Margaret Laurence Books In Order Of Release

Margaret Laurence (1926–1987) remains one of Canada’s most beloved and influential writers. Her powerful portrayals of small-town Manitoba life, complex women characters, and themes of identity, colonialism, and resilience have earned her a permanent place in the literary canon. Whether you’re discovering her work for the first time or revisiting old favorites, reading Margaret Laurence books in order—especially the iconic Manawaka Cycle—deepens the experience.

This guide lists every Margaret Laurence book in both publication order and the recommended Manawaka reading order, plus her memoirs, short stories, essays, and children’s books.

Who Was Margaret Laurence?

Born Jean Margaret Wemyss in Neepawa, Manitoba, Laurence spent part of her adult life in England and Africa before returning to Canada. Her time in Somaliland and Ghana heavily influenced her early work, while her Manitoba roots shaped the fictional town of Manawaka—the heart of her most famous novels.

List Of Margaret Laurence Books In Order

The Manawaka Cycle: The Heart of Margaret Laurence’s Legacy

The five Manawaka books can be read in any order (each stands alone beautifully), but most fans and scholars recommend reading them in publication order because that’s how Laurence’s own themes and style evolved.

Here’s the definitive Manawaka Cycle in order:

1. The Stone Angel (1964) is Laurence’s breakthrough novel and still her most famous. Ninety-year-old Hagar Shipley looks back on her proud, stubborn life. A masterpiece of Canadian literature.
2. A Jest of God (1966) follows Rachel Cameron, a repressed schoolteacher in Manawaka. Won the Governor General’s Award. (Later adapted into the film Rachel, Rachel starring Joanne Woodward.)
3. The Fire-Dwellers (1969) Stacey MacAindra (Rachel’s older sister) struggles with marriage, motherhood, and middle-age despair in Vancouver—but Manawaka is never far away.
4. A Bird in the House (1970) is A linked short-story collection narrated by Vanessa MacLeod. Semi-autobiographical and a gentle bridge between the novels.
5. The Diviners (1974) Widely considered Laurence’s finest work. Morag Gunn, a single mother and writer, reflects on her Scots-Métis heritage and life in Manawaka. Banned in some schools yet beloved worldwide. Another Governor General’s Award winner.

Margaret Laurence Books in Publication Order (Complete List)

If you prefer strict chronological publication order, here it is:

Fiction – African Period

• This Side Jordan (1960) – Her debut novel, set in Ghana on the eve of independence.
• The Tomorrow-Tamer and Other Stories (1963) – Short stories inspired by Somalia and Ghana.
• The Prophet’s Camel Bell (1963) – Non-fiction travel memoir about life in Somaliland (published in the U.S. as New Wind in a Dry Land).

The Manawaka Cycle

1. The Stone Angel (1964)
2. A Jest of God (1966)
3. The Fire-Dwellers (1969)
4. A Bird in the House (1970)
5. The Diviners (1974)

Children’s Books

• Jason’s Quest (1970) – A delightful animal fantasy about a mole searching for a cure for his city’s pollution.
• The Olden Days Coat (1979) – A touching children’s picture book about a girl who finds her grandmother’s coat.
• Six Darn Cows (1979)
• The Christmas Birthday Story (1980)

Memoir & Essays

• Heart of a Stranger (1976) – Collection of travel essays and autobiographical pieces.
• Dance on the Earth: A Memoir (1989) – Published posthumously; a beautiful reflection on her mother, her daughters, and her own life.

Where Should New Readers Start?

• Want the classic Laurence experience? → Begin with The Stone Angel.
• Prefer something more contemporary in feel? → Start with The Diviners (many readers actually love it as an entry point).
• Short on time? → A Bird in the House is a perfect, bite-sized introduction to Manawaka.

Why Margaret Laurence Still Matters in 2025

Her women are flawed, fierce, and unforgettable. She wrote about postpartum depression, marital frustration, Indigenous-settler relations, and the search for personal freedom decades before these topics were mainstream. In an era of fast content, Laurence’s slow, introspective prose feels like deep breathing.

Quick Reference: Margaret Laurence Books Checklist

☐ This Side Jordan (1960) ☐ The Stone Angel (1964) ☐ A Jest of God (1966) ☐ The Fire-Dwellers (1969) ☐ A Bird in the House (1970) ☐ The Diviners (1974) ☐ Heart of a Stranger (1976) ☐ Dance on the Earth (1989)

Happy reading—Manawaka is waiting. Which Margaret Laurence book will you pick up first? Drop your favorite in the comments! 📚