Order of Anita Shreve Books

Anita Shreve was a versatile American novelist who captivated readers across multiple genres, from women's fiction and historical novels to psychological thrillers and family sagas. Her literary foundation was shaped by the works of Edith Wharton and Eugene O'Neill, authors she discovered during her high school years and who would influence her throughout her career.

Before becoming a full-time writer, Shreve worked as a high school teacher but eventually left education to pursue her passion for storytelling. Her diverse professional background also included journalism work in Nairobi, Kenya, and teaching creative writing at Amherst College. A Massachusetts resident, she was married to someone she had known since age 13 and was mother to two children and stepmother to three others.

Shreve's writing career began with her 1975 short story "Past the Island, Drifting." Throughout the mid-to-late 1980s, she focused on non-fiction work, including two collaborations with Dr. Lawrence Balter. Her transition to novel-writing proved successful with the 1989 publication of "Eden Close," marking the beginning of a prolific career that would establish her as a compelling voice in contemporary fiction.

Among her notable works, "Stella Bain" transports readers to World War I, following an American woman discovered in a London garden suffering from shell shock, with no memory of her past beyond being wounded on a French battlefield. "Rescue" explores the complex relationships between paramedic Peter Webster, the woman whose life he saved, and the daughter they share—a story that unfolds across eighteen years of love, loss, and the consequences of seeking closure.