Francis Scott Key books in order
American lawyer and poet who wrote The Star-Spangled Banner
- Lived
- 1779–1843
- Country
- United States
- Books
- 5
Francis Scott Key published 1 novel, 1 non-fiction book, 1 children's book, 1 poetry collection and 1 other book, beginning with An Oration, Delivered by Francis S. Key, at a Meeting of the Washington Society of Alexandria, Ca. [sic], on Tuesday, the 22d of March, 1814 (1814).
Updated September 2026
Where to start with Francis Scott Key
Start here
An Oration, Delivered by Francis S. Key, at a Meeting of the Washington Society of Alexandria, Ca. [sic], on Tuesday, the 22d of March, 1814
Francis Scott Key's most-read book.
Standalone novels in order
The Second Corps of Discovery: 1811 Journal of the Jackson and Clark Expeditionary Force (May 2011)
Non-fiction in order
The Power of Literature and Its Connexion with Religion (1834)
Children's books in order
The Star Spangled Banner (2000)
Poetry in order
Poems of the Late Francis S. Key (1857)
Other books in order
An Oration, Delivered by Francis S. Key, at a Meeting of the Washington Society of Alexandria, Ca. [sic], on Tuesday, the 22d of March, 1814 (1814)
About Francis Scott Key
Francis Scott Key was an American lawyer, author, and poet from Frederick, Maryland, best known as the author of the poem "Defence of Fort M'Henry", which was set to a popular British tune and eventually became the American national anthem "The Star-Spangled Banner". In 1814 Key observed the British bombardment of Fort McHenry in Baltimore during the War of 1812. He was inspired upon seeing an American flag flying over the fort at dawn: his poem was published within a week with the suggested tune of the popular song "To Anacreon in Heaven". The song with Key's lyrics became known as "The Star-Spangled Banner" and slowly gained in popularity as an unofficial anthem, finally achieving official status as the national anthem more than a century later in 1931.
Biography from Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0. Photo via Wikimedia Commons.
Francis Scott Key FAQ
- How many books has Francis Scott Key written?
- Francis Scott Key published 1 novel, 1 non-fiction book, 1 children's book, 1 poetry collection and 1 other book that we list, as of September 2026.
- What order should I read Francis Scott Key's books in?
- Publication order is a safe choice; the full list is above. Most readers start with An Oration, Delivered by Francis S. Key, at a Meeting of the Washington Society of Alexandria, Ca. [sic], on Tuesday, the 22d of March, 1814.
- What is Francis Scott Key's last book?
- The Power of Literature and Its Connexion with Religion (1834).
- What is Francis Scott Key's most famous book?
- An Oration, Delivered by Francis S. Key, at a Meeting of the Washington Society of Alexandria, Ca. [sic], on Tuesday, the 22d of March, 1814 (1814) is Francis Scott Key's most widely read book.
Sources: book lists and dates from Wikidata and Open Library, ratings from Open Library readers. Last updated September 2026.