Herman Melville Reading Order
4 series · 28 books · Born 1 August 1819
Herman Melville was an influential American author known for his contributions to dark romanticism through his engaging narratives. His most celebrated work, *Moby Dick*, showcases his unique style and complex themes. Over his prolific career, which spanned from 1846 to 2021, he wrote 28 works across four series, including novels, novellas, short story collections, and anthologies.
Anthologies Series
Complete12 books (1963–2018)
Start with 50 Great American Short Stories, the first of 12 books in the Anthologies series.
| # | Title |
|---|---|
| 1 |  50 Great American Short Stories 1963Buy 🇺🇸 |
| 2 |  War: An Anthology 1969Buy 🇺🇸 |
| 3 | Mysterious Sea Stories 1987Buy 🇺🇸 |
| 4 | Famous and Curious Animal Stories 1989Buy 🇺🇸 |
| 5 |  The Short Story: 30 Masterpieces 1992Buy 🇺🇸 |
| 6 |  Classic Sea Stories 1996Buy 🇺🇸 |
| 7 |  Writing New York 1998Buy 🇺🇸 |
| 8 | 40 Short Stories: A Portable Anthology 2000Buy 🇺🇸 |
| 9 |  The Best Crime Stories Ever Told 2002Buy 🇺🇸 |
| 10 | 50 Classic Novellas 2011Buy 🇺🇸 |
| 11 |  Keys to the Bureau 2013Buy 🇺🇸 |
| 12 | Writers: Their Lives and Works 2018Buy 🇺🇸 |
Short Stories/Novellas Series
Complete1 book (1855–1855)
| # | Title |
|---|---|
| 1 | Benito Cereno 1855Buy 🇺🇸 |
Short Story Collections Series
Likely Complete4 books (1854–2021)
Start with The Encantadas and Other Stories, the first of 4 books in the Short Story Collections series.
Standalone Novels Series
Complete11 books (1846–1924)
Start with Typee, the first of 11 books in the Standalone Novels series.
Frequently Asked Questions
- How many books has Herman Melville written?
- Herman Melville has written 28 books across 4 series. Their published works span from 1846 to 2021.
- What is the first book in each Herman Melville series?
- Here are the first books in Herman Melville's series: Anthologies: 50 Great American Short Stories; Short Story Collections: The Encantadas and Other Stories.
- What order should I read Herman Melville's books?
- We recommend reading Herman Melville's series in publication order. Each series can be read independently.
- Are Herman Melville's series complete?
- Herman Melville has 3 completed series.