Portrait of Giacomo Leopardi

Giacomo Leopardi books in order

Italian noble, poet, philosopher, and writer

Lived
1798–1837
Country
Papal States
Books
8
Also writes as
Cosimo Papareschi

Giacomo Leopardi published 4 novels, 1 novella, 2 non-fiction books and 1 poetry collection, beginning with Canti (1831).

Updated September 2026

Where to start with Giacomo Leopardi

Standalone novels in order

  1. All'Italia (1818)

  2. Pensieri (1845)

    172 pages

  3. Mastro-Don Gesualdo (1881)

    329 pages★ 3.1 (7 ratings)

  4. Essays and Dialogues of Giacomo Leopardi (1882)

    216 pages

Novellas in order

  1. Small Moral Works (1826)

Non-fiction in order

  1. Operette Morali (1835)

    369 pages

  2. Zibaldone (1898)

    2592 pages

Poetry in order

  1. Canti (1831)

    256 pages

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About Giacomo Leopardi

Count Giacomo Taldegardo Francesco di Sales Saverio Pietro Leopardi was an Italian poet, philosopher, essayist, and philologist. Considered the greatest Italian poet of the 19th century and one of the greatest authors of his time worldwide, as well as one of the principals of literary Romanticism, his constant reflection on existence and on the human condition—of sensuous and materialist inspiration—has also earned him a reputation as a deep philosopher. He is widely seen as one of the most radical and challenging thinkers of the 19th century, and one of the crowns of Italian Romanticism together with Alessandro Manzoni, even if he expressed different and sometimes opposing positions compared to the latter. Although he lived in a secluded town in the conservative Papal States, he came into contact with the main ideas of the Enlightenment, and, through his own literary evolution, created a remarkable and renowned poetic work, related to the Romantic era. The strongly lyrical quality of his poetry made him a central figure in the European and international literary and cultural landscape.

Biography from Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0. Photo via Wikimedia Commons.

Giacomo Leopardi FAQ

How many books has Giacomo Leopardi written?
Giacomo Leopardi published 4 novels, 1 novella, 2 non-fiction books and 1 poetry collection that we list, as of September 2026.
What order should I read Giacomo Leopardi's books in?
Publication order is a safe choice; the full list is above. Most readers start with Canti.
What is Giacomo Leopardi's last book?
Operette Morali (1835).
What is Giacomo Leopardi's most famous book?
Canti (1831) is Giacomo Leopardi's most widely read book.
Does Giacomo Leopardi write under a pen name?
Yes: Giacomo Leopardi has also published as Cosimo Papareschi.
Can I read Giacomo Leopardi's books for free?
Yes. 3 books by Giacomo Leopardi are in the public domain in the US and free to read online or download here.

Authors like Giacomo Leopardi

Sources: book lists and dates from Wikidata and Open Library, ratings from Open Library readers, free texts from Project Gutenberg. Last updated September 2026.