Book series that take place across an entire lifespan?

I've always wondered if there have been books that have taken place across an entire life. Or maybe one that progresses with the character through time, like the Diary of a Wimpy Kid series. Mostly, I'm looking for books that follow one character in particular instead of several at a time, or weaving between different storylines.

Thank you for your help!

If you're into fantasy/science fiction, i believe The Book of the New Sun series follows the main character's entire life from childhood.

The Long Price Quartet, by Daniel Abraham, follows the members of a dynasty from basically birth to death throughout generations. It's a good read-very much distinct from the majority of fantasy. (I've honestly never read anything like it), and worth a look.

The series starts with A Shadow in Summer, which is more than worth a read.

The first three books of the Dune series covers three different times in the life of Paul Atreides, first a teenager, then a man, then the last year of his life.

I believe The Hamlet, The Town and The Mansion all follow Flem Snopes' life, but I haven't read the last two.

Hmm. Raymond E. Feist's Riftwar saga, (and boy howdy does that latter word fit - there are literally dozens of the books) follows most of the life of a particular little boy, who ends up being one of the most powerful users of magic and sorcery in the entirety of fiction. You don't see him born but pretty much everything else in his life is seen.

Define "entire life." The Anne Of Green Gables books start when Anne is eleven (with a few flashbacks to earlier points, and no we do not talk about "official prequel" Before Green Gables.) and end when she's in her fifties.

within the Tortall Universe there are the Song of the Lioness and Protector of the Small quartets, we follow Alanna for four books and ten to 15 years, and we follow Kel for 9, from page training to squiredom to knighthood and the adventures there after.

We've got a Swedish example in Arn The Knight Templar. The book trilogy starts with Arn's birth (and the movies follow him from his childhood) and ends with his death.

edited 21st Mar '14 5:41:58 AM by Furienna

Mervyn Peake's Titus novels were intended to be this, but the author's illness and death cut everything short.

edited 21st Mar '14 7:56:31 AM by Jhimmibhob

La Lionne du Boulevard, of Alexandra Lapierre, follows Celeste from her 20s to ten years after her death.

Sort of a weavy one, but the Dragonlance series follows its original cast of characters to their deaths (whether from combat or old age). Afterwards, it focuses on their kids and other important people.

The Conqueror series by Conn Iggulden starts with the birth of Genghis Khan and ends with Kublai Khan gaining control of the empire almost 40 years after Genghis' death. The third book ends with Genghis' death, meaning the first three books essentially follow the main character from birth to death.

edited 4th May '14 6:08:40 AM by Druplesnubb

The Farseer and its sequel trilogy follow Fitz from his childhood to his forties.