Charles Wilkes books in order
Naval officer and explorer from the United States
- Lived
- 1798–1877
- Country
- United States
- Books
- 7
Charles Wilkes published 5 non-fiction books and 2 other books, beginning with Synopsis of the Cruise of the U.s. Exploring Expedition, During the Years 1838, '39, '40, '41 & '42 (1842). The best-known is Narrative of the United States Exploring Expedition (1844).
Updated September 2026
Where to start with Charles Wilkes
Start here
Narrative of the United States Exploring Expedition
Charles Wilkes's most-read book.
Non-fiction in order
Synopsis of the Cruise of the U.s. Exploring Expedition, During the Years 1838, '39, '40, '41 & '42 (1842)
Narrative of the United States Exploring Expedition (1844)
Narrative of the United States Exploring Expedition, During the Years 1838, 1839, 1840, 1841, 1842 (1845)
Western America, Including California and Oregon, with Maps of Those Regions, and of "the Sacramento Valley" (1849)
Diary of Wilkes in the Northwest (1926)
Other books in order
Antarctic Exploration (1847)
Theory of the Winds (1856)
Free to read
All free classics
About Charles Wilkes
Charles Wilkes was an American naval officer, ship's captain, and explorer. He led the first United States Exploring Expedition (1838–1842).
During the American Civil War (1861-1865), he commanded USS San Jacinto during the Trent Affair incident in which he stopped a British Royal Mail ship and forcibly removed two Confederate diplomats, almost leading to war between the United States and United Kingdom.
Biography from Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0. Photo via Wikimedia Commons.
Charles Wilkes FAQ
- How many books has Charles Wilkes written?
- Charles Wilkes published 5 non-fiction books and 2 other books that we list, as of September 2026.
- What order should I read Charles Wilkes's books in?
- Publication order is a safe choice; the full list is above. Most readers start with Narrative of the United States Exploring Expedition.
- What is Charles Wilkes's last book?
- Western America, Including California and Oregon, with Maps of Those Regions, and of "the Sacramento Valley" (1849).
- What is Charles Wilkes's most famous book?
- Narrative of the United States Exploring Expedition (1844) is Charles Wilkes's most widely read book.
- Can I read Charles Wilkes's books for free?
- Yes. 1 book by Charles Wilkes is in the public domain in the US and free to read online or download here.
Authors like Charles Wilkes
Sources: book lists and dates from Wikidata and Open Library, ratings from Open Library readers, free texts from Project Gutenberg. Last updated September 2026.