Arthur Golden Books in Order: Complete Reading Guide
Arthur Golden has published one novel — Memoirs of a Geisha (1997). This guide covers the book, its context, and what to read if you loved it.
Arthur Golden has published one novel: Memoirs of a Geisha (1997). It sold over four million copies, was translated into 32 languages, and was adapted into a major film in 2005. He has not published a second novel.
Memoirs of a Geisha is therefore both the starting point and the complete works.
The Novel
Memoirs of a Geisha ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
A young girl from a poor fishing village is sold to a geisha house in Gion, Kyoto in the 1930s. The novel follows her rise from servant to celebrated geisha across three decades — through the militarisation of Japan, WWII, and the occupation. Narrated in the first person as a memoir, it creates a vivid and immersive portrait of a vanished world. Read the full review →
What to read after Memoirs of a Geisha
Readers who loved the book for its Japanese setting should explore:
- Books About Japan — a full guide to the best fiction and non-fiction set in Japan
- The works of Banana Yoshimoto and Haruki Murakami — Japanese authors who offer an insider perspective
For the full Arthur Golden bibliography, reviews, and biography, visit the Arthur Golden author page on Editors Reads.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Has Arthur Golden written any books since Memoirs of a Geisha?
No — as of 2026, Arthur Golden has not published a second novel. Memoirs of a Geisha remains his only book. He has spoken in interviews about working on other projects, but nothing has appeared.
Is Memoirs of a Geisha accurate about Japanese culture?
Memoirs of a Geisha was criticised by some Japanese readers and scholars for inaccuracies and for presenting a Western view of Japanese culture. The geisha Mineko Iwasaki, whose interviews with Golden contributed to the book, later sued him over claims she felt misrepresented her. The novel is best read as historical fiction rather than cultural documentation.
