Horace published 3 poetry collections, beginning with Epodes (30 BC).
Updated September 2026
Where to start with Horace
Start here
Epodes
Horace's most-read book.
Poetry in order
Epodes (30 BC)
Epistulae (1751)
Satires (1846)
Free to read
All free classics
About Horace
Quintus Horatius Flaccus, commonly known in the English-speaking world as Horace, was the leading Roman lyric poet during the time of Augustus. The rhetorician Quintilian regarded his Odes as the only Latin lyrics worth reading: "He can be lofty sometimes, yet he is also full of charm and grace, versatile in his figures, and felicitously daring in his choice of words."
Biography from Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0. Photo via Wikimedia Commons.
Horace FAQ
- How many books has Horace written?
- Horace published 3 poetry collections that we list, as of September 2026.
- What order should I read Horace's books in?
- Publication order is a safe choice; the full list is above. Most readers start with Epodes.
- What is Horace's last book?
- Epodes (30 BC).
- What is Horace's most famous book?
- Epodes (30 BC) is Horace's most widely read book.
- Can I read Horace's books for free?
- Yes. 5 books by Horace are in the public domain in the US and free to read online or download here.
Authors like Horace
Sources: book lists and dates from Wikidata and Open Library, ratings from Open Library readers, free texts from Project Gutenberg. Last updated September 2026.