Reading Order List โ€” Book Series Reading Order Guide

Adrian Goldsworthy Reading Order

9 series ยท 179 books

Adrian Goldsworthy is a distinguished British historian and author known for his engaging narratives centered on ancient Rome and military history. With a prolific output of 179 books spanning nine series, including popular titles such as City of Victory and Vindolanda, he has captivated readers with both fiction and non-fiction works. Active from 1950 until 2026, Goldsworthy's contributions to historical literature continue to resonate with audiences worldwide.

Anthologies Series

Complete

1 book (2008โ€“2008)

#Title
1
Cover of Great Commanders of the Ancient World, 1479BC - 453AD
Great Commanders of the Ancient World, 1479BC - 453AD

City Of Victory Series

Likely Complete

3 books (2021โ€“2023)

Start with The Fort and read in order.

Essential Histories Series

Ongoing

24 books (1992โ€“2024)

Start with The Hundred Yearsโ€™ War: 1337โ€“1453(By: Anne Curry), the first of 24 books in the Essential Histories series.

#Title
1
The Hundred Yearsโ€™ War: 1337โ€“1453(By: Anne Curry)
2
The French Revolutionary Wars(By: Gregory Fremont-Barnes)
3
The Korean War: 1950โ€“53(By: Carter Malkasian)
4
Cover of Caesar's Civil War
Caesar's Civil War
5
The Vietnam War 1956โ€“1975(By: Andrew Wiest)
6
War in Japan 1467โ€“1615(By: Stephen Turnbull)
7
The Franco-Prussian War: 1870โ€“71(By: Stephen Badsey)
8
The Ottoman Empire 1326โ€“1699(By: Stephen Turnbull)
9
The Collapse of Yugoslavia: 1991โ€“99(By: Alastair Finlan)
10
The Russian Civil War 1918โ€“22(By: David Bullock)
11
The Great Islamic Conquests AD 632โ€“750(By: David Nicolle)
12
The Jacobite Rebellion: 1745โ€“46(By: Gregory Fremont-Barnes)
13
The Northern Ireland Troubles: Operation Banner 1969โ€“2007(By: Aaron Edwards)
14
The Second War of Italian Unification 1859โ€“61(By: Frederick C. Schneid)
15
The Soviet-Afghan War 1979-89(By: Gregory Fremont-Barnes)
16
The Rise of Imperial Rome AD 14โ€“193(By: Duncan B. Campbell)
17
The Wars of Spanish American Independence 1809โ€“29(By: John Fletcher)
18
Russiaโ€™s Wars in Chechnya 1994โ€“2009(By: Mark Galeotti)
19
The War of the Roses: 1455-1485(By: Michael Hicks)
20
Russia's Five-Day War(By: Mark Galeotti)
21
The American Revolution: 1774โ€“83(By: Daniel Marston)
22
The Hundred Years War: 1337โ€“1453(By: Anne Curry)
23
Russiaโ€™s Wars in Chechnya: 1994โ€“2009(By: Mark Galeotti)
24
The Sovietโ€“Afghan War: 1979โ€“89(By: Gregory Fremont-Barnes)

General Military Series

Likely Complete

112 books (1950โ€“2021)

Start with Otto Skorzeny(By: Stuart Smith), the first of 112 books in the General Military series.

