🎯 Where Should I Start?
Best Starting Point
Publication Order of Rich Man, Poor Man Books
Start with: Rich Man, Poor Man (1969)
Popular Choice
Publication Order of Standalone Novels
Start with: The Young Lions (1948)
Popular Choice
Publication Order of Plays
Start with: Bury the Dead (1935)
ⓘ About Irwin Shaw
Irwin Gilbert Shamforoff, also known as Irwin Shaw, was an American screenwriter, playwright, writer of short stories, and best-selling novelist that put out a prolific amount of writing throughout his career. Born February 27, 1913, Irwin was born in New York City in the South Bronx. His mother’s name was Rose and his father’s name was Will, and they were both Russian-Jewish and immigrated to the United States. While Irwin would go on to be a noted writer, his younger brother would also achieve success in Hollywood, where he became a producer. Once Irwin had been born, it was not too long before the family moved to Brooklyn. Irwin decided that he would change the surname he had once he had gotten to college.
All Book Series by Irwin Shaw
1
Rich Man, Poor Man
Series opener · book 1 of 2 · published 1969
Buy on Amazon1969
2
Beggarman, Thief
Latest in the series · book 2 of 2 · published 1977
Buy on Amazon1977
1
The Young Lions
Series opener · book 1 of 10 · published 1948
Buy on Amazon1948
2
The Troubled Air
Book 2 of 10 · published 1951
Buy on Amazon1951
3
Voices of a Summer Day
Book 3 of 10 · published 1951
Buy on Amazon1951
5
Two Weeks In Another Town
Book 5 of 10 · published 1960
Buy on Amazon1960
6
Evening In Byzantium
Book 6 of 10 · published 1973
Buy on Amazon1973
8
The Top of the Hill
Book 8 of 10 · published 1979
Buy on Amazon1979
9
Bread Upon the Waters
Book 9 of 10 · published 1981
Buy on Amazon1981
10
Acceptable Losses
Latest in the series · book 10 of 10 · published 1982
Buy on Amazon1982
1
Bury the Dead
Single-title series · published 1935
Buy on Amazon1935
1
Sailor Off the Bremen and Other Stories
Series opener · book 1 of 11 · published 1939
Buy on Amazon1939
2
Act of Faith and Other Stories
Book 2 of 11 · published 1946
Buy on Amazon1946
4
Tip on a Dead Jockey
Book 4 of 11 · published 1957
Buy on Amazon1957
5
Selected Short Stories of Irwin Shaw
Book 5 of 11 · published 1961
Buy on Amazon1961
6
Love on a Dark Street
Book 6 of 11 · published 1965
Buy on Amazon1965
7
Whispers In Bedlam
Book 7 of 11 · published 1972
Buy on Amazon1972
8
God Was Here But He Left Early
Book 8 of 11 · published 1973
Buy on Amazon1973
11
Welcome to the city and other stories
Latest in the series · book 11 of 11 · published 2002
Buy on Amazon2002
1
In the Company of Dolphins
Series opener · book 1 of 2 · published 1964
Buy on Amazon1964
2
Paris! Paris!
Latest in the series · book 2 of 2 · published 1977
Buy on Amazon1977
1
San Francisco Noir
Series opener · book 1 of 121 · published 2002
Buy on Amazon2002
6
Brooklyn Noir 2
Book 6 of 121 · published 2005
Buy on Amazon2005
9
Manhattan Noir
Book 9 of 121 · published 2006
Buy on Amazon2006
12
Baltimore Noir
Book 12 of 121 · published 2006
Buy on Amazon2006
13
Twin Cities Noir
Book 13 of 121 · published 2006
Buy on Amazon2006
15
New Orleans Noir
Book 15 of 121 · published 2007
Buy on Amazon2007
16
Los Angeles Noir
Book 16 of 121 · published 2007
Buy on Amazon2007
17
Wall Street Noir
Book 17 of 121 · published 2007
Buy on Amazon2007
19
Detroit Noir
Book 19 of 121 · published 2007
Buy on Amazon2007
21
Brooklyn Noir 3: Nothing But the Truth
Book 21 of 121 · published 2008
Buy on Amazon2008
22
Toronto Noir
Book 22 of 121 · published 2008
Buy on Amazon2008
23
Las Vegas Noir
Book 23 of 121 · published 2008
Buy on Amazon2008
24
Trinidad Noir
Book 24 of 121 · published 2008
Buy on Amazon2008
26
Manhattan Noir 2
Book 26 of 121 · published 2008
Buy on Amazon2008
28
Istanbul Noir
Book 28 of 121 · published 2008
Buy on Amazon2008
31
San Francisco Noir 2
Book 31 of 121 · published 2009
Buy on Amazon2009
