Archibald MacLeish books in order
American poet and Librarian of Congress
- Lived
- 1892–1982
- Country
- United States
- Books
- 9
Archibald MacLeish published 4 poetry collections, 3 plays and 2 other books, beginning with Collected Poems, 1917-1952 (1935). The best-known is Three Short Plays (1961).
Updated September 2026
Where to start with Archibald MacLeish
Start here
Three Short Plays
Archibald MacLeish's most-read book.
Poetry in order
Collected Poems, 1917-1952 (1935)
Poetry and Experience (1964)
Poetry and Opinion (1968)
The Wild Old Wicked Man (1968)
Plays in order
Public Speech (1936)
The American Story (1944)
J. B.; a Play in Verse (1957)
Other books in order
Three Short Plays (1961)
Nobodaddy (1973)
About Archibald MacLeish
Archibald MacLeish was an American poet and writer, who was associated with the modernist school of poetry. MacLeish studied English at Yale University and law at Harvard University. He enlisted in and saw action during the First World War and lived in Paris in the 1920s. On returning to the United States, he contributed to Henry Luce's magazine Fortune from 1929 to 1938. For five years, MacLeish was the ninth Librarian of Congress, a post he accepted at the urging of President Franklin D. Roosevelt. From 1949 to 1962, he was Boylston Professor of Rhetoric and Oratory at Harvard. He was awarded three Pulitzer Prizes for his work.
Biography from Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0. Photo via Wikimedia Commons.
Archibald MacLeish FAQ
- How many books has Archibald MacLeish written?
- Archibald MacLeish published 4 poetry collections, 3 plays and 2 other books that we list, as of September 2026.
- What order should I read Archibald MacLeish's books in?
- Publication order is a safe choice; the full list is above. Most readers start with Three Short Plays.
- What is Archibald MacLeish's last book?
- Nobodaddy (1973).
- What is Archibald MacLeish's most famous book?
- Three Short Plays (1961) is Archibald MacLeish's most widely read book.
Sources: book lists and dates from Wikidata and Open Library, ratings from Open Library readers. Last updated September 2026.