Frances Mayes Collections books in order

Frances Mayes' poetry collections span from the late 1970s through the mid-1990s, featuring lyrical verse influenced by Southern and Mediterranean landscapes.
Series · Poetry · Literary Fiction

Reading order

# Title Published Author Buy on Amazon
1 Sunday in Another Country 1977 Frances Mayes N/A
2 January 6, Quarter of Four 1978 Frances Mayes N/A
3 After Such Pleasures 1979 Frances Mayes Buy
4 The Arts of Fire 1982 Frances Mayes Buy
5 Gold Over Blue 1984 Frances Mayes N/A
6 Hours 1984 Frances Mayes N/A
7 The Book of Summer 1995 Frances Mayes N/A
8 Ex Voto 1995 Frances Mayes Buy

Frances Mayes published eight poetry collections between 1977 and 1995, before her Tuscan memoirs brought her widespread recognition. Sunday in Another Country, After Such Pleasures, The Arts of Fire, and other collections show her as a careful observer of the physical world.

These collections represent the first phase of Mayes’ writing career, when she was primarily known as a poet and writing teacher. Readers who enjoy the lyrical quality of her prose will find the same sensibility at work in her verse.

Frequently Asked Questions

How many books are in the Frances Mayes Collections series?

There are eight books in the Frances Mayes Collections series, published between 1977 and 1995.

What is the first book in the Frances Mayes Collections series?

The first book in the Frances Mayes Collections series is Sunday in Another Country, published in 1977.

How does Mayes' poetry relate to her prose writing?

Her poetry came first in her career, with eight collections published before Under the Tuscan Sun made her famous. The same attention to landscape, light, and sensory detail that defines her memoirs is present in her earlier verse.

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