Book Series Guide

Author guide

David French Books in Order

David Benson French was a Canadian playwright, novelist, and writer of television and radio drama. His best-known works are the five Mercer plays, which follow a Newfoundland family transplanted to Toronto and Newfoundland across generations. He also wrote the popular backstage comedy Jitters, the dramas One Crack Out and That Summer, the mystery Silver Dagger, and adaptations for the stage.

dramacomedymysteryadaptationliterary fiction

Not sure where to begin?

Start with one of these

Leaving Home

The first Mercer play and the recommended entry point to the cycle.

Read in order

Books by series

play-cycle · complete

Mercer Plays

A five-play cycle following the Mercer family, a Newfoundland family whose history spans Newfoundland and Toronto.

Series guide →
  1. 1
    Leaving Home

    Book 1 · play · 1972

    Amazon ↗
  2. 2
    Of the Fields, Lately

    Book 2 · play · 1973

    Amazon ↗
  3. 3
    Salt-Water Moon

    Book 3 · play · 1985

    Amazon ↗
  4. 4
    1949

    Book 4 · play · 1989

    Amazon ↗
  5. 5
    Soldier's Heart

    Book 5 · play · 2002

    Amazon ↗

Outside the series

Bibliography by category

Novels (1)
  1. A Company of Strangers

    novel · 1968

    Amazon ↗
Plays (17)
  1. Beckons the Dark River

    television-play · 1963

    Amazon ↗
  2. The Willow Harp

    television-play · 1964

    Amazon ↗
  3. A Ring for Florie

    television-play · 1964

    Amazon ↗
  4. After Hours

    television-play · 1964

    Amazon ↗
  5. Sparrow on a Monday Morning

    television-play · 1966

    Amazon ↗
  6. Angeline

    radio-play · 1967

    Amazon ↗
  7. Invitation to a Zoo

    radio-play · 1967

    Amazon ↗
  8. Winter of Timothy

    radio-play · 1968

    Amazon ↗
  9. A Token Gesture

    television-play · 1970

    Amazon ↗
  10. A Tender Branch

    television-play · 1972

    Amazon ↗
  11. The Happiest Man in the World

    television-play · 1972

    Amazon ↗
  12. One Crack Out

    play · 1975

    Amazon ↗
  13. Jitters

    play · 1980

    Amazon ↗
  14. The Riddle of the World

    play · 1981

    Amazon ↗
  15. The Forest

    play · 1987

    Amazon ↗
  16. Silver Dagger

    play · 1993

    Amazon ↗
  17. That Summer

    play · 2000

    Amazon ↗