Francis Thompson published 1 non-fiction book, 8 poetry collections and 1 other book, beginning with The Life & Labours of Saint John Baptist De La Salle (1891). The best-known is The Collected Poetry of Francis Thompson (1893).
Updated September 2026
Where to start with Francis Thompson
Start here
The Collected Poetry of Francis Thompson
Francis Thompson's most-read book.
Non-fiction in order
Saint Ignatius Loyola (1900)
Poetry in order
The Collected Poetry of Francis Thompson (1893)
Shelley (1900)
New Poems (1907)
The Hound of Heaven (1907)
Selected Poems (1908)
Sister Songs (1908)
Complete Poems of Francis Thompson (1913)
The Works of Francis Thompson (1913)
Other books in order
The Life & Labours of Saint John Baptist De La Salle (1891)
Free to read
All free classics
About Francis Thompson
Francis Joseph Thompson was an English poet and Catholic mystic. At the behest of his father, a doctor, he entered medical school at the age of 18, but at 26 left home to pursue his talent as a writer and poet. He spent three years on the streets of London, supporting himself with menial labour, becoming addicted to opium which he took to relieve a nervous problem.
Biography from Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0. Photo via Wikimedia Commons.
Francis Thompson FAQ
- How many books has Francis Thompson written?
- Francis Thompson published 1 non-fiction book, 8 poetry collections and 1 other book that we list, as of September 2026.
- What order should I read Francis Thompson's books in?
- Publication order is a safe choice; the full list is above. Most readers start with The Collected Poetry of Francis Thompson.
- What is Francis Thompson's last book?
- Saint Ignatius Loyola (1900).
- What is Francis Thompson's most famous book?
- The Collected Poetry of Francis Thompson (1893) is Francis Thompson's most widely read book.
- Can I read Francis Thompson's books for free?
- Yes. 7 books by Francis Thompson are in the public domain in the US and free to read online or download here.
Authors like Francis Thompson
Sources: book lists and dates from Wikidata and Open Library, ratings from Open Library readers, free texts from Project Gutenberg. Last updated September 2026.