Where to start reading Julian Barnes
Julian Barnes is one of Britain’s best-loved and most acclaimed authors. He published his first book in 1980 and has since become one of the leading literary names of his generation, alongside writers like Ian McEwan, Salman Rushdie, and the late Martin Amis.
Barnes is famous for his clear and analytical writing style, combined with bundles of inventiveness, intellectually astute references, and humour. He is known for mixing different genres with one another in a way that keeps the reader on their toes. With a Julian Barnes book, you can guarantee that you will finish it feeling both entertained and more knowledgeable than when you started.
One of the most successful, talented, and best-loved British writers of the last four decades, Barnes has mastered every genre and form: novels, memoirs, essays, short stories, criticism and has even published translations. Here's our guide on where to begin with his vast and varied body of work:
The best Julian Barnes book to read first
More must-read Julian Barnes books
Frequently asked questions
How many books has Julian Barnes written?
Julian Barnes has written 14 novels, three collections of stories and ten non-fiction books. He also wrote four crime novels in the 1980s under the pen name Dan Kavanagh.
What are the best Julian Barnes books for book clubs?
The best Julian Barnes books for book clubs are Arthur & George, a historical novel based on Arthur Conan Doyle and a real-life miscarriage of justice, The Sense of an Ending, which has layers of thought-provoking moral quandaries, and Talking It Over, a story about a love triangle and conflicting narratives, which leaves it up to the reader to decide which character is telling the truth.
What are Julian Barnes’ most famous books?
Barnes’ most famous books are Flaubert’s Parrot, which was the first book where he truly established his unique genre-hopping style; The Sense of an Ending, which won the Booker Prize in 2011; and Arthur & George, a historical novel based on the true story of Sherlock Holmes author Sir Arthur Conan Doyle investigating miscarriage of justice, which became a bestseller and book club favourite.
What literary awards has Julian Barnes won?
Julian Barnes won the Booker Prize in 2011 for The Sense of an Ending, and was shortlisted three times for the prestigious award before that. He has also won the David Cohen Prize for Literature (a lifetime achievement award) and several literary awards in France, a particularly prized achievement for Barnes, who is an avid Francophile.
Have Julian Barnes' books been made into films?
Despite the popularity of Julian Barnes’ novels, only a few have been adapted for the screen. The Sense of an Ending is the best-known of his film adaptations, starring Jim Broadbent and Charlotte Rampling. Talking It Over, about a love triangle, was made into the 1996 French film Love, etc., and his debut novel Metroland was made into a comedy-drama in 1997, starring Christian Bale and Emily Watson.
In addition to film adaptations, Barnes’ 2005 novel Arthur & George was made into a three-part TV miniseries in 2015, starring Martin Clunes as the titular Arthur Conan Doyle.
Will Julian Barnes write another book?
Barnes has said that will not write any more books after his 2026 novel Departure(s).