Herman Melville books in order
American writer and poet
- Lived
- 1819–1891
- Country
- United States
- Books
- 14
Herman Melville published 10 novels, 2 short story collections and 2 poetry collections, beginning with Typee (1846). The best-known is Moby-Dick (1851).
Updated September 2026
Where to start with Herman Melville
Shortest way in
Billy Budd, Sailor
One of the most-read, at about 183 pages.
Standalone novels in order
Typee (Feb 1846)
Omoo (1847)
Mardi (1849)
Redburn (1849)
White-Jacket (1850)
Moby-Dick (Oct 1851)
Israel Potter (1855)
The Confidence-Man (Apr 1857)
Billy Budd, Sailor (1924)
Short story collections in order
The Piazza Tales (1856)
Billy Budd and Other Tales (1961)
Poetry in order
Clarel (1876)
Film and TV adaptations
- Moby Dick (1930)Film · from Moby-Dick
- Moby Dick (1956)Film · from Moby-Dick
- Moby Dick (2010)Film · from Moby-Dick
- Age of the Dragons (2011)Film · from Moby-Dick
- Pola X (1999)Film · from "Pierre: Or, the Ambiguities"
- Billy Budd (1962)Film · from Billy Budd, Sailor
- Beau Travail (1999)Film · from Billy Budd, Sailor
Free to read
All free classics
About Herman Melville
Herman Melville was an American writer of the American Renaissance period. Among his best-known works are Moby-Dick (1851), Typee (1846), a romanticized account of his experiences in Polynesia, and Billy Budd, Sailor, a posthumously published novella. At the time of his death, Melville was not well known to the public, but 1919, the centennial of his birth, was the starting point of a Melville revival. Moby-Dick would eventually be considered one of the Great American Novels.
Biography from Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0. Photo via Wikimedia Commons.
Herman Melville FAQ
- How many books has Herman Melville written?
- Herman Melville published 10 novels, 2 short story collections and 2 poetry collections that we list, as of September 2026.
- What order should I read Herman Melville's books in?
- Publication order is a safe choice; the full list is above. Most readers start with Moby-Dick.
- What is Herman Melville's last book?
- The Confidence-Man (1857).
- What is Herman Melville's most famous book?
- Moby-Dick (1851) is Herman Melville's most widely read book.
- Which Herman Melville books have been adapted?
- 3 books have been adapted for film or TV, including Moby-Dick (as Moby Dick, film, 1930), "Pierre: Or, the Ambiguities" (as Pola X, film, 1999) and Billy Budd, Sailor (as Billy Budd, film, 1962).
- Can I read Herman Melville's books for free?
- Yes. 17 books by Herman Melville are in the public domain in the US and free to read online or download here.
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Sources: book lists and dates from Wikidata and Open Library, ratings from Open Library readers, free texts from Project Gutenberg. Last updated September 2026.