇸 |
| 16 |  The Magic Kingdom 2022Buy 🇺🇸 |
| 17 | American Spirits 2024Buy 🇺🇸 |
Frequently Asked Questions
- How many books has Russell Banks written?
- Russell Banks has written 53 books across 5 series. Their published works span from 1852 to 2024.
- What is the first book in each Russell Banks series?
- Here are the first books in Russell Banks's series: Anthologies: Brushes With Greatness: An Anthology of Chance Encounters With Greatness; Art of the Story: A Sportsman's Notebook(By: Ivan Turgenev); Collections: Searching for Survivors; Non-Fiction: Dreaming Up America.
- What order should I read Russell Banks's books?
- We recommend reading Russell Banks's series in publication order. Each series can be read independently.
- Is Russell Banks still writing new books?
- Yes, Russell Banks has 1 ongoing series: Standalone Novels.