Irving Stone books

Irving Stone Non-Fiction Reading Order

Non-Fiction

Short Story Collections

Standalone Novels

Irving Stone was an American author who pioneered the biographical novel, bringing real historical figures to life through novelized accounts of their struggles and achievements. His two most famous works are Lust for Life (1934), about Vincent van Gogh, and The Agony and the Ecstasy (1961), about Michelangelo. Both books became bestsellers and were adapted into films, bringing these artists’ stories to a mass audience.

Stone’s other biographical novels cover a range of historical subjects. Immortal Wife tells the story of Jessie Benton Fremont, The President’s Lady follows Rachel and Andrew Jackson, Love Is Eternal focuses on Mary Todd Lincoln, and The Origin dramatizes Charles Darwin’s life. His non-fiction work includes Men to Match My Mountains, a history of the American West, and Dear Theo, a collection of Van Gogh’s letters. Stone’s career spanned from the 1930s to the 1980s, producing 13 novels and 9 non-fiction works.