Carol Shields Plays books in order

Q: "How many books are in the Carol Shields Plays series?"

"There are four books in the Carol Shields Plays series, published between 1990 and 1998."

Q: "What is the first book in the Carol Shields Plays series?"

"The first book in the Carol Shields Plays series is Departures \u0026 Arrivals, published in 1990."

Q: "Did Carol Shields write plays in addition to her novels?"

"Yes, Carol Shields wrote four plays published between 1990 and 1998. Departures and Arrivals uses an airport setting to explore brief human encounters. Thirteen Hands is a comedy centred on a bridge card game. Fashion, Power, Guilt and the Charity of Families was co-written with Catherine Shields, and Anniversary is a two-hander about a couple on the occasion of their wedding anniversary."

Reading order

#	Title	Published	Author	Buy on Amazon
1	Departures & Arrivals	1990	Carol Shields	Buy
2	Thirteen Hands	1993	Carol Shields	Buy
3	Fashion, Power, Guilt and the Charity of Families	1995	Carol Shields	Buy
4	Anniversary	1998	Carol Shields	Buy

Carol Shields’s plays occupy a smaller corner of her output but share the same preoccupations as her fiction: the way people connect and fail to connect, the comedy and sadness of long-term relationships, and the significance that accumulates in small rituals. Departures and Arrivals (1990) is set entirely in an airport, using the comings and goings of strangers as a way to sketch brief, vivid portraits of people at moments of transition.

Thirteen Hands (1993) takes its name from a bridge card game and focuses on four women who have gathered to play together for years. The play finds real warmth and wit in what might seem a narrow subject. Anniversary (1998) is a two-character piece that examines a long marriage with honesty and affection. These plays have been performed by Canadian theatre companies and are available in print for readers interested in the full range of Shields’s work.

Frequently Asked Questions

How many books are in the Carol Shields Plays series?

There are four books in the Carol Shields Plays series, published between 1990 and 1998.

What is the first book in the Carol Shields Plays series?

The first book in the Carol Shields Plays series is Departures & Arrivals, published in 1990.

Did Carol Shields write plays in addition to her novels?

Yes, Carol Shields wrote four plays published between 1990 and 1998. Departures and Arrivals uses an airport setting to explore brief human encounters. Thirteen Hands is a comedy centred on a bridge card game. Fashion, Power, Guilt and the Charity of Families was co-written with Catherine Shields, and Anniversary is a two-hander about a couple on the occasion of their wedding anniversary.

Reading order#

Frequently Asked Questions

Reading order