Henry Morton Stanley published 2 novels, 4 non-fiction books and 2 children's books, beginning with How I Found Livingstone (1872). The best-known is Through the Dark Continent (1878).
Updated September 2026
Where to start with Henry Morton Stanley
Start here
Through the Dark Continent
Henry Morton Stanley's most-read book.
Standalone novels in order
In Darkest Africa (1890)
The Autobiography of Sir Henry Morton Stanley (1909)
Non-fiction in order
How I Found Livingstone (1872)
Through the Dark Continent (1878)
The Congo and the Founding of Its Free State (1885)
My Early Travels and Adventures in America and Asia (1895)
Children's books in order
Free to read
All free classics
About Henry Morton Stanley
Sir Henry Morton Stanley was a Welsh-American explorer, journalist, soldier, colonial administrator, author, and politician famous for his exploration of Central Africa and search for missionary and explorer David Livingstone. Besides his discovery of Livingstone, he is mainly known for his search for the sources of the Nile and Congo rivers, the work he undertook as an agent of King Leopold II of the Belgians that enabled the occupation of the Congo Basin region, and his command of the Emin Pasha Relief Expedition. He was knighted in 1897, and served in Parliament as a Liberal Unionist member for Lambeth North from 1895 to 1900.
Biography from Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0. Photo via Wikimedia Commons.
Henry Morton Stanley FAQ
- How many books has Henry Morton Stanley written?
- Henry Morton Stanley published 2 novels, 4 non-fiction books and 2 children's books that we list, as of September 2026.
- What order should I read Henry Morton Stanley's books in?
- Publication order is a safe choice; the full list is above. Most readers start with Through the Dark Continent.
- What is Henry Morton Stanley's last book?
- My Early Travels and Adventures in America and Asia (1895).
- What is Henry Morton Stanley's most famous book?
- Through the Dark Continent (1878) is Henry Morton Stanley's most widely read book.
- Can I read Henry Morton Stanley's books for free?
- Yes. 11 books by Henry Morton Stanley are in the public domain in the US and free to read online or download here.
Authors like Henry Morton Stanley
Sources: book lists and dates from Wikidata and Open Library, ratings from Open Library readers, free texts from Project Gutenberg. Last updated September 2026.