Author Guide · Memoir & Fiction
Books Written by
Gene Wilder, born Jerome Silberman in Milwaukee in 1933, was Willy Wonka and the young Frankenstein, and co-wrote the screenplay of Young Frankenstein with Mel Brooks. After Gilda Radner, his wife, died of ovarian cancer in 1989, he co-founded Gilda’s Club and co-wrote a book on the disease with her oncologist. In his seventies he turned to writing: a memoir in 2005, then three novels and a collection of stories. This guide covers his five key books, in order, and where to begin.
By Lisanne Swart · 5 key books · 2005–2013 · Updated October 2026
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Quick answer
Gene Wilder’s key books are the memoir Kiss Me Like a Stranger (2005), the novels My French Whore (2007), The Woman Who Wouldn’t (2008) and Something to Remember You By (2013), and the story collection What Is This Thing Called Love? (2010). Start with the memoir, which runs from his childhood to Gilda Radner’s death.
Where to Start with Gene Wilder
If you want his own life story
→ Kiss Me Like a Stranger (2005) — Milwaukee, Mel Brooks, Willy Wonka and Gilda Radner.
If you want his fiction
→ My French Whore (2007) — his first novel, set in the First World War.
If you want something short
→ What Is This Thing Called Love? (2010) — his collection of stories.
5 Gene Wilder Books, in Order
Kiss Me Like a Stranger
Published by St. Martin’s Press on 1 March 2005, the memoir is an account of his life from his childhood in Milwaukee to the death of his wife Gilda Radner in 1989, a span that takes in his years with Mel Brooks and his best-known films. A revised edition followed in 2006.
My French Whore
His first novel, published by St. Martin’s Press in March 2007 and set during the First World War.
The Woman Who Wouldn’t
His second novel, published by St. Martin’s Press in March 2008.
What Is This Thing Called Love?
A collection of short stories, published by St. Martin’s Press in 2010.
Something to Remember You By
His third novel, published by St. Martin’s Press in April 2013 and subtitled A Perilous Romance.
In What Order to Read Gene Wilder
Start with the memoir, then read the fiction in any order: the novels and stories are not connected. Publication order shows him moving from his own life to invented ones.
Before the memoir he co-wrote Gilda’s Disease (1998) with Gilda Radner’s oncologist, a book about ovarian cancer that is listed below; read it for its medical information rather than as part of his literary work.
A reading path
1. Kiss Me Like a Stranger (2005)
2. My French Whore (2007)
3. What Is This Thing Called Love? (2010)
4. Something to Remember You By (2013)
Everything Else Gene Wilder Published
Beyond the 5 key books: 1 more, grouped by kind.
Open a group with the + to see every book in it.
Non-fiction
1
1 book · 1998
- 1998Gilda’s Diseaseon ovarian cancer, written with Gilda Radner’s oncologist Steven Piver
The years · 1933–2016
Quick facts about Gene Wilder
- Known for
- Gene Wilder is known for his comic film roles, including Willy Wonka and Young Frankenstein, which he co-wrote with Mel Brooks.
- 1933
- Born Jerome Silberman in Milwaukee
- 1971
- Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory
- 1974
- Young Frankenstein
- 1989
- Gilda Radner dies
- 2016
- Dies in Stamford, Connecticut, aged 83
- Born
- Jerome Silberman, 11 June 1933, Milwaukee, Wisconsin
- Died
- 29 August 2016, Stamford, Connecticut, aged 83, of complications of Alzheimer’s disease, as his family reported
- Marriages
- Mary Mercier; Mary Joan Schutz; Gilda Radner (1984–1989); Karen Boyer (from 1991)
- Oscar nominations
- Supporting actor for The Producers; adapted screenplay for Young Frankenstein, with Mel Brooks
- Charity
- Co-founder of Gilda’s Club, a cancer support organisation
- Books
- A memoir, three novels and a story collection, 2005–2013
The red mark is 2005: Kiss Me Like a Stranger, his memoir.
How Gene Wilder Writes: Late, Short and About Love
Wilder came to books late: his memoir appeared when he was 71 and all his fiction after that, published by St. Martin’s Press between 2007 and 2013.
The memoir is a first-person account that runs from his childhood to Gilda Radner’s death, so it is as much about his private life as about his films. In his fiction he turned to history and romance: his first novel is set during the First World War, and his third is subtitled A Perilous Romance.
Writing took the place of acting: in a 2013 interview with Time Out New York he said “That’s why I went into writing”, adding that he would act again for a script that was “something wonderful”. For more actors’ memoirs, see the reading list of the best celebrity memoirs; for books on losing a partner, see the list of books about grief.
Watch
Gene Wilder in 2005
Gene Wilder talks to NBC’s TODAY in 2005 about his memoir, love and acting.
Frequently asked questions about Gene Wilder’s books
How many books did Gene Wilder write?
Five key books on this page: the memoir Kiss Me Like a Stranger (2005), three novels and a story collection. He also co-wrote Gilda’s Disease (1998), a book on ovarian cancer, with an oncologist.
What are Gene Wilder’s books in order?
Kiss Me Like a Stranger (2005), My French Whore (2007), The Woman Who Wouldn’t (2008), What Is This Thing Called Love? (2010) and Something to Remember You By (2013).
Where should I start with Gene Wilder?
With the memoir Kiss Me Like a Stranger, which tells his life story up to Gilda Radner’s death in 1989.
What is Gene Wilder’s most famous book?
Kiss Me Like a Stranger: My Search for Love and Art (2005), his memoir.
Does Gene Wilder write about Gilda Radner?
Yes. Kiss Me Like a Stranger covers their marriage and her death from ovarian cancer in 1989. He also co-wrote Gilda’s Disease (1998) with her oncologist, Steven Piver.
Did Gene Wilder write novels?
Yes, three: My French Whore (2007), The Woman Who Wouldn’t (2008) and Something to Remember You By (2013), plus a story collection, What Is This Thing Called Love? (2010).
Does the memoir cover Willy Wonka and Young Frankenstein?
It is an account of his life from childhood to Gilda Radner’s death in 1989, a period that includes Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory and Young Frankenstein, which he co-wrote with Mel Brooks; the book is as much about his private life as about the films.
When did Gene Wilder die?
On 29 August 2016, at his home in Stamford, Connecticut, aged 83. His family said he died of complications of Alzheimer’s disease, diagnosed three years earlier, which he had kept private.
Footnotes
- Gene Wilder — Wikipedia
- Actor Gene Wilder: Kiss Me Like a Stranger — NPR via WLRN
- My French Whore — Historical Novel Society
- The Woman Who Wouldn’t — Kirkus Reviews
- Something to Remember You By — Macmillan
Bibliography last verified 9 October 2026. Where sources give different first-publication years, this page uses the year in library catalogues or the publisher’s own record.
This list was not put together by a machine.
The notes are all mine,
and the books are all his.
Lisanne x
Written by Lisanne Swart, who has curated reading lists and author guides at lisanneswart.com since 2021.
See more on her personal bookshelf.
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