32
Portland Noir
Book 32 of 121 · published 2009
Buy on Amazon2009
34
Phoenix Noir
Book 34 of 121 · published 2009
Buy on Amazon2009
35
Los Angeles Noir 2
Book 35 of 121 · published 2010
Buy on Amazon2010
36
Mexico City Noir
Book 36 of 121 · published 2010
Buy on Amazon2010
37
Richmond Noir
Book 37 of 121 · published 2010
Buy on Amazon2010
38
Orange County Noir
Book 38 of 121 · published 2010
Buy on Amazon2010
39
Indian Country Noir
Book 39 of 121 · published 2010
Buy on Amazon2010
41
Lone Star Noir
Book 41 of 121 · published 2010
Buy on Amazon2010
42
Philadelphia Noir
Book 42 of 121 · published 2010
Buy on Amazon2010
44
Copenhagen Noir
Book 44 of 121 · published 2010
Buy on Amazon2010
45
Pittsburgh Noir
Book 45 of 121 · published 2011
Buy on Amazon2011
46
San Diego Noir
Book 46 of 121 · published 2011
Buy on Amazon2011
47
Barcelona Noir
Book 47 of 121 · published 2011
Buy on Amazon2011
48
Cape Cod Noir
Book 48 of 121 · published 2011
Buy on Amazon2011
49
New Jersey Noir
Book 49 of 121 · published 2011
Buy on Amazon2011
50
Staten Island Noir
Book 50 of 121 · published 2012
Buy on Amazon2012
52
Long Island Noir
Book 52 of 121 · published 2012
Buy on Amazon2012
54
Kingston Noir
Book 54 of 121 · published 2012
Buy on Amazon2012
55
St. Petersburg Noir
Book 55 of 121 · published 2012
Buy on Amazon2012
56
Kansas City Noir
Book 56 of 121 · published 2012
Buy on Amazon2012
57
Boston Noir 2
Book 57 of 121 · published 2012
Buy on Amazon2012
60
Buffalo Noir
Book 60 of 121 · published 2013
Buy on Amazon2013
62
Haiti Noir 2
Book 62 of 121 · published 2013
Buy on Amazon2013
63
Singapore Noir
Book 63 of 121 · published 2014
Buy on Amazon2014
65
Tel Aviv Noir
Book 65 of 121 · published 2014
Buy on Amazon2014
67
Belfast Noir
Book 67 of 121 · published 2014
Buy on Amazon2014
68
Helsinki Noir
Book 68 of 121 · published 2014
Buy on Amazon2014
70
Providence Noir
Book 70 of 121 · published 2015
Buy on Amazon2015
71
Chicago Noir: The Classics
Book 71 of 121 · published 2015
Buy on Amazon2015
72
Memphis Noir
Book 72 of 121 · published 2015
Buy on Amazon2015
74
Marseille Noir
Book 74 of 121 · published 2015
Buy on Amazon2015
76
New Orleans Noir: The Classics
Book 76 of 121 · published 2016
Buy on Amazon2016
77
Stockholm Noir
Book 77 of 121 · published 2016
Buy on Amazon2016
78
Brussels Noir
Book 78 of 121 · published 2016
Buy on Amazon2016
79
Mississippi Noir
Book 79 of 121 · published 2016
Buy on Amazon2016
80
St. Louis Noir
Book 80 of 121 · published 2016
Buy on Amazon2016
82
San Juan Noir
Book 82 of 121 · published 2016
Buy on Amazon2016
83
Oakland Noir
Book 83 of 121 · published 2017
Buy on Amazon2017
84
Trinidad Noir: The Classics
Book 84 of 121 · published 2017
Buy on Amazon2017
85
Atlanta Noir
Book 85 of 121 · published 2017
Buy on Amazon2017
86
New Haven Noir
Book 86 of 121 · published 2017
Buy on Amazon2017
87
Montana Noir
Book 87 of 121 · published 2017
Buy on Amazon2017
88
Buenos Aires Noir
Book 88 of 121 · published 2017
Buy on Amazon2017
89
Montreal Noir
Book 89 of 121 · published 2017
Buy on Amazon2017
91
São Paulo Noir
Book 91 of 121 · published 2018
Buy on Amazon2018
92
Santa Cruz Noir
Book 92 of 121 · published 2018
Buy on Amazon2018
94
Marrakech Noir
Book 94 of 121 · published 2018
Buy on Amazon2018
95
Baghdad Noir
Book 95 of 121 · published 2018
Buy on Amazon2018
96
Vancouver Noir
Book 96 of 121 · published 2018
Buy on Amazon2018
98
Hong Kong Noir
Book 98 of 121 · published 2018
Buy on Amazon2018
99
Amsterdam Noir
Book 99 of 121 · published 2019
Buy on Amazon2019
100
Milwaukee Noir
Book 100 of 121 · published 2019
Buy on Amazon2019
101
Houston Noir
Book 101 of 121 · published 2019
Buy on Amazon2019
102
Nairobi Noir
Book 102 of 121 · published 2020
Buy on Amazon2020
103
Columbus Noir
Book 103 of 121 · published 2020
Buy on Amazon2020
104
Santa Fe Noir
Book 104 of 121 · published 2020
Buy on Amazon2020
105
Alabama Noir
Book 105 of 121 · published 2020
Buy on Amazon2020
106
Berkeley Noir
Book 106 of 121 · published 2020
Buy on Amazon2020
107
Addis Ababa Noir
Book 107 of 121 · published 2020
Buy on Amazon2020
108
Tampa Bay Noir
Book 108 of 121 · published 2020
Buy on Amazon2020
109
Miami Noir: The Classics
Book 109 of 121 · published 2020
Buy on Amazon2020
110
Accra Noir
Book 110 of 121 · published 2020
Buy on Amazon2020
111
Belgrade Noir
Book 111 of 121 · published 2020
Buy on Amazon2020
112
Palm Springs Noir
Book 112 of 121 · published 2021
Buy on Amazon2021
113
Paris Noir: The Suburbs
Book 113 of 121 · published 2022
Buy on Amazon2022
114
Denver Noir
Book 114 of 121 · published 2022
Buy on Amazon2022
115
South Central Noir
Book 115 of 121 · published 2022
Buy on Amazon2022
116
Cleveland Noir
Book 116 of 121 · published 2023
Buy on Amazon2023
117
East Jerusalem Noir
Book 117 of 121 · published 2023
Buy on Amazon2023
118
West Jerusalem Noir
Book 118 of 121 · published 2023
Buy on Amazon2023
119
Honolulu Noir
Book 119 of 121 · published 2024
Buy on Amazon2024
120
Sacramento Noir
Book 120 of 121 · published 2025
Buy on Amazon2025
121
Hamburg Noir
Latest in the series · book 121 of 121 · published 2025
Buy on Amazon2025
1
Twenty Grand: Great American Short Stories
Series opener · book 1 of 12 · published 1941
Buy on Amazon1941
2
50 Great Short Stories
Book 2 of 12 · published 1952
Buy on Amazon1952
3
Short Story Masterpieces: 35 Classic American and British Stories from the First Half of the 20th Century
Book 3 of 12 · published 1954
Buy on Amazon1954
4
This Was Your War
Book 4 of 12 · published 1960
Buy on Amazon1960
5
50 Great American Short Stories
Book 5 of 12 · published 1963
Buy on Amazon1963
6
Arena: Sports Science Fiction
Book 6 of 12 · published 1976
Buy on Amazon1976
7
Ready or Not: Here Come Fourteen Frightening Stories!
Book 7 of 12 · published 1987
Buy on Amazon1987
8
Great World War II Stories
Book 8 of 12 · published 1989
Buy on Amazon1989
9
The Amis Story Anthology
Book 9 of 12 · published 1992
Buy on Amazon1992
10
First Fiction: An Anthology of the First Published Stories by Famous Writers
Book 10 of 12 · published 1994
Buy on Amazon1994
11
Writing New York
Book 11 of 12 · published 1998
Buy on Amazon1998
12
Wonderful Town
Latest in the series · book 12 of 12 · published 2000
Buy on Amazon2000
? Frequently Asked Questions
Who is Irwin Shaw?
Irwin Gilbert Shamforoff, also known as Irwin Shaw, was an American screenwriter, playwright, writer of short stories, and best-selling novelist that put out a prolific amount of writing throughout his career. Born February 27, 1913, Irwin was born in New York City in the South Bronx. His mother's name was Rose and his father's name was Will, and they were both Russian-Jewish and immigrated to the United States.
Which Irwin Shaw series should I start with?
The best place to start is the Rich Man, Poor Man series, the earliest of Irwin Shaw's multi-book series: it opens with Rich Man, Poor Man (1969) and runs to 2 books across 1969–1977, ending with Beggarman, Thief (1977).
How many books has Irwin Shaw written?
Irwin Shaw has 159 books catalogued in this guide, published between 1935 and 2025. 123 of them belong to 2 named series — the largest being the Rich Man, Poor Man series with 2 books — and 36 are standalone titles, collections or anthologies.
In what order should Irwin Shaw's series be read?
Read each series in publication order — the numbered entries in each series follow the year each book first appeared. Irwin Shaw's series do not depend on one another, so they can be started in any order; by start date they are Rich Man, Poor Man (1969–1977, 2 books).
How are Irwin Shaw's books organised into series?
This guide splits Irwin Shaw's 159 books into 2 named series and 36 titles that stand alone or appear only in collections: Rich Man, Poor Man (2 books, 1969–1977); Akashic Noir (121 books, 2002–2025).
