Martha Baillie is one of Canada’s most distinctive and quietly powerful voices in contemporary literature. Her lyrical prose, deep psychological insight, and fascination with memory, identity, and the unseen layers of human experience have earned her a devoted following and numerous award nominations (including the Scotiabank Giller Prize and the Governor General’s Literary Award).
Whether you’re a longtime admirer or discovering her work for the first time, reading Martha Baillie’s books in publication order reveals the beautiful evolution of her style and themes. Below is the complete chronological list with quick insights to help you decide where to begin—or how to continue your journey.
List of Martha Baillie’s Books in Publication Order
Martha Baillie does not write in series; her works are standalone novels, memoirs, and collaborative nonfiction. Below is the exhaustive chronological list of her major published books, compiled from reliable sources including her official website, publisher pages, and literary databases. This includes all distinct titles up to November 2025, with no new releases announced.
| # | Title | Year | Type | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | My Sister, Esther | 1995 | Novel | Debut novella; explores sibling bonds and childhood trauma. |
| 2 | Madame Balashovskaya’s Apartment | 1999 | Novel | Poetic coming-of-age story in a multicultural Toronto apartment building. Translated into Hungarian and German. |
| 3 | The Shape I Gave You | 2006 | Novel | Epistolary novel of letters to a deceased father; acclaimed for emotional depth. |
| 4 | The Incident Report | 2009 | Novel | Innovative structure as library incident reports; Giller Prize longlist; adapted into a 2023 film. |
| 5 | The Search for Heinrich Schlögel | 2014 | Novel | Magical realism adventure in the Arctic; Governor General’s Award nominee; Oprah Editors’ Pick. |
| 6 | If Clara | 2017 | Novel | Speculative fiction on art, identity, and colonial legacies. |
| 7 | Sister Language (with Christina Baillie) | 2019 | Nonfiction (Memoir/Call-and-Response) | Collaborative work with her late sister; Trillium Book Award finalist. |
| 8 | There Is No Blue | 2023 | Memoir | Reflective on family grief, mental health, and loss; Hilary Weston Writers’ Trust Prize winner. |
Martha Baillie Books in Publication Order
- My Sister Esther (1995) Baillie’s haunting debut novella about two sisters bound by love, guilt, and a shared childhood tragedy. Short, intense, and unforgettable—perfect as an entry point.
- Madame Balashovskaya’s Apartment (1999) A poetic novel told through the eyes of a young girl living in a Toronto apartment building filled with Eastern European immigrants. Rich in atmosphere and quiet revelations.
- The Shape I Gave You (2006) A poignant epistolary novel written as letters from a daughter to her deceased father. Critics praised its emotional precision and restraint. Many readers call this their favorite Baillie work.
- The Incident Report (2009) Shortlisted for the Scotiabank Giller Prize Written entirely in the form of public library incident reports, this inventive novel follows Miriam, a librarian who observes the strange, tender, and heartbreaking moments of daily life. Clever, funny, and deeply moving—often compared to Lydia Davis or Georges Perec.
- The Search for Heinrich Schlögel (2014) Nominated for the Governor General’s Literary Award A mind-bending tale of a young German hiker who disappears in the Canadian Arctic… and reappears decades later without having aged. Blends adventure, philosophy, and magical realism in Baillie’s most ambitious work.
- If You Find This Letter (2015) (Creative non-fiction/Memoir) A beautiful hybrid memoir told through letters written to a stranger. Baillie empties her family home and reflects on grief, inheritance, and letting go. Intimate and luminous.
- The Shores of Sheba (2022) Baillie’s most recent novel (as of 2025). Set against the backdrop of colonial-era Yemen and modern-day Toronto, it explores exile, translation, and the stories we inherit. Early reviews call it her most politically layered and poetic work yet.
Suggested Reading Orders for Different Types of Readers
- Start here if you’re new: Begin with The Incident Report (2009). Its unique format is instantly gripping and showcases Baillie’s brilliance in under 200 pages.
- If you love lyrical, introspective prose: Go straight to The Shape I Gave You (2006).
- If you enjoy experimental or postmodern fiction:The Incident Report and The Search for Heinrich Schlögel will feel like home.
- If you want her most recent voice: Jump to The Shores of Sheba (2022)—it feels like the culmination of everything she’s been exploring.
Where to Find Martha Baillie’s Books
Most of her titles are published by prestigious Canadian indie presses (Coach House Books, Pedlar Press) and are widely available through:
- Bookshop.org (supports independent bookstores)
- Indigo/Chapters (Canada)
- Amazon
- Your local library (many carry her full catalog)
Note: Some early titles like My Sister Esther and Madame Balashovskaya’s Apartment occasionally go out of print but are easy to find used or through library systems.
Final Thoughts
Martha Baillie doesn’t write sprawling bestsellers—she writes small miracles. Her books are the kind you finish in an afternoon and think about for years. Quietly devastating, intellectually playful, and always deeply humane, her work deserves a much wider audience.
Ready to fall in love with her writing? Start with The Incident Report tonight—you’ll thank me later.
Which Martha Baillie book is your favorite? Drop it in the comments—I’d love to know where your journey with her began! 📚 Happy reading! ♡
