Henry James Sumner Maine books in order
British jurist and historian
- Lived
- 1822–1888
- Country
- United Kingdom
- Books
- 7
Henry James Sumner Maine published 1 novel, 4 non-fiction books and 2 other books, beginning with Ancient Law, Its Connection with the Early History of Society, and Its Relation to Modern Ideas (1861).
Updated September 2026
Where to start with Henry James Sumner Maine
Start here
Ancient Law, Its Connection with the Early History of Society, and Its Relation to Modern Ideas
Henry James Sumner Maine's most-read book.
Standalone novels in order
Ancient Law (1861)
Non-fiction in order
Ancient Law, Its Connection with the Early History of Society, and Its Relation to Modern Ideas (1861)
Lectures on the Early History of Institutions (1875)
Dissertations on Early Law and Custom (1883)
Popular Government (1885)
Other books in order
Village-communities in the East and West; Six Lectures Delivered at Oxford to Which Are Added Other Lectures, Addresses and Essays, by Sir Henry Sumner Maine (1871)
International Law (1888)
About Henry James Sumner Maine
Sir Henry James Sumner Maine,, was a British Whig comparative jurist and historian. He is famous for the thesis outlined in his book Ancient Law that law and society developed "from status to contract." According to the thesis, in the ancient world individuals were tightly bound by status dealing with(in) a particular group while in the modern one, in which individuals are viewed as autonomous agents, they are free to make contracts and form associations with whomever they choose. Because of this thesis, Maine can be seen as one of the forefathers of modern legal anthropology, legal history and sociology of law.
Biography from Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0. Photo via Wikimedia Commons.
Henry James Sumner Maine FAQ
- How many books has Henry James Sumner Maine written?
- Henry James Sumner Maine published 1 novel, 4 non-fiction books and 2 other books that we list, as of September 2026.
- What order should I read Henry James Sumner Maine's books in?
- Publication order is a safe choice; the full list is above. Most readers start with Ancient Law, Its Connection with the Early History of Society, and Its Relation to Modern Ideas.
- What is Henry James Sumner Maine's last book?
- Popular Government (1885).
- What is Henry James Sumner Maine's most famous book?
- Ancient Law, Its Connection with the Early History of Society, and Its Relation to Modern Ideas (1861) is Henry James Sumner Maine's most widely read book.
- Can I read Henry James Sumner Maine's books for free?
- Yes. 1 book by Henry James Sumner Maine is in the public domain in the US and free to read online or download here.
Sources: book lists and dates from Wikidata and Open Library, ratings from Open Library readers, free texts from Project Gutenberg. Last updated September 2026.