Ralph Ellison Books in Order
Browse Ralph Ellison books in order with short summaries, background notes, and where to start, plus a guide to his fiction, essays, and themes.
Last updated: June 7, 2026
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Ralph Ellison books in publication order
9 books
Invisible Man
by Ralph Ellison
1952
Recommended by
4 people
Jacqueline Novogratz recommended this bookJacqueline Novogratz
"I read it as a 22-year-old, and it made me think deeply about how society doesn’t “see” so many of its members." - Jacqueline Novogratz
Jacqueline Novogratz's recommendation of this book 
Maya Angelou recommended this bookMaya Angelou
"When I first read [this book], it was as if somebody turned a bright light on in a dark corridor." - Maya Angelou
Maya Angelou's recommendation of this book 
Ryan Holiday recommended this bookRyan Holiday
"One of my favorite books." - Ryan Holiday
Ryan Holiday's recommendation of this book - Dan Barreiro recommended this book
Dan Barreiro
"Riveting time capsule material." - Dan Barreiro
Dan Barreiro's recommendation of this book
Shadow and Act
by Ralph Ellison
1964
Going to the Territory
by Ralph Ellison
1986
The Collected Essays
by Ralph Ellison
1995
Juneteenth
by Ralph Ellison
1999
Trading Twelves
by Ralph Ellison
2000
Living with Music
by Ralph Ellison
2001
Three Days Before the Shooting...
by Ralph Ellison
2010
The Selected Letters of Ralph Ellison
by Ralph Ellison
2019
Standalone Ralph Ellison books
Invisible Man
by Ralph Ellison
1952
Shadow and Act
by Ralph Ellison
1964
Going to the Territory
by Ralph Ellison
1986
The Collected Essays
by Ralph Ellison
1995
Juneteenth
by Ralph Ellison
1999
Trading Twelves
by Ralph Ellison
2000
Living with Music
by Ralph Ellison
2001
Three Days Before the Shooting...
by Ralph Ellison
2010
The Selected Letters of Ralph Ellison
by Ralph Ellison
2019
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