Zadie Smith Reading Order
8 series · 42 books
Zadie Smith is a celebrated English author known for her insightful novels and essays. With a diverse portfolio that includes 42 books across eight series—ranging from standalone novels and short stories to non-fiction—her work often explores themes of identity and society. Her debut, White Teeth, released in 2000, quickly garnered critical acclaim and established her as a leading voice in contemporary literature.
Anthologies Series
Complete8 books (1999–2014)
Start with Piece of Flesh, the first of 8 books in the Anthologies series.
| # | Title |
|---|---|
| 1 |  Piece of Flesh 1999Buy 🇺🇸 |
| 2 |  Speaking With the Angel 2000Buy 🇺🇸 |
| 3 |  The Burned Children of America 2003Buy 🇺🇸 |
| 4 |  The Believer Book of Writers Talking to Writers 2005Buy 🇺🇸 |
| 5 |  The Book of Other People 2007Buy 🇺🇸 |
| 6 |  Best European Fiction 2010 2009Buy 🇺🇸 |
| 7 | The Library Book 2012Buy 🇺🇸 |
| 8 | Tales of Two Cities: The Best and Worst of Times In Today's New York 2014Buy 🇺🇸 |
Darkness Series
Complete1 book (2024–2024)
| # | Title |
|---|---|
| 1 | Voices From the Abyss 2024Buy 🇺🇸 |
Non-Fiction Series
Ongoing5 books (2009–2025)
Start with Changing My Mind, the first of 5 books in the Non-Fiction series.
Picture Series
Ongoing3 books (2021–2025)
Start with Weirdo(With: Nick Laird) and read in order.
Short Stories/Novellas Series
Complete1 book (2013–2013)
| # | Title |
|---|---|
| 1 |  The Embassy of Cambodia 2013Buy 🇺🇸 |
Short Story Collections Series
Complete2 books (2003–2019)
Start with Martha and Hanwell and read in order.
Standalone Novels Series
Likely Complete7 books (2000–2023)
Start with White Teeth, the first of 7 books in the Standalone Novels series.
The BBC National Short Story Award Series
Ongoing15 books (2010–2024)
Start with The BBC National Short Story Award 2010(By: Helen Oyeyemi,David Constantine,Sarah Hall,Aminatta Forna,Jon McGregor), the first of 15 books in the The BBC National Short Story Award series.
| # | Title |
|---|---|
| 1 | The BBC National Short Story Award 2010(By: Helen Oyeyemi,David Constantine,Sarah Hall,Aminatta Forna,Jon McGregor) 2010Buy 🇺🇸 |
| 2 | The BBC National Short Story Award 2011(By: Alison MacLeod,M.J. Hyland,Jon McGregor,K.J. Orr,Sue MacGregor) 2011Buy 🇺🇸 |
| 3 |  The BBC International Short Story Award 2012(By: Miroslav Penkov,Carrie Tiffany,Deborah Levy,M.J. Hyland,Clive Anderson,Lucy Caldwell,Henrietta Rose-Innes,Julian Gough,Chris Womersley,Krys Lee,Adam Ross) 2012Buy 🇺🇸 |
| 4 | The BBC National Short Story Award 2013(By: Lionel Shriver,Sarah Hall,Lavinia Greenlaw,Lucy Wood) 2013Buy 🇺🇸 |
| 5 | The BBC National Short Story Award 2014(With: Tessa Hadley,Lionel Shriver,Rose Tremain,Francesca Rhydderch,Alan Yentob) 2014Buy 🇺🇸 |
| 6 | The BBC National Short Story Award 2015(By: Jeremy Page) 2015Buy 🇺🇸 |
| 7 | BBC National Short Story Award 2016(By: Hilary Mantel,Claire-Louise Bennett,Lavinia Greenlaw,Tahmima Anam,Jenni Murray,K.J. Orr) 2016Buy 🇺🇸 |
| 8 | The BBC National Short Story Award 2017(By: Joanna Trollope,Helen Oyeyemi,Jenni Fagan,Benjamin Markovits,Will Eaves,Cynan Jones) 2017Buy 🇺🇸 |
| 9 | The BBC National Short Story Award 2018(By: Kerry Andrew,Sarah Hall,Ingrid Persaud,Nell Stevens,Kiare Ladner,Stig Abell) 2018Buy 🇺🇸 |
| 10 | The BBC National Short Story Award 2019(By: Lucy Caldwell,Jo Lloyd,Lynda Clark,Jacqueline Crooks,Nikki Bedi) 2019Buy 🇺🇸 |
| 11 | The BBC National Short Story Award 2020(By: Eley Williams,Sarah Hall,Caleb Azumah Nelson,Jan Carson,Jack Houston) 2020Buy 🇺🇸 |
| 12 |  The BBC National Short Story Award 2021(By: Danny Rhodes,James Runcie,Richard Smyth,Lucy Caldwell,Rory Gleeson,Georgina Harding) 2021Buy 🇺🇸 |
| 13 |  The BBC National Short Story Award 2022(By: Kerry Andrew,Elizabeth Day,Jenn Ashworth,Anna Bailey,Vanessa Onwuemezi,Saba Sams) 2022Buy 🇺🇸 |
| 14 | The BBC National Short Story Award 2023(By: Kamila Shamsie,NickMulgrew,NaomiWood,CheriseSaywell,KPatrick,Reeta Chakrabarti) 2023Buy 🇺🇸 |
| 15 | The BBC National Short Story Award 2024(By: Lucy Caldwell,Ross Raisin,Will Boast,Manish Chauhan,Paddy O’Connell,Vee Walker) 2024Buy 🇺🇸 |
Frequently Asked Questions
- How many books has Zadie Smith written?
- Zadie Smith has written 42 books across 8 series. Their published works span from 1999 to 2025.
- What is the first book in each Zadie Smith series?
- Here are the first books in Zadie Smith's series: Anthologies: Piece of Flesh; Non-Fiction: Changing My Mind; Picture: Weirdo(With: Nick Laird); Short Story Collections: Martha and Hanwell; The BBC National Short Story Award: The BBC National Short Story Award 2010(By: Helen Oyeyemi,David Constantine,Sarah Hall,Aminatta Forna,Jon McGregor).
- What order should I read Zadie Smith's books?
- We recommend reading Zadie Smith's series in publication order. Each series can be read independently.
- Is Zadie Smith still writing new books?
- Yes, Zadie Smith has 3 ongoing series: Non-Fiction, Picture, The BBC National Short Story Award.