Author guide
Irvine Welsh Books in Order
Irvine Welsh is a Scottish writer born in Leith, Edinburgh, in 1958. He became internationally known with Trainspotting, whose episodic depiction of addiction, friendship, alienation, and working-class life established his characteristic use of Scots dialect and multiple narrative voices. His work includes novels, short-fiction collections, novellas, plays, screenplays, and co-authored fiction, frequently revisiting Edinburgh, its social worlds, and recurring characters.
literary fictioncrime fictionshort fictiondramascreenwriting
Irvine Welsh's Newest Book
Not sure where to begin?
Start with one of these
Trainspotting
The landmark debut and the publication starting point for the Trainspotting novels.
Filth
A strong standalone entry point showcasing Welsh's dark comic crime fiction.
Read in order
Books by series
novel series · ongoing
Trainspotting
Novels following Renton, Sick Boy, Spud, Begbie, and their wider Edinburgh circle across addiction, friendship, crime, recovery, and later life.
novel series · complete
Crime
The Ray Lennox crime novels, following the Edinburgh detective through investigations, trauma, violence, and attempts at personal recovery.
novel series · ongoing
Terry Lawson
Novels centered on Terry Lawson, the flamboyant Edinburgh character introduced in Glue and revisited in A Decent Ride.
Outside the series
Bibliography by category
Novels (7)
-
Marabou Stork NightmaresAmazon ↗novel · 1995
- FilthAmazon ↗
novel · 1998
-
The Bedroom Secrets of the Master ChefsAmazon ↗novel · 2006
- Days Like ThisAmazon ↗
nonfiction · 2009
-
The Sex Lives of Siamese TwinsAmazon ↗novel · 2014
-
The Seal ClubAmazon ↗novella_collection · 2020
- The Seal Club 2: The View From Poacher's HillAmazon ↗
novella_collection · 2023
Short fiction (4)
Plays (3)
Other (1)
- Past Tense: Four Stories from a NovelAmazon ↗
chapbook · 1992