Francis Spufford Reading Order
4 series · 15 books · Born 1964
Francis Spufford is an English writer who moves fluidly between rigorous historical research and imaginative fiction, creating works that read like narrative adventures grounded in factual detail. His body of work spans standalone novels, essay collections, and anthologies that explore everything from the history of technology to the lives of ordinary people caught in extraordinary circumstances. With a background in English literature from Cambridge, Spufford brings both scholarly precision and literary skill to his examination of how humans navigate the past.
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Anthologies Series
Complete4 books (1989–2007)
Francis Spufford's Anthologies series comprises four collections published between 1989 and 2007, now complete. These volumes span historical fiction and non-fiction, drawing on Spufford's distinctive perspective on exploration, history, and survival. Read in publication order beginning with The Chatto Book of Cabbages and Kings, followed by The Devil, Ice: Stories of Survival from Polar Exploration, and concluding with The Antarctic.
Start with The Chatto Book of Cabbages and Kings, the first of 4 books in the Anthologies series.
Start this series with The Chatto Book of Cabbages and Kings
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Non-Fiction Series
Complete6 books (1996–2012)
Francis Spufford's six-book nonfiction series spans from 1996 to 2012 and should be read in publication order beginning with Cultural Babbage. The complete series includes I May Be Some Time: The Story Behind the Antarctic Tragedy of Captain Scott, The Child that Books Built, Backroom Boys, Red Plenty, and Unapologetic, offering explorations across historical, cultural, and personal subjects that showcase Spufford's distinctive narrative approach to nonfiction writing.
Start with Cultural Babbage, the first of 6 books in the Non-Fiction series.
Start this series with Cultural Babbage
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Short Story Collections Series
Complete1 book (2019–2019)
Standalone Novels Series
Ongoing4 books (2016–2026)
Francis Spufford has written four standalone novels published between 2016 and 2026, with the series still ongoing. The books should be read in publication order: Golden Hill, Light Perpetual, Cahokia Jazz, and Nonesuch. Each novel stands independently, though Spufford's work blends historical fiction with non-fictional elements across the collection.
Start with Golden Hill, the first of 4 books in the Standalone Novels series.
Start this series with Golden Hill
Buy Book 1 🇺🇸🎧 Listen free on Audible
Frequently Asked Questions
- How many books has Francis Spufford written?
- Francis Spufford has written 15 books across 4 series. Their published works span from 1989 to 2026.
- What is the first book in each Francis Spufford series?
- Here are the first books in Francis Spufford's series: Anthologies: The Chatto Book of Cabbages and Kings; Non-Fiction: Cultural Babbage.
- What order should I read Francis Spufford's books?
- We recommend reading Francis Spufford's series in publication order. Each series can be read independently.
- Is Francis Spufford still writing new books?
- Yes, Francis Spufford has 1 ongoing series: Standalone Novels.