Maya Angelou's Autobiography books in order

Q: "How many books are in the Maya Angelou's Autobiography series?"

"There are nine books in the Maya Angelou's Autobiography series, published between 1969 and 2013."

Q: "What is the first book in the Maya Angelou's Autobiography series?"

"The first book in the Maya Angelou's Autobiography series is I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings, published in 1969."

Q: "Do you need to read Maya Angelou's autobiographies in order?"

"Reading in order gives the fullest picture, since each volume picks up where the last one left off. I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings (1969) covers her childhood and is the most widely read. The series continues chronologically through Gather Together in My Name, Singin' and Swingin' and Gettin' Merry Like Christmas, The Heart of a Woman, All God's Children Need Traveling Shoes, and A Song Flung Up to Heaven. Mom \u0026 Me \u0026 Mom (2013) takes a different approach, focusing on her relationship with her mother across all periods of her life."

Reading order

#	Title	Published	Author	Buy on Amazon
1	I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings	1969	Maya Angelou	Buy
2	Il canto del silenzio	1969	Maya Angelou	N/A
3	Gather Together in My Name	1974	Maya Angelou	Buy
4	Rassemblez-vous en mon nom	1974	Maya Angelou	N/A
5	Singin’ and Swingin’ and Gettin’ Merry Like Christmas	1976	Maya Angelou	Buy
6	The Heart of a Woman	1981	Maya Angelou	Buy
7	All God’s Children Need Traveling Shoes	1986	Maya Angelou	Buy
8	A Song Flung Up to Heaven	2002	Maya Angelou	Buy
9	Mom & Me & Mom	2013	Maya Angelou	Buy

Maya Angelou’s seven-volume autobiography is one of the most famous memoir series in American literature. I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings (1969) covers her childhood in rural Arkansas and St. Louis, dealing with racism, trauma, and her discovery of literature. Gather Together in My Name (1974) picks up in her teenage years, and the series continues chronologically through her life as a performer, writer, and civil rights activist.

The Heart of a Woman (1981) covers her time in New York and Africa, including her work with Martin Luther King Jr. and Malcolm X. A Song Flung Up to Heaven (2002) deals with the assassinations of the 1960s and the period leading up to the writing of Caged Bird. Mom & Me & Mom (2013), the final volume, focuses specifically on her complicated relationship with her mother. The series also includes some foreign-language editions (Il canto del silenzio, Rassemblez-vous en mon nom) listed alongside the English originals.

Frequently Asked Questions

How many books are in the Maya Angelou's Autobiography series?

There are nine books in the Maya Angelou’s Autobiography series, published between 1969 and 2013.

What is the first book in the Maya Angelou's Autobiography series?

The first book in the Maya Angelou’s Autobiography series is I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings, published in 1969.

Do you need to read Maya Angelou's autobiographies in order?

Reading in order gives the fullest picture, since each volume picks up where the last one left off. I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings (1969) covers her childhood and is the most widely read. The series continues chronologically through Gather Together in My Name, Singin’ and Swingin’ and Gettin’ Merry Like Christmas, The Heart of a Woman, All God’s Children Need Traveling Shoes, and A Song Flung Up to Heaven. Mom & Me & Mom (2013) takes a different approach, focusing on her relationship with her mother across all periods of her life.

Reading order#

Frequently Asked Questions

Reading order