#Title
1
Otto Skorzeny(By: Stuart Smith)
2
Cover of The Forgotten Dead(By: Mark Rogerson,Ken Small)
The Forgotten Dead(By: Mark Rogerson,Ken Small)
3
Cover of Jackspeak(By: Rick Jolly)
Jackspeak(By: Rick Jolly)
4
Cover of Joshua L. Chamberlain(By: Thomas A. Desjardin)
Joshua L. Chamberlain(By: Thomas A. Desjardin)
5
Cover of Hunt the Bismarck(By: Angus Konstam)
Hunt the Bismarck(By: Angus Konstam)
6
Out of Nowhere(By: Martin Pegler)
7
8
Rolling Thunder In A Gentle Land: The Vietnam War Revisited(By: Andrew Wiest)
9
Cover of Struggle for a Vast Future(By: Aaron Sheehan-Dean)
Struggle for a Vast Future(By: Aaron Sheehan-Dean)
10
Cover of FUBAR(By: Gordon L. Rottman)
FUBAR(By: Gordon L. Rottman)
11
Cover of An Officer's Manual of the Western Front(By: Stephen Bull)
An Officer's Manual of the Western Front(By: Stephen Bull)
12
Deceiving Hitler(By: Terry Crowdy)
13
Cover of Warship 2008(By: John Jordan)
Warship 2008(By: John Jordan)
14
Cover of Armies of the Napoleonic Wars(By: Chris McNab)
Armies of the Napoleonic Wars(By: Chris McNab)
15
Cover of Empire of the Seas(By: Brian Lavery)
Empire of the Seas(By: Brian Lavery)
16
No Greater Ally(By: Kenneth K. Koskodan)
17
Cover of The English Civil Wars, 1640-1660(By: Blair Worden)
The English Civil Wars, 1640-1660(By: Blair Worden)
18
Battleground Prussia(By: Prit Buttar)
19
The Roman Army(By: Chris McNab)
20
Cover of Quick Training for War(By: Robert Baden-Powell,Martin Robson)
Quick Training for War(By: Robert Baden-Powell,Martin Robson)
21
Silent Killers(By: Clive Cussler,James P. Delgado)
22
Cover of The Road to Victory(By: Dale A. Dye,Robert J.O'Neill)
The Road to Victory(By: Dale A. Dye,Robert J.O'Neill)
23
Cover of The Spitfire Pocket Manual(By: Martin Robson)
The Spitfire Pocket Manual(By: Martin Robson)
24
Cover of Warship 2011(By: John Jordan)
Warship 2011(By: John Jordan)
25
Concrete Hell(By: Lou DiMarco)
26
Panther(By: Michael; Green Gladys Green)
27
Cover of The Commando Pocket Manual(By: Christopher Westhorp)
The Commando Pocket Manual(By: Christopher Westhorp)
28
The Para Fitness Guide(By: Sam McGrath)
29
The Rice Paddy Navy(By: Linda Kush)
30
America's Elite(By: Chris McNab)
31
Cover of American Tanks & AFVs of World War II(By: Michael Green)
American Tanks & AFVs of World War II(By: Michael Green)
32
Invasion 1914(By: Ian Senior)
33
Cover of No Victory in Valhalla(By: Ian Gardner)
No Victory in Valhalla(By: Ian Gardner)
34
Cover of The SAS Pocket Manual(By: Christopher Westhorp)
The SAS Pocket Manual(By: Christopher Westhorp)
35
Cover of American Knights(By: Victor Failmezger)
American Knights(By: Victor Failmezger)
36
Company of Heroes(By: Eric Poole)
37
Finland at War(By: Vesa Nenye)
38
Cover of Germany Ascendant(By: Prit Buttar)
Germany Ascendant(By: Prit Buttar)
39
Cover of The History of the Panzerwaffe(By: ThomasAnderson)
The History of the Panzerwaffe(By: ThomasAnderson)
40
Cover of Instrument of War(By: Dennis E. Showalter)
Instrument of War(By: Dennis E. Showalter)
41
Cover of Liberty or Death(By: Peter McPhee)
Liberty or Death(By: Peter McPhee)
42
Cover of Maps of War(By: Jeremy Black)
Maps of War(By: Jeremy Black)
43
Cover of Samurai Armour(By: Trevor Absolon)
