# Every novel and novella by Theodor Fontane

Fontane only began writing novels when he was almost sixty: from Before the Storm (1878) to The Stechlin (1899), he produced a body of work that made him the leading figure of German poetic realism. Here are all his novels and novellas in order of first book publication, including Irrungen, Wirrungen, Frau Jenny Treibel and Effi Briest.

- 304 votes · 18 items
- Mar 13, 2025 · Marcel Friedrich
- https://even.best/en/l/5543/every-novel-and-novella-by-theodor-fontane

## Top 18

1. **Grete Minde (1880)** (28 · ▲28 ▼0) — Novel by Theodor Fontane.
2. **Vor dem Sturm (1878)** (25 · ▲28 ▼3) — Fontane's first novel, published when he was nearly 60.
3. **L’Adultera (1882)** (17 · ▲21 ▼4) — His first novel of Berlin society.
4. **Ellernklipp (1881)** (17 · ▲20 ▼3) — Novel by Theodor Fontane.
5. **Graf Petöfy (1884)** (16 · ▲17 ▼1) — Novel by Theodor Fontane.
6. **Schach von Wuthenow (1883)** (14 · ▲18 ▼4) — Novel by Theodor Fontane.
7. **Irrungen, Wirrungen (1888)** (13 · ▲15 ▼2) — The love affair between the seamstress Lene and the officer Botho.
8. **Quitt (1891)** (12 · ▲15 ▼3) — Novel by Theodor Fontane.
9. **Unterm Birnbaum (1885)** (12 · ▲14 ▼2) — Novel by Theodor Fontane.
10. **Cécile (1887)** (12 · ▲14 ▼2) — Novel by Theodor Fontane.
11. **Stine (1890)** (11 · ▲13 ▼2) — Novel by Theodor Fontane.
12. **Der Stechlin (1899)** (10 · ▲11 ▼1) — His last novel, published in book form shortly after his death.
13. **Unwiederbringlich (1892)** (9 · ▲13 ▼4) — Novel by Theodor Fontane.
14. **Mathilde Möhring (1908)** (8 · ▲8 ▼0) — Published posthumously from his papers.
15. **Frau Jenny Treibel (1893)** (5 · ▲9 ▼4) — A satire of the Berlin bourgeoisie.
16. **Effi Briest (1896)** (4 · ▲7 ▼3) — His most famous novel, about a young woman destroyed by her marriage and by society.
17. **Die Poggenpuhls (1896)** (4 · ▲6 ▼2) — Novel by Theodor Fontane.
18. **Meine Kinderjahre (1894)** (3 · ▲5 ▼2) — Memories of his childhood in Swinemünde.

How is this ranking ordered? By people's votes: each ▲ adds a point and each ▼ takes one away. Anyone can vote and add what is missing.