Affiliate Disclosure: Links on this page may earn us a commission at no extra cost to you. Read our affiliate policy
Bernhard Schlink Books in Order
Bernhard Schlink is a German jurist and writer. As a judge at the Constitutional Court of North Rhine-Westphalia since 1988, he has brought a unique perspective to the bench. Currently a professor of public law and the philosophy of law at Humboldt University, Berlin, Germany, he has been sharing his expertise with students since January 2006. Schlink's writing career took root with several detective novels featuring the enigmatic character Selb, a nod to the German word for "self." His breakthrough novel, "The Reader" (1995), is a poignant, partly autobiographical work that catapulted him to international acclaim, becoming a bestseller in both Germany and the United States, and being translated into 39 languages. The novel achieved a historic milestone by becoming the first German book to top the New York Times bestseller list.
Bibliography verified: March 2026
Quick Answer
What are all of Bernhard Schlink's book series? Bernhard Schlink has written 2 book series. The most notable is the Gerhard Self series.
Complete series list with all books in reading order below.
Book Series by Bernhard Schlink
- #1
Self's Punishment (With: Walter Popp)(1987) - #2
Self's Deception(1992) - #3
Self's Murder(2001) - #4
Flights of Love(2000) - #5
Summer Lies(2010) - #6Abschiedsfarben(2020)
- #1
The Reader(1995) - #2Homecoming(2006)
- #3
Guilt About the Past(2007) - #4
The Gordian Knot(2009) - #5
The Weekend(2010) - #6
The Woman on the Stairs(2014) - #7
Olga(2020) - #8
The Granddaughter(2021)
About Bernhard Schlink
Bernhard Schlink is a German jurist and writer. As a judge at the Constitutional Court of North Rhine-Westphalia since 1988, he has brought a unique perspective to the bench. Currently a professor of public law and the philosophy of law at Humboldt University, Berlin, Germany, he has been sharing his expertise with students since January 2006. Schlink's writing career took root with several detective novels featuring the enigmatic character Selb, a nod to the German word for "self." His breakthrough novel, "The Reader" (1995), is a poignant, partly autobiographical work that catapulted him to international acclaim, becoming a bestseller in both Germany and the United States, and being translated into 39 languages. The novel achieved a historic milestone by becoming the first German book to top the New York Times bestseller list.
Affiliate Disclosure
As an Amazon Associate, Reading Order Books earns from qualifying purchases. When you buy through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission at no additional cost to you. This helps us maintain the site and continue providing reading order guides. Read our full disclosure