Samurai Armour(By: Trevor Absolon)
44
Cover of We March Against England(By: Robert Forczyk)
We March Against England(By: Robert Forczyk)
45
Cover of Bloodstained Sands(By: Michael G. Walling)
Bloodstained Sands(By: Michael G. Walling)
46
Cover of Case Red(By: Robert Forczyk)
Case Red(By: Robert Forczyk)
47
Cover of Concorde Pocket Manual(By: Richard Johnstone-Bryden)
Concorde Pocket Manual(By: Richard Johnstone-Bryden)
48
Loco Spotterโ€™s Guide(By: Stuart Black)
49
Pacific Thunder(By: Thomas McKelvey Cleaver)
50
Cover of Panther(By: ThomasAnderson)
Panther(By: ThomasAnderson)
51
Cover of Sevastopolโ€™s Wars(By: Mungo Melvin)
Sevastopolโ€™s Wars(By: Mungo Melvin)
52
Cover of Shadow over the Atlantic(By: Jim Laurier,Robert Forsyth)
Shadow over the Atlantic(By: Jim Laurier,Robert Forsyth)
53
Shot Down and in the Drink(By: Graham Pitchfork)
54
Cover of Soviet T-10 Heavy Tank and Variants(By: Stephen Sewell,James Kinnear)
Soviet T-10 Heavy Tank and Variants(By: Stephen Sewell,James Kinnear)
55
Cover of The Long Range Desert Group in World War II(By: Gavin Mortimer)
The Long Range Desert Group in World War II(By: Gavin Mortimer)
56
Cover of The Second World Wars(By: Victor Davis Hanson)
The Second World Wars(By: Victor Davis Hanson)
57
Cover of The Splintered Empires(By: Prit Buttar)
The Splintered Empires(By: Prit Buttar)
58
Cover of With Their Bare Hands(By: Gene Fax)
With Their Bare Hands(By: Gene Fax)
59
Charlie Company Journeys Home(By: Andrew Wiest)
60
Cutty Sark Pocket Manual(By: Arron Hewett,Louise MacFarlane)
61
Cover of Day of the Rangers(By: Leigh Neville)
Day of the Rangers(By: Leigh Neville)
62
Cover of Forts(By: Jeremy Black,National Archives)
Forts(By: Jeremy Black,National Archives)
63
Cover of HMS Belfast Pocket Manual(By: John Blake)
HMS Belfast Pocket Manual(By: John Blake)
64
Cover of Legion versus Phalanx(By: Myke Cole)
Legion versus Phalanx(By: Myke Cole)
65
Cover of Morning Star, Midnight Sun(By: Jeffrey R. Cox)
Morning Star, Midnight Sun(By: Jeffrey R. Cox)
66
Cover of Not Enough Room to Swing a Cat(By: Martin Robson)
Not Enough Room to Swing a Cat(By: Martin Robson)
67
Cover of Run to the Sound of the Guns(By: Nicholas Moore,Mir Bahmanyar)
Run to the Sound of the Guns(By: Nicholas Moore,Mir Bahmanyar)
68
Snapdragon(By: Liesl Bradner,PhilStern)
69
Cover of Soviet T-54 Main Battle Tank(By: Stephen Sewell,James Kinnear,Andrey Aksenov)
Soviet T-54 Main Battle Tank(By: Stephen Sewell,James Kinnear,Andrey Aksenov)
70
Cover of The British Home Guard Pocketbook(By: A.F.U. Green)
The British Home Guard Pocketbook(By: A.F.U. Green)
71
Cover of The German Soldier's Pocket Manual(By: Stephen Bull)
The German Soldier's Pocket Manual(By: Stephen Bull)
72
Cover of The Mosquito Pocket Manual(By: Martin Robson)
The Mosquito Pocket Manual(By: Martin Robson)
73
The Third Reich is Listening(By: Christian Jennings)
74
Cover of Tidal Wave(By: Thomas McKelvey Cleaver)
Tidal Wave(By: Thomas McKelvey Cleaver)
75
Cover of Valley Of The Shadow(By: Kevin M. Boylan,Luc Olivier)
Valley Of The Shadow(By: Kevin M. Boylan,Luc Olivier)
76
Cover of An Englishman Abroad(By: Gianluca Barneschi)
An Englishman Abroad(By: Gianluca Barneschi)
77
Case White(By: Robert Forczyk)
78
Doctor for Friend and Foe(By: Rick Jolly)
79
Cover of German submarine U-1105 'Black Panther'(By: Aaron Stephan Hamilton)
German submarine U-1105 'Black Panther'(By: Aaron Stephan Hamilton)
80
Cover of Hitler's Death(By: Luke Daly-Groves)
Hitler's Death(By: Luke Daly-Groves)
81
Cover of Holding the Line(By: Thomas McKelvey Cleaver)
Holding the Line(By: Thomas McKelvey Cleaver)
82
Cover of How to Survive in the Georgian Navy(By: National Archives)
How to Survive in the Georgian Navy(By: National Archives)
83
Cover of On a Knife's Edge(By: Prit Buttar)
On a Knife's Edge(By: Prit Buttar)
84
Panzerartillerie(By: ThomasAnderson)
85
Pilgrim Days(By: Alastair MacKenzie)
86
Cover of Scapa 1919(By: Innes McCartney)
Scapa 1919(By: Innes McCartney)
87
Sent by the Iron Sky(By: Ian Gardner)
88
Cover of Soviet T-55 Main Battle Tank(By: Stephen Sewell,James Kinnear,Andrey Aksenov)
Soviet T-55 Main Battle Tank(By: Stephen Sewell,James Kinnear,Andrey Aksenov)
89
Cover of The Great Bear at War(By: Chris McNab,Mark Galeotti)
The Great Bear at War(By: Chris McNab,Mark Galeotti)
90
Cover of The Hurricane Pocket Manual(By: Martin Robson)
The Hurricane Pocket Manual(By: Martin Robson)
91
Cover of The Persian War(By: William Shepherd)
The Persian War(By: William Shepherd)
92
Cover of The Pirate World(By: Angus Konstam)
The Pirate World(By: Angus Konstam)
93
Cover of Wade McClusky and the Battle of Midway(By: David Rigby)
Wade McClusky and the Battle of Midway(By: David Rigby)
94
Cover of War Bows(By: Mike Loades)
War Bows(By: Mike Loades)
95
Cover of Warship 2019(By: John Jordan)
Warship 2019(By: John Jordan)
96
World War II Battle by Battle(By: Nikolai Bogdanovic)
97
Cover of Audacious Missions of World War II(By: National Archives)
Audacious Missions of World War II(By: National Archives)
98
Be PARA Fit(By: Sam McGrath)
99
Cover of Blazing Star, Setting Sun(By: Jeffrey R. Cox)
Blazing Star, Setting Sun(By: Jeffrey R. Cox)
100
Cover of Blood, Metal and Dust(By: Ben Barry)
Blood, Metal and Dust(By: Ben Barry)
101
Cover of Hitler's Tanks(By: Chris McNab)
Hitler's Tanks(By: Chris McNab)
102
Cover of I Will Run Wild(By: Thomas McKelvey Cleaver)
I Will Run Wild(By: Thomas McKelvey Cleaver)
103
Cover of Lawrence of Arabia on War(By: Rob Johnson)
Lawrence of Arabia on War(By: Rob Johnson)
104
Cover of Mutiny on the Spanish Main(By: Angus Konstam)
Mutiny on the Spanish Main(By: Angus Konstam)
105
Rome - City in Terror(By: Victor Failmezger)
106
Cover of The Devil's Bridge(By: Anthony Tucker-Jones)
The Devil's Bridge(By: Anthony Tucker-Jones)
107
Cover of The Master Shipwright's Secrets(By: Richard Endsor)
The Master Shipwright's Secrets(By: Richard Endsor)
108
Cover of The Reckoning(By: Prit Buttar)
The Reckoning(By: Prit Buttar)
109
Cover of Jutland 1916(By: Innes McCartney)
Jutland 1916(By: Innes McCartney)
110
Cover of Soviet T-62 Main Battle Tank(By: Stephen Sewell,James Kinnear,Andrey Aksenov)
Soviet T-62 Main Battle Tank(By: Stephen Sewell,James Kinnear,Andrey Aksenov)
111
Cover of The Churchill Quiz Book(By: Kieran Whitworth)
The Churchill Quiz Book(By: Kieran Whitworth)
112
Cover of Warship 2021(By: John Jordan)
Warship 2021(By: John Jordan)

Napoleonic Wars Series

Complete

6 books (2008โ€“2015)

Start with True Soldier Gentlemen, the first of 6 books in the Napoleonic Wars series.

#Title
1
Cover of True Soldier Gentlemen
True Soldier Gentlemen
2
Cover of Beat the Drums Slowly
Beat the Drums Slowly
3
Cover of Send Me Safely Back Again
Send Me Safely Back Again
4
Cover of All in Scarlet Uniform
All in Scarlet Uniform
5
Cover of Run Them Ashore
Run Them Ashore
6
Cover of Whose Business is to Die
Whose Business is to Die

Non-Fiction Series

Ongoing

17 books (1996โ€“2026)

Start with The Roman Army At War, the first of 17 books in the Non-Fiction series.

#Title
1
Cover of The Roman Army At War
The Roman Army At War
2
Cover of The Punic Wars
The Punic Wars
3
Cover of Caesar's Civil War
Caesar's Civil War
4
Cover of In the Name of Rome
In the Name of Rome
5
6
7
Cover of The Fall of the West / How Rome Fell
The Fall of the West / How Rome Fell
8
Antony and Cleopatra
9
Cover of The Complete Roman Army
The Complete Roman Army
10
Cover of The Fall of Carthage
The Fall of Carthage
11
Cover of Caesar's Civil War 49-44 BC
Caesar's Civil War 49-44 BC
12
13
14
Cover of Hadrian's Wall
Hadrian's Wall
15
Philip and Alexander
16
Rome and Persia
17
Athens and Sparta

Smithsonian History of Warfare Series

Complete

12 books (1999โ€“2005)

Start with The Civil War and the Wars of the Nineteenth Century(By: Brian Holden Reid), the first of 12 books in the Smithsonian History of Warfare series.

#Title
1
Cover of The Civil War and the Wars of the Nineteenth Century(By: Brian Holden Reid)
The Civil War and the Wars of the Nineteenth Century(By: Brian Holden Reid)
2
Cover of The Second World War in Europe(By: Charles Messenger)
The Second World War in Europe(By: Charles Messenger)
3
Cover of War in the Air 1914-45(By: Williamson Murray)
War in the Air 1914-45(By: Williamson Murray)
4
Cover of Warfare in the Eighteenth Century(By: Jeremy Black)
Warfare in the Eighteenth Century(By: Jeremy Black)
5
Cover of The Art Of War: War And Military Thought(By: Martin van Creveld)
The Art Of War: War And Military Thought(By: Martin van Creveld)
6
Cover of The Second World War in the East(By: H.P. Willmott)
The Second World War in the East(By: H.P. Willmott)
7
Cover of War at Sea in the Age of Sail(By: Andrew D. Lambert)
War at Sea in the Age of Sail(By: Andrew D. Lambert)
8
War at Sea in the Ironclad Age(By: Richard Hill)
9
Cover of History of Warfare: The Renaissance at War(By: John Keegan,Thomas F. Arnold)
History of Warfare: The Renaissance at War(By: John Keegan,Thomas F. Arnold)
10
Cover of Wars of National Liberation(By: Daniel Moran)
Wars of National Liberation(By: Daniel Moran)
11
The Wars Of The Ancient Greeks(By: Victor Davis Hanson)
12
Cover of Roman Warfare
Roman Warfare

Standalone Novels Series

Complete

1 book (2024โ€“2024)

#Title
1

Vindolanda Series

Complete

3 books (2017โ€“2020)

Start with Vindolanda and read in order.

#Title
1
2
Cover of The Encircling Sea
The Encircling Sea
3

Frequently Asked Questions

How many books has Adrian Goldsworthy written?
Adrian Goldsworthy has written 179 books across 9 series. Their published works span from 1950 to 2026.
What is the first book in each Adrian Goldsworthy series?
Here are the first books in Adrian Goldsworthy's series: City Of Victory: The Fort; Essential Histories: The Hundred Yearsโ€™ War: 1337โ€“1453(By: Anne Curry); General Military: Otto Skorzeny(By: Stuart Smith); Napoleonic Wars: True Soldier Gentlemen; Non-Fiction: The Roman Army At War.
What order should I read Adrian Goldsworthy's books?
We recommend reading Adrian Goldsworthy's series in publication order. Each series can be read independently.
Is Adrian Goldsworthy still writing new books?
Yes, Adrian Goldsworthy has 2 ongoing series: Essential Histories, Non-Fiction.

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