Claire Messud Books in Order

Claire Messud is a celebrated American novelist and literature and creative writing professor. As the acclaimed author of the 2006 novel The Emperor's Children, she has solidified her reputation as a masterful storyteller. With a diverse upbringing in Greenwich, Connecticut, and across Australia, Canada, and the United States, Messud's unique perspective has shaped her writing. Her mother's Canadian roots and father's French heritage from Algeria have also influenced her work. Educated at esteemed institutions, including Milton Academy, Yale University, and Cambridge University, where she met her husband, British literary critic James Wood, Messud has honed her craft. Her writing has been shaped by her experiences, resulting in a distinctive voice that has captivated readers worldwide.

Bibliography verified: January 2026

Book Series by Claire Messud

  • #1
    Kant's Little Prussian Head and Other Reasons Why I Write(2020)
    Amazon
  • #2
    Granta 51: Big Men(1995)
    Amazon
  • #3
    Ploughshares Summer 2016 Guest-Edited by Claire Messud & James Wood(2016)
    Amazon
  • #4
    Eat Joy(2019)
    Amazon
  • #5
    The Best American Essays 2021(2021)
    Amazon
  • #1
    When the World Was Steady(1994)
    Amazon
  • #2
    The Last Life(1999)
    Amazon
  • #3
    The Emperor's Children(2006)
    Amazon
  • #4
    The Woman Upstairs(2013)
    Amazon
  • #5
    The Burning Girl(2017)
    Amazon
  • #6
    This Strange Eventful History(2024)
    Amazon
  • #7
    The Hunters(2001)
    Amazon
  • #8
    The Professor's History(2006)
    Amazon
  • #9
    A Dream Life(2021)
    Amazon

About Claire Messud

Claire Messud is a celebrated American novelist and literature and creative writing professor. As the acclaimed author of the 2006 novel The Emperor's Children, she has solidified her reputation as a masterful storyteller. With a diverse upbringing in Greenwich, Connecticut, and across Australia, Canada, and the United States, Messud's unique perspective has shaped her writing. Her mother's Canadian roots and father's French heritage from Algeria have also influenced her work. Educated at esteemed institutions, including Milton Academy, Yale University, and Cambridge University, where she met her husband, British literary critic James Wood, Messud has honed her craft. Her writing has been shaped by her experiences, resulting in a distinctive voice that has captivated readers worldwide